Tattoos have, for many centuries, been a form of body art that allows many people to express their creativity, personality, feelings, and beliefs. This can be done indelibly or temporarily. But these aspects of your life may change, which leaves you wondering, “How can I change my tattoo?”
Although for some, simply getting a new tattoo over the old one would suffice, others would prefer getting it off entirely. Going through a laser tattoo removal procedure is an effective way to remove your tattoos. However, the numerous myths surrounding the procedure may cause you to have doubts. Not to worry! Let’s debunk these myths.
Contents
- “Isn’t it more painful than getting an actual tattoo?”
- “Don’t tattoos come off in one session with laser technology?”
- “Won’t I end up scarring my skin through this procedure?”
- “Shouldn’t my tattoo be old and faded to get a laser removal procedure?”
- “Won’t the laser removal procedure be ineffective on my dark skin?”
- “Don’t laser treatments come with a hefty price tag?”
- “Doesn’t it take years for the best results?”
“Isn’t it more painful than getting an actual tattoo?”
A common misconception about laser tattoo removal is that it hurts more than getting a tattoo! This is far from the truth. During the procedure, you may feel sensations or tingles of pain caused by the laser beams touching your skin. However, this experience would vary for each person and is short-lived compared to a fresh tattoo. An experienced technician would use a cooling device to reduce discomfort in the tattooed area. You can also use a topical cream or local anaesthetic to ease discomfort. Additionally, state-of-the-art laser technology ensures that the pain and discomfort you may feel are at a minimum and tolerable.
“Don’t tattoos come off in one session with laser technology?”
The myth that a laser procedure can take off your tattoo in one session may have been derived from the marketing strategies of various facilities. According to experts, the procedure involves breaking up the pigments of ink in your skin, which can only be taken out one layer at a time. Therefore, a series of sessions are required to ensure all pigments are broken down to give you your desired finish. It also is important to note that within these sessions, you may need to take a break to give your body to eliminate the shattered pigments. Fortunately, the latest laser technology can help speed up the time spent on each session, which averages about 30 minutes.
“Won’t I end up scarring my skin through this procedure?”
This myth may seem believable if you have watched videos of laser tattoo removal sessions. Thankfully, it’s not. Although the issue of scarring was a problem during the earlier days of the procedure, advancements in technology and methods have fixed this problem. For example, picosecond laser technology limits the time the laser is on your skin due to its fast speed. This also means you would need less time to recover, preventing the risk of scars. Another factor that may affect tattoo removal scarring is the quality of your aftercare. Be sure to follow professional advice during the healing time for proper aftercare and to prevent issues such as scarring. Despite this, laser removal, more often than not, does not cause scarring or damage to the skin.
“Shouldn’t my tattoo be old and faded to get a laser removal procedure?”
Many people would love to have their tattoos removed. But, the assumption is this can only happen when their tattoos are old and faded. So, would that mean you cannot remove a tattoo you just got but instantly regretting? Fortunately, this myth has been debunked! Laser removal applies to all, regardless of how old the tattoos are. The only issue you may encounter when removing new tattoos is the number of sessions. As mentioned earlier, the laser removal process breaks down the ink pigments in your skin. New tattoos have fresher pigments, which could take longer to break and delay the process. However, once your new tattoo has healed properly, with no scabbing, you can remove it.
“Won’t the laser removal procedure be ineffective on my dark skin?”
Another myth to debunk is that the laser removal procedure is ineffective on people with darker skin. A concern of many with darker skin tones is usually worried that the process may cause their skin to lighten. Others believe that the process would cause them to bear visible scars. Fortunately, it is important to note that laser removal technology pays no mind to race. Although more sessions may be required, there is no need to worry about getting your tattoo removed if you have darker skin.
“Don’t laser treatments come with a hefty price tag?”
It’s true that there are some cosmetic treatments and laser procedures that come with a hefty price tag – the kind only the rich and famous can easily afford. Yet when it comes to modern-day laser tattoo removal – there’s good news. As the technology has improved so much in recent years, it has meant that even the best kinds of laser treatments can become more cost-effective. This means there are more options for people from all walks of life, with varying budgets, who want to put their old tattoo choices behind them. Although it still pays to seek out the best quality service you can afford, if you’ve previously thought that laser tattoo removal was beyond your price range, you might be pleasantly surprised if you take another look at what’s currently available.
“Doesn’t it take years for the best results?”
In the past, it could take many months and sometimes years for a complete tattoo removal procedure. Yet, thanks to the innovations in laser technology, the process can be completed effectively in a much shorter timeframe – often with even better results. The new laser treatments mean shorter recovery periods in between sessions, which means you can get more treatments in less time. So if you’ve been put off laser tattoo removal because you couldn’t face months and months of treatment sessions, you can now expect to see the results you want much more quickly and easily.
Hopefully, this has been an educational piece to keep you well-equipped with information to decide whether you would like to get a laser tattoo. It is important to ensure you select a reliable, professional, and hygienic facility. You can ask friends and family for recommendations. Or search through online reviews to select the facility that would satisfy your needs.