Laser tattoo removal has revolutionized the market with its accuracy, speed, and effectiveness. Laser technology has evolved significantly over the years, and new systems such as PicoWay have made tattoo removal even safer. At Vanish Clinic, we regularly perform laser tattoo removal to help customers get rid of simple and complex tattoos.
Despite using the latest laser technology, tattoo removal takes more than a single session. You need multiple sessions to get rid of your tattoo, especially if it is large and complex.
One of the most common questions customers ask before getting a laser tattoo removal treatment is how many sessions will be required to remove the tattoo. Getting rid of a tattoo can take anywhere from 6 to 12 sessions of laser tattoo removal.
There are quite a few factors that may determine the number of sessions required to remove a tattoo. If you want to understand how these factors affect the number of sessions of laser tattoo removal, then keep reading.
Why does laser tattoo removal require multiple sessions?
Before we answer the question regarding the expected number of laser tattoo removal sessions, it is important to understand why we need multiple sessions in the first place.
Even though the PicoWay laser is proven safe to remove unwanted tattoos, it still produces heat to break down ink fragments within the skin. The skin can only be exposed to the laser for a short time to prevent skin damage. If the skin were exposed to the laser beam for prolonged periods, it may damage and even scar the skin.
Our experts distribute the tattoo removal process over multiple sessions to increase the safety and effectiveness of laser tattoo removal. By doing so, your skin doesn't come into prolonged contact with the laser, and the results are significantly better.
Laser tattoo removal sessions are scheduled so your skin can fully recover from the previous session. So you can expect to wait between 6 to 8 weeks in between sessions. Your skin should recover from a laser tattoo removal session completely during this time frame and is ready for the next one.
We always recommend scheduling a free consultation with our laser tattoo removal expert to create a session timeline. The free consultation can also help us estimate how many sessions will be needed to remove your tattoo completely. In the next section of the post, we will discuss the factors used to determine the number of sessions.
Factors affecting the number of tattoo removal sessions
While the laser tattoo removal procedure available at Vanish Clinic is non-invasive, we still emphasize the health and safety of our customers. Our ultimate goal is to ensure that the tattoo removal doesn't produce any unwanted effects and the skin remains undamaged as if the tattoo "vanished" from your body.
To ensure the best possible results from the tattoo removal procedure, we consider the following factors in determining the number of sessions you may require:
Your overall health and immunity: The speed at which your body dissolves the tattoo depends on your overall health. For example, an individual with a strong immune system can get rid of tattoo ink quicker, thus requiring fewer sessions.
On the other hand, someone with a weak immune system won't be able to get rid of the ink at a normal speed following the laser treatment. As a result, a person with a weak immune system will need more sessions to dissolve the ink completely.
Quality of ink used in a tattoo: Another factor that may determine the number of laser tattoo removal sessions is the ink used in a tattoo. A professional tattoo will likely have high-quality ink designed to last a lifetime.
So a professional tattoo will require more sessions to fade away compared to an amateur tattoo with low-quality ink. We assess the quality of ink used in your tattoo during the consultation session to determine how long it will take to remove it.
Size of the tattoo: It is given that the larger the tattoo is, the longer it will take to get rid of it. Picoway laser system, or any other laser tech, can only treat a set area of your skin per session. So if you have a small arm tattoo, removing it will take fewer sessions compared to a while back tattoo.
Individuals with large but faded tattoos are a different matter because their tattoos have already started to break down. So a large faded tattoo may get removed with fewer treatments. We highly recommend getting a pre-treatment consultation to get your tattoo assessed by our experts.
Colour of the ink used in a tattoo: The colour of your tattoo is a major factor that helps us determine how many sessions you will need. If you have a black tattoo, you will get faster results in fewer sessions because black ink responds well to laser treatment.
On the other hand, lighter colour tattoos are the most difficult to remove since they don't respond well to laser treatment. So it is obvious that if you have a white, light green or light blue tattoo, you will need more sessions than if you have a black coloured tattoo.
Location of the tattoo: Another lesser-known factor that may affect the timeline of your tattoo removal is the location of the tattoo. Areas of the body that are further away from the heart get lower blood circulation making it difficult to flush broken-down tattoo ink.
So if you have a tattoo on the chest, back or facial region, you will see faster results than if your tattoo was on your feet or legs.
Conclusion
So there you have it; we have listed all the factors that may affect the number of laser tattoo removal sessions you need. You can apply these factors to your scenario to estimate the duration of your tattoo removal sessions.
The only sure shot to determine how many sessions of tattoo removal treatment you may need is by setting an appointment at Vanish Clinic. You can always click here to set your appointment with our tattoo removal experts today.