Zap the Ink Laser Tattoo Removal

Laser Tattoo removal -

Life is too short for regrets. If you regret having a particular tattoo – perhaps because it features the name of a now ex-partner or because the design no longer appeals to your tastes – then we are able to help. Laser tattoo removal is a popular technique that, in most cases, we can use to fade or even remove your tattoos or permanent make-up, breaking down the ink and making the tattoo a distant memory.

Can laser treatment help me?

In our experience, black ink absorbs all the laser light and therefore fades more than any other colour. Some coloured inks are highly resistant to laser treatment – in particular, tattoos in green ink. If you have an amateur Indian ink tattoo, it will probably respond well to treatment, whereas multi-coloured professional tattoos are less likely to disappear altogether.

We would always recommend that you book an initial consultation as we will be able to examine the tattoo in detail and give you an honest, realistic assessment of how it will respond to laser treatment.

What is involved in laser treatment?

The laser fires in rapid bursts, which feel a bit like the spatter of hot fat from a frying pan. It is uncomfortable, like having the tattoo put on. You may choose to use an anaesthetic cream on the skin one hour before the treatment. This is called Ametop and is available without prescription.

The tattoo will feel hot for a while afterwards, and it will probably be red and swollen for the rest of the day. Very dark, or large professional tattoos, will remain tender and swollen for a few days. Occasionally this is followed by a scab or crust. The tattoo will not look a lot different, but over the next few weeks it will fade a little. This may not be obvious until you return to compare it with the photographs.

The laser light can seriously damage eyes, so everyone in the laser suite will have to wear protective goggles. This is an important safety precaution. You risk blindness by attempting to view the treatment without goggles; this also applies to anyone you ask to accompany you during treatment.

Are there any unwanted effects?

Scarring is unlikely but can occur.

If it does occur it is usually in the form of some change in texture of the skin. This is more likely if you pick any scabs. There can also be some loss of natural skin pigment in the treated area, which usually improves with time. The chances of it happening can be reduced by keeping the area as pale as possible throughout the course of treatment.

Not all tattoo inks respond and certain colours can get worse. Heavy professional tattoos in particular may not completely go, with some colour remaining and the rest left very faint. Modern coloured inks are pigment based and made of potentially toxic chemicals; the consequences of treating these with laser light are unknown.