Thinking of starting your very own laser journey? Not sure where to start, what to do or what to expect? You’re not alone. We’ve answered the most common laser questions in hopes of making your entry into the world of laser a little less daunting.
1) Does it hurt? Like really bad?
It can be a bit of an intense feeling. However, we always recommend the use of numbing cream to anyone who is nervous about the feeling of laser. With numbing cream and the use of our cooling machine most of the discomfort is eliminated. Laser tattoo removal is often compared to the sensation you’d feel if flicking a hot rubber band on the skin. Not overly pleasant, but it’s over in a flash — literally seconds!
2) Can I achieve a ‘complete removal’?
It is certainly possible in most cases. We have seen fantastic results over the past 10 years from majority of our clients needing between 6-12 treatments. How achievable this is depends on various factors including overall health, colour/type of ink used and how deep the ink is in the skin. For example if there is excessive scarring in the tattoo, this can hinder the complete removal process.
3) How many treatments will it take?
Generally we recommend 2-4 treatments to fade for a cover up and 6-12 treatments for a complete removal. All treatments are spaced approximately 6 to 8 weeks apart. This allows enough time for the skin to heal and eliminate as much of the ink as possible through the body’s lymphatic system. The number of treatments depend on the size, complexity and depths of the ink, as well as several other factors.
4) Can you give me a time frame?
Not exactly! In the tattoo removal industry, time and patience is everything! !n some cases it can take up to 1-2 years if not longer for a complete removal hence why patience is so important.
5) Are there people with certain health conditions you can’t treat?
As everybody is completely different, so are their health conditions. All of our clients must attend a comprehensive consultation prior to a treatment. In this consultation we complete a full assessment of your overall health, current medications & your specific tattoo. This determines if we can go ahead with the treatment or require a doctor’s recommendation before proceeding.
6) What kind of price am I looking at?
Straight up: getting a tattoo completely removed is usually more expensive than having one put on. The price of laser tattoo removal depends upon the size, colour, density of ink, location of the tattoo and the number of treatments required. Our starting price is $120 per treatment of a small tattoo. Learn more about our pricing on our website or feel free to contact us for a quote!
7) Will I scar?
Scarring is super rare with tattoo removal! With our advanced laser system we are able to target the ink particles with the least amount of skin interaction possible. Often there can be scarring present when the tattoo was done, which in this case, will stay present once the ink has been removed. Following our carefully prepared after care instructions is just as important as looking after a new tattoo.
8) PicoSure VS Q-Switch?
What’s better than one laser machine? Two!
Both lasers perform well in their own right, so there is no clear winner here!
PicoSure performs amazingly well on cooler ink colours that previous technology could not. Absolutely no other laser in the industry compares to this, which is why it is known as the Rolls Royce of laser tattoo removal machines!
The Q-Switch is an incredible workhorse in the laser industry. Particularly with the 1064 wavelength which is able to consistently treat black inks and penetrate deeper into the skin to help clear out stubborn pigments.
It’s the combination of both technologies being used together which optimises the capability of removing all colours, depths and types of inks. This is where the magic happens!
9) How long does a treatment take?
With our Q-Switch laser firing at 10 pulses per second and our PicoSure laser firing in picoseconds (one trillionth of a second), treatments are super quick! Most treatments last from only a few seconds for a smaller tattoo to a few minutes for a large tattoo. Then, once the treatment is complete we apply cooling Laser Aid cream and bandage the area. We then run through your aftercare instructions ensuring you the best healing possible. We allow half an hour for your appointment overall.
10) Are there any side effects?
Side effects are an expected part of the tattoo removal process for a majority of clients. In fact, this is an important part of the healing process as it is the immune response that helps eliminate ink from the skin.
The most common side effects are:
Swelling
Redness
Tenderness
And in some cases:
Blistering
Bruising
Scabs
As everyone is so different, so is our healing process! We all heal and react to laser differently but all of the above indicates to us that your body is doing exactly what it should be!
There is a non-refundable fee of $50 for our consultations which will be deducted from your treatment cost if you decide to go ahead with a laser treatment.
What have you got to loose except that tattoo?