Tattoo Removal

The best and only way so far, to remove a tattoo is through a process called laser tattoo removal. This method uses a concentrated beam of light, a laser light, to pass through under the skin. While doing this the laser beam targets the ink in the tattoo.

The laser disintegrates the tattoo into smaller particles. Once the ink is tiny enough, your body then metabolise the particles into your blood stream and eliminates it over a period of time.

There are only a few types of machines on the market that effectively remove tattoos. The one we use is the Q-Switched Nd:YAG Laser @532,1064nm.This machine has the ability to remove black and colored tattoos.

Before you start, we strongly suggest you think about what you are about to embark on and manage your expectations. Tattoo removal is a journey. It’s not a quick fix.

Laser is a great way to get rid of unwanted tattoos, however, everyone sees different results. Why? Because the laser only works to break the ink down. It’s YOUR body that actually works to eliminate that ink.

Your health and lifestyle play a major role in how quickly the body gets rid of that ink. 

Most tattoo removals need somewhere between 6 to 10 sessions. Sessions are usually spaced at somewhere between six to eight weeks.

Based on averages, you would need around nine months to a year to remove a tattoo in its entirety. Again, smaller tattoos would need fewer sessions and vice versa. However, if you are only wanting to fade a tattoo to tattoo over it, you would be looking at few sessions.

There are five main factors to consider when it comes to the number of sessions required.

1: Location of the tattoo.

The healing process is more rapid on the face and neck areas. Interestingly the further away the tattoo is from your heart the longer it takes to be removed – like your arms, legs, hands and feet. This is due to the limited circulation available to the extremities compared to the torso.

2: Color of ink.

Darker colour tattoos, such as black, dark blue and brown are the easiest to remove and need fewer sessions as the laser beam is attracted to dark.Lighter colors such as sky blue, purple, green and yellow are more challenging and need more sessions.The more varied in color a tattoo is, the more treatments that may be required.

3: Amount of Ink.

Tattoos that have a small amount of ink or are amateur, are easier to treat.Tattoos that have a significant amount of ink and professionally done will require more treatments.Tattoos that are layered, a larger tattoo placed over another tattoo, will have more ink present and require more sessions.

4: Size of Tattoo.

The larger the tattoo the more treatments required and it can take as many as 10 sessions or more. If you have a tattoo that is wrapped around your arm of leg, only one side will be treated with a seven-day rest period before the other side is treated. This is so that circulation is not constrict.

5: The Healing Process.

You need to consider how fast your skin heals. Skin that heals well, with minimal to no pigmentation changes after the first treatment, can have more powerful treatments to follow, which may result in fewer treatments.Our bodies are amazing machines that are well versed at removing unwanted or foreign entities like unwanted tattoo ink. Laser tattoo removal was designed to assist the body in the natural process of ink removal. When healing, it is our opinion that it is more efficient to allow the body to do what it does naturally and heal at its own pace.

Remember when we said health and lifestyle plays a major role? You can speed up your tattoo removal journey by staying hydrated and eating lots of healthy food. Do whatever you can do to boost your immune system because this is going to help your body shift that ink quicker.

Cigarettes and alcohol can also slow the ink elimination process. There’s a study which appears in the Archives of Dermatology which found that heavy smoking lowered the chance of a successful tattoo removal by 70%.

Your body is already dealing with so much. It’s dealing with eliminating so many different day to day toxins and therefore doesn’t have the detox capacity to purely focus on getting rid of your ink. It is up to you to do what you can to achieve quicker results and fewer sessions? At least cut back on the ciggies and booze and drink lots of water and eat healthy food.

We will also nudge the healing of your skin process along!

What we do at Mens Body Works, that other clinics may not offer, is that we include an LED infra red treatment before every laser tattoo treatment to help your skin heal and maintain it’s natural integrity as best it can.

For a complimentary consult please call or book online.