Ever had a really bad tattoo that you deeply regretted?  Perhaps it was an ex's name, or something daft that you got whilst on a boozy holiday?  Don't fear, because laser tattoo removal is here!  I've got a couple of badly done tattoos from when I was younger; the artist went far too deep into the skin, so most of the line-work has completely blown out leaving me with some really questionable work.  It's easily covered by clothing, and it doesn't bother me too much, but I'd like to get them eradicated at some point in the future.  I've previously considered covering the tattoos up with new work, but my tattoo artist advised that as they were big colour pieces that covered the whole of my feet, laser removal treatment was a necessity if I wanted to be able to tattoo over them at all.  It's not something I'm in a rush to do, but it's great to know that I have the option available to me! At Magnum Tattoo Supplies, as well as offering the best Tattoo Machine prices, we like to stay in the know about all things tattoo related, so I today I wanted to chat about laser tattoo removal. 

Laser tattoo removal came about in 1979, but it's only in the last decade that it's became really refined due to advances in technology and the medical field.  So what happens during laser tattoo removal treatment?  The skin is blasted with a laser, injecting the skin with an intense light that penetrates into the targeted area of skin, breaking up the ink particles which in turn fade away.  The natural immune system of the body then removes the pigments over time - and with multiple laser treatments you can quite often get rid of the tattoo completely but this heavily depends on the size of the area affected, and how deep the tattoo ink has gone into the skin. The body needs time to regenerate the cells, so your laser therapist would usually advise at least a month or so between treatment sessions. 

As I mentioned, I've never had laser treatment myself so can't really comment on the pain side of things, but I know people who've had it, and apparently the sensation of laser removal is preferable to tattooing (which is good to know!).  I've been told it feels like when hot oil spits out of a pan at you, which obviously isn't pleasant, but it doesn't take as long as the tattoo process, and seems like it'd be bearable.  

The healing process differs from person to person, and everyone's skin reacts differently to laser treatment.  It's important to note that the age of the tattoo, and the colour of the ink can have a big effect on the success of the treatment too, with black and dark blue inks generally responding better to laser treatment due to the better absorption of the laser wavelengths, compared with other colours that are more resistant. 

How you care for the skin afterwards will also have a massive impact on how the skin heals, so it's imperative to take great care of the lasered area after your treatment to ensure there's no risk of infection and make sure the skin heals properly.  Skin tends to be swollen, red and blistery after laser treatment, and it's crucial that you don't pop any blisters yourself, and allow them to pop naturally, and definitely do not pick any scabs.  Don't use any scented moisturisers or fake tan on the affected area, and just apply a laser ointment that you've been recommended by your laser therapist. 

Perfect results are never guaranteed as there are so many factors that will influence how effective your laser treatment will be, but as long as you have the recommended amount of sessions and look after your skin in between sessions, then you should see your unwanted tattoo fading over time! 

I'm still a little nervous at the idea, and the main thing holding me back (aside from the whole pain element) is the fact that it's both of my feet that need lasering.  I'm not sure whether I'd be able to wear shoes and socks afterwards, and if it's not advisable to wear them for a certain amount of time, then getting out and about would be a bit of a problem! But maybe one day I'll bite the bullet and go for it!

If you've had laser removal yourself then why not tell us about your experience?  Leave us a comment below, and don't forget to check out our Tattoo Machine prices for the best deals!

Love Toni...

Blog & image credits:

http://www.hickmanhouse.co.uk/laser-clinic/tratement-guide/laser-tattoo-removal

http://www.newlookhouston.com/After-Tattoo-Removal

https://dermatologyandlasergroup.com/how-long-laser-tattoo-removal-session/

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