We’ve all seen news stories about people who have regretted their tattoos. Maybe you’ve even heard horror stories from friends or family members who attempted to remove them and ended up with something worse than what they started with.

Fortunately, modern technology has improved significantly since the early days of tattoo removal. Laser tattoo removal is now widely available to consumers, and it’s safe, effective, and relatively painless. In fact, the laser tattoo and striae removal market size stood at $739.4 million in 2020. However, many misconceptions about this procedure still need dispelling before you sign up for your first session.

Myth: Laser Tattoo Removal Is Very Painful

Having tattoos on your body is common, as data shows around 9% of Americans had at least one tattoo in 2021. But if you are considering removing it, you must know that there are options that are not as painful as the stories you might have heard have made them sound.

For instance, Laser tattoo removal is not painful. In fact, the laser removal technique can help speed up the tattoo removal process. Laser pulsates work quickly, reducing the time required between each session. So if you are in a dilemma of how to speed up tattoo removal, leveraging laser technique is one way to go.

Some patients may feel discomfort or slight pain during treatment, but this is more likely to result from the laser passing over their skin than any intense burning sensation.

If you’re considering getting your first tattoo or removing an old one, knowing what you’re getting into before going under the needle is essential. That being said, options are available if you’ve changed your mind about having a specific image permanently etched onto your body and want it gone for good.

Myth: Laser Tattoo Removal Always Leaves Behind Noticeable Scars

You may be surprised to learn that laser tattoo removal does not leave behind noticeable scars. This is because the heat from the laser can treat your skin, and the wounds will be gone after healing. There are possibilities that the scars might be noticeable until your skin has healed completely. Hence, you need to take care of it after the treatment.

Using aftercare creams can help here. According to NAAMA Studios, applying aftercare creams can help your skin heal faster. Additionally, they can keep your skin hydrated to reduce the chances of infection and improve the efficiency of laser tattoo removal.

There are many other things you can do to reduce your risk of developing a scar:

• Choose a technician experienced in tattoo removal techniques.
• Ensure your dermatologist or tattoo removal service provider uses cooling devices during treatment so your skin doesn’t burn.
• Consider getting a second opinion if you don’t like what you see after treatment has concluded.

Myth: Laser Tattoo Removal Is Ineffective on Certain Ink Colors and Skin Tones

The truth is that laser tattoo removal works on all ink colors, including black and blue. It also works on most skin tones, but darker ones may require more treatments to achieve the desired results.

This is because darker pigments absorb more energy than lighter ones, which means they need more energy to break down that pigment and leave your body through your lymphatic system or sweat glands. But that does not mean the treatment is ineffective.

Myth: Laser Tattoo Removal Requires an Excessive Number of Sessions and Takes a Long Time

The number of sessions required to remove a tattoo depends on its size, color, and complexity. Tattoos that are larger or have more colors require more time to be removed. The typical number of sessions needed for laser tattoo removal can vary from person to person.

You should also remember that other factors, such as age, skin type, and location, may affect how many treatments you need for effective results. For instance, the sessions required to treat complex tattoos on your face might be more than that of removing a small one on your body.

As mentioned earlier, you can leverage laser tattoo removal to reduce the time gap between sessions to speed up the treatment process. With the help of laser technique, you can quickly reduce the treatment time by at least a few days, if not more.

Myth: Laser Tattoo Removal Is Only Suitable for Small Tattoos and Cannot Remove Large or Intricate Designs

You might think that laser tattoo removal is only suitable for small tattoos and cannot remove large or intricate designs. The truth is that the laser can be used to remove tattoos of any size, color, and complexity.

Laser tattoo removal treatments are not limited by location either. The technique has successfully removed tattoos from all body parts, including hands, face, neck, chest, and legs.

Myth: Laser Tattoo Removal Is Prohibitively Expensive

While laser tattoo removal can be more costly than some other methods, it is not too expensive. Data shows that the average cost of laser tattoo removal is $423 in the US. Other methods may be more cost-effective if you want to eliminate unwanted ink. However, they may not be as effective as laser tattoo removal.

For instance, dermabrasion is one such alternative. This procedure involves sanding down the skin by rubbing it with a gritty substance like aluminum oxide crystals or diamond particles. It’s usually used on small tattoos because it removes them slowly over time. In fact, non-laser treatments like dermabrasion can take at least eight weeks for you to see the final results. Moreover, this method is less effective than lasers in many cases.

Another treatment option is surgical excision, removing part or all of your tattoo by cutting out the affected skin with a scalpel or blade and stitching up any remaining wounds after surgery. However, this solution can be extremely painful and leave noticeable scars.

It’s also important to note that only licensed professionals specializing in treating scars should perform surgical excision. Otherwise, they could worsen an existing scarring issue.

Myth: Laser Tattoo Removal Is a Guaranteed Method for Complete Tattoo Removal

One of the most common misconceptions about laser tattoo removal is that it’s a guaranteed method for complete tattoo removal. While the laser can remove all of your ink, it might not be able to do so on its own. This is because each person’s skin reacts differently to treatments, meaning some people will see more results than others.

If you’re looking for an effective way to reduce the ink visible on your skin after treatment, then laser tattoo removal can help. However, to minimize the visible ink to a minimum, you should take proper skin care after treatment.

Conclusion

We hope this article has helped you dispel some myths about laser tattoo removal. While it’s true that there are limitations to how effective this method can be, it is still a very effective way to remove tattoos and prevent them from returning. The best thing about laser tattoo removal is that it doesn’t require painful injections or long recovery time like traditional methods.