The only way to get rid of unwanted tattoos is to remove the pattern with a laser. Most often, people resort to a second tattoo session to cover the previous one, but if you want to completely get rid of it, laser removal is the best solution.
Features of tattoo removal and types of lasers
Getting rid of tattoos is gaining momentum for various reasons. Some people consider them mistakes of youth, others are influenced by fashion and change previous tattoos to new styles, sometimes the dress code or the requirement of employers may be the reason for the drawing.
Laser tattoo removal is a long, expensive and not entirely painless business.
What is the essence of laser operation? With the help of rays, the tattoo is highlighted, and the beam acts to the entire depth, and not just on the surface of the picture. To remove the tattoo with a laser, the beam penetrates under the skin, heating the pigment of the paint and areas of the painted skin to a high temperature.
There are several varieties of lasers:
- Ruby - to remove red, green and blue pigments;
- Alexandrite - with the same effect as the previous, but faster action;
- Erbium - for shallow and small tattoos;
- Neodymium - for colorful tattoos.
The most high-quality device for removing a tattoo is considered neodymiumcapable of penetrating to a depth of 6 mm.
For high-quality removal of the pattern from the skin, you need to determine the type of laser. To find the right tool, consider the following factors:
- Tattoo color and degree of fading;
- Picture size;
- The depth of the paint;
- The age of the tattoo.
This procedure is suitable for removing both tattoo and permanent makeup, including eyelid tattooing (for this, special pads are used to protect the eyeball from a possible burn).
It is important to note that laser tattoo removal does not cause skin burns, affecting only stained areas.
Benefits of Laser Removal
Before you decide to remove the tattoo with a laser, you need to carefully familiarize yourself with all the characteristics of the laser, as well as weigh the pros and cons of this procedure. Among the advantages of laser excretion can be identified:
- A traceless removal, the absence of scars;
- Lack of severe pain;
- Bloodlessness and safety of the procedure;
- The effect after the first session;
- The absence of skin burns and the preservation of the integrity of the skin;
- The minimum number of contraindications.
Despite the undoubted advantages, there are some disadvantages to this procedure. For example, there are several disadvantages of its implementation:
- The need for several sessions (depends on the depth of the pigment and the size of the tattoo);
- Inability to remove a tattoo made with a paint close to the color of the skin;
- The cost of the procedure.
Particular attention should be paid to the claimed painlessness of laser tattoo removal. This feature is difficult to attribute to advantages or disadvantages, since the sensation of pain directly depends on the individual characteristics of a person.If necessary, before removing the tattoo, the master should apply a special painkiller to the area of the skin undergoing the procedure.
Laser tattoo removal process
The laser tattoo removal procedure should be carried out by a good and professional master - a cosmetologist or the tattoo artist himself, if he has the proper equipment and skills.
In the process of removing the pigment, you can feel a slight burning sensation and tingling, rarely - acute pain.
Before setting the date of the first session, the master should inspect the tattoo, find out all the details of the application, determine the depth of the pigment in order to choose the right laser and the duration of the drawing course.
The process of the procedure:
- First step: if necessary, anesthesia is applied, usually special creams with anesthetic effect are used;
- Second phase: equipment is adjusted in accordance with the state of the tattoo and skin;
- The third stage: special safety glasses are put on to the patient, also if necessary and depending on the location of the picture;
- Fourth stage: a test is performed to check the effect of the laser on the skin. Then comes the very removal of the tattoo by the action of laser beams on the pigment;
- The fifth stage: soothing the skin with ice and applying an anti-inflammatory agent;
- Sixth stage: counseling.
If the master has not completed the last step, you must definitely clarify the methods of skin care after the procedure. This is necessary to avoid side effects.
Skin care before and after the procedure
Special preparation for the laser tattoo removal procedure is not required. Often it can be carried out on the same day that the consultation was held. However, it is better to take into account some nuances. Before you reduce the tattoo, you need:
- Exclude prolonged exposure to sunlight or UV rays;
- Do not drink alcohol or smoke;
- Refuse to visit the sauna or solarium.
But after the session, you need to adhere to specific recommendations:
- Do not tear off the resulting crust;
- Apply a special compress for 5 days;
- Do not use alcohol-containing cosmetics;
- It is advisable not to touch, scratch or comb the skin;
- It is forbidden to visit the bathhouse, sauna, solarium.
As a compress, experts advise using Bepanten cream. Before applying it, the skin should be washed with baby soap and blotted with a towel.
Contraindications and side effects
Despite the fact that the procedure is quite harmless, there are several contraindications. This mainly concerns temporary diseases. Laser tattoo removal should not be performed in the following cases:
- Skin diseases, wounds and abrasions;
- At high temperature and infections;
- Pregnant or lactating mothers;
- In the presence of herpes in the acute stage;
- If poor blood clotting;
- In the presence of malignant tumors.
If you do not comply with these contraindications or improperly care for the skin after the procedure, unwanted side effects may occur.
The number of side effects is minimal and does not pose a serious danger to life, but can cause a lot of problems. So, as a negative reaction of the body note:
- Skin inflammation;
- Bruising;
- The appearance of scars;
- The appearance of an allergic reaction.
These symptoms are also likely in cases where the master performed the procedure poorly. Therefore, it is recommended to carefully select only highly qualified cosmetologists to remove the laser tattoo.
