How Many Sessions Does It Take to Remove a Tattoo?

Do you have a tattoo that you wish you could erase from your memory–and your body? At the time, it might have seemed like a great idea, but now your tattoo is holding you back from achieving your ideal image and feeling comfortable and confident in your own skin. At Advanced Life Clinic in Huntsville, AL, we’re proud to offer you the opportunity to say a permanent goodbye to embarrassing, faded, or outdated tattoos with UltraLight-Q laser tattoo removal.

What Do I Need to Know About Tattoo Removal?

Laser tattoo removal is the best way to erase traditional tattoos, which are typically permanent. With the UltraLight-Q Laser System, we are excited to offer our patients a streamlined, painless removal process by using the power of laser energy to break down ink pigment within the skin.

The lasers, which are drawn to the pigments in the tattoo ink, break up each section into smaller, more manageable pieces, which are then removed by the body. This results in the eventual fading of the tattoo and restores smooth, clear skin. This treatment is a great fit for almost every patient. It is considered safe for most skin tones, types, and sensitivities.

Depending on the size of your tattoo, a treatment session can take between 5 minutes and 1 hour. Laser treatment requires zero downtime, giving you the flexibility you need to continue living life while reaching your cosmetic goals. Best of all, the personalized treatment plan recommended to you by our experienced doctor can result in the complete removal of your unwanted tattoo and restore your satisfaction with your appearance.

Are Tattoos Really Permanent?

When you got your first tattoo, you probably didn’t ask about the science behind this popular body modification. A tattoo is comprised of tiny, strategically placed ink dots in the lower layers of your skin. The ink is usually placed in the skin with a handheld machine containing small, sharp needles.

Tattoo ink can be any color and is insoluble, which means that it cannot be dissolved by other liquids once it is inserted into the skin. This gives most tattoos a long lifespan and can keep them looking fresh and vibrant for years. Most people assume that tattoos are permanent, but the reality is that the body is constantly working to remove the foreign ink from the skin with a natural immune response.

Because of the size of the ink molecules, this process can take years and, for most patients, is never fully accomplished. However, most tattoos fade over time due to a combination of sun exposure and the body’s immune response. The fading process is accelerated with laser tattoo removal, which breaks up the ink particles and allows your body to completely flush tattoo ink from your system.

How Does Laser Treatment Work?

While laser treatments have always been the most effective way to remove tattoos, treatment and technology have developed significantly over the past few years. UltraLight-Q uses a variety of lasers to target tattoo ink in the lower layers of the skin.

These lasers pass harmlessly through the outer layers of your skin without causing damage or burns. Once they reach the ink pigment, the laser energy fragments the ink molecules into smaller pieces. Over the course of a few weeks, these tiny pieces are removed by your immune system, leaving your skin tattoo-free.

Which Tattoos Can Be Removed?

Thanks to the accuracy and power of this laser system, we can treat most types of tattoos, including low-quality mechanical tattoos or amateur stick-and-poke tattoos. We can also treat tattoos created during a traumatic event or a surgical procedure.

The UltraLight-Q laser can target any ink color, can be used on any tattoo size, and is safe to use on most parts of the body. Our doctor will examine your tattoo and evaluate your candidacy for treatment during your initial consultation.

How Many Sessions Will I Need?

Your individual treatment plan and results will vary. In general, this depends on the age of your tattoo, the depth of placement, the type of ink, and the quality of the tattoo itself. An older tattoo is already beginning to fade and may be easier to remove than a fresh tattoo.

A tattoo placed deeper in the skin can take longer to fade, and some ink types are more resistant than others during laser treatments. Finally, a poor-quality tattoo is typically easier to remove than a professional tattoo. In some cases, the size of your tattoo may also impact the length of your total treatment.

For most patients, our doctor recommends 4-8 treatment sessions. These sessions will be scheduled 6-8 weeks apart, giving your body time to remove the fragmented ink particles from your system between treatments.

Who Is an Ideal Candidate?

If you are an adult man or woman who is unhappy with one or more of your tattoos, you could be an ideal candidate for laser tattoo removal. You should be healthy, have realistic expectations about what you can expect, and be free from any medical or skin conditions that could interact negatively with the treatment.

Thanks to the accuracy of our laser system, we can treat most skin tones and ink colors and types. If you are unsure about your candidacy for this treatment, our doctor can help you evaluate your unique situation and goals during your initial consultation.

What Should I Expect?

Ready to start the journey to tattoo-free skin? Here’s an outline of what you should expect when you pursue this transformative service at our office.

Consultation

An initial consultation allows you to meet with our doctor and discuss your ideal results. During this appointment, our doctor will examine your tattoo, review your medical history, and determine whether laser treatment is right for you.

If she approves you for treatment, she will recommend a personalized treatment plan designed to deliver the best results in the shortest amount of time. She will also answer any questions you may have about preparing for your first treatment, a typical laser session, or the recovery process.

Preparation

In order to experience a successful treatment, it’s important to prepare your skin for each appointment. This includes avoiding waxing, plucking, or exfoliating in the target area for at least 2 weeks before your treatment. In addition, you should not use tanning beds, spray tan, or self-tanning products for at least 4 weeks.

You should plan to stop taking blood-thinning medications like aspirin and some herbal supplements approximately a week before treatment, as these substances may slow your healing process. In addition to avoiding tanning, it’s important to limit your time in the sun before your first laser session. Harmful sun exposure can cause an increased risk of irritation and may lead to a number of additional skin concerns, including fine lines, wrinkles, dark spots, and skin cancer.

Finally, we recommend that you keep your skin calm and healthy by drinking plenty of water and maintaining a gentle cleansing routine. Your doctor may also instruct you to shave the target area the day before your treatment.

Treatment

On the day of your appointment, you should avoid applying any makeup or skincare product to the target area. Our skilled technician will cleanse the target area and apply a topical numbing cream, which will keep you comfortable during your appointment. Once your skin is numb, the technician will begin the treatment by passing a handheld laser device across the target area.

The laser energy will target the tattoo ink and immediately begin breaking down the pigment. Most patients report that this process is a painless experience. Depending on the size of your tattoo, your appointment could take anywhere between 5 minutes-1 hour. If you are removing multiple tattoos, your appointment may take longer.

Once the technician is finished with the laser treatment, they will apply a post-treatment antibacterial ointment to aid the healing process. They may also apply ice to soothe your skin. When your appointment is complete, you can expect to return to your normal activities with zero downtime required.

Recovery

After your appointment, you should protect your skin by avoiding any skincare products or treatments that could irritate the area. You can wash the target area with warm water and soap, but do not exfoliate or remove hair after treatment. Your technician may recommend that you continue applying ice wrapped in a clean cloth to your skin for the first several hours.

You should continue to avoid sun exposure as your skin heals. In addition, you should avoid tanning and strenuous exercise until your doctor gives you permission to resume these activities. By the second week, you should notice that your tattoo is beginning to fade. This process will continue for an additional 4-6 weeks as your body flushes the fragmented ink from your system.

The fading process varies between patients, but you can expect the full results of one treatment session to appear 6-8 weeks after your appointment. At this point, you can schedule your next session to continue fading your tattoo.

Results

Our doctor will help you design a treatment plan that will deliver your ideal results, usually over the course of 4-8 treatment sessions. After your last appointment, you should expect to see your final results appear within 6-8 weeks. You should notice that your skin is clear and tattoo-free. The surface of your skin should be smooth and you should not be able to see any visible remnants of your former tattoo.

Thanks to the technologically advanced nature of our laser system, you can expect to remove your tattoo with no discoloration or residual ink deposits in your skin. Once your tattoo is fully removed, you can expect to enjoy your results permanently. Your skin should look completely natural and show no signs of your former tattoo or your laser treatment.

Some patients choose to keep their skin clear, while others want to make space for new tattoos. Once your doctor gives you permission, you can have the treated area re-tattooed as long as your skin is completely healed. With one personalized treatment plan to remove your unwanted tattoo, you can expect to achieve and maintain your ideal image for the rest of your life.

Contact Us to Learn More!

Don’t spend your life trying to hide an embarrassing or faded tattoo. With laser tattoo removal, you can erase tattoos to achieve clear skin or create a blank canvas for new tattoos. This treatment is safe and effective for most patients, making it the best option to say goodbye to old tattoos for good.

If you’d like to learn more about laser tattoo removal with our UltraLight-Q Laser System, contact us at Advanced Life Clinic in Huntsville, AL to schedule an initial consultation today! We look forward to serving you and helping you reach your cosmetic goals!