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Tattoo Removal
Aftercare

It is critical to follow all aftercare instructions to prevent complications, scarring and to achieve optimum results.  

Please read carefully.


After treatment, your treated area may seem like a superficial burn wound. Many patients experience immediate whitening of the area, plus bruising, swelling, blistering, and scabbing. Here are some basic guidelines to handling these side effects and achieving excellent laser tattoo removal results:

Tattoo Removal Frosting

After Your Laser Tattoo Removal Session:

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  1. Keep the treated area clean and dry during the healing process. If necessary, clean the area gently with mild soap and water and pat dry.
     

  2. Blistering is common after laser treatment and is a part of the natural healing process. Do not be alarmed by blisters, but do protect the area and apply an ointment after the blisters have popped.
     

  3. You may apply cool compresses if necessary after the treatment to help reduce discomfort and inflammation in the unlikely event that this occurs.
     

  4. Do not pick any scabs that form. This step is very important to prevent scarring. Avoid any activity (such as shaving) in the treated area that may cause scabs to remove.
     

  5. Feel free to shower 2 hours after treatment, but avoid high water pressure hitting the treated area. Also, do not soak the treated area until all scabs and blisters have completely healed – that means no baths, hot tubs, or swimming to prevent the chance of infection.
     

  6. Exercise is generally safe after treatment, as long as all other after care instructions have been followed.
     

  7. Wear a sun block of SPF 30 or higher over the area for 3 months following treatment. Avoid wearing make-up or creams near the treated area for the first 48 hours after treatment.
     

  8. Itching is very common due to the dehydrating effect of the laser. Use Aquaphor, Vitamin E ointment, or hydrocortisone cream to moisturise the area as it heals.
     

  9. If the area looks infected (honey-coloured crusting, oozing, spreading redness) or you have an extreme reaction, immediately contact medical professionals for help.
     

  10. Healing is usually complete in about 4 to 8 weeks, depending on the patient’s after care, immune system, and level of treatment. Scarring, which can be hypertrophic or even keloid, can occur but is very rare. Loss of skin pigment (or excess gain of skin pigment) in the treated area may occur, but is temporary in almost all cases.

Common side effects that can occur with Laser Tattoo Removal

While tattoos are more popular than ever, if you have changed your mind about one of yours, you can now have it removed faster and safer than ever, with  advanced Picosecond Laser Tattoo Removal.


While this technology is the best there is, like any treatment, there are some normal side-effects that many people experience, which we explain in detail here so you know what to expect as part of your treatment.

 

Frosting

During the Laser Tattoo Removal treatment, the tattooed skin will naturally turn a frosty white colour. You’ll see this happen, and it’s a normal part of the process. It’s caused by carbon dioxide surfacing on the upper layer of the skin as it is released by the Laser treatment. This frosting is superficial and usually subsides after about twenty minutes. 

 

Blistering 

The Laser Tattoo Removal process can cause tiny blood vessels around the tattoo to break. As a result, superficial blisters containing water and sometimes ink can form on the surface of the skin. This is a normal side effect of the process, and actually indicates that the skin’s healing process has begun. While these may be tender to touch, and of course affect the appearance of the area temporarily, they should heal up naturally within 3 - 14 days, provided they are not burst. 

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If blisters are large or in the way, they can be punctured using a sterile needle to drain away some of the fluid. However is it important to not remove the sister skin as this acts as a barrier to protect the skin, helping it heal. Keep any blisters covered to avoid infection until fully healed.

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Scabbing 

Again while you may not like the appearance, scabs also indicate that the tattoo removal process is working, and your skin in healing. Scabs often collect fragmented ink, and usually appear 8 - 72 hours after treatment. When the scabs falls off, any ink attached will come off with it. We recommend you avoid picking or peeling off any scabs to reduce the risk of scarring, however tempting it might be! While there may be some variation due to size and location, generally most scabs will disappear within two weeks. 

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Swelling 

Swelling is one of the body’s natural defenses, and can happen after Laser Tattoo Removal treatment, in the same way that it might happen after an insect bite or a bump to any part of the body. The heat of the treatment may initiate some swelling, which will reduce naturally once the immune system realises there is no threat. 

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Discomfort 

While we all tend to feel pain to different degrees, the majority of people do feel some discomfort during Laser Tattoo Removal Treatment. The area being treated also affects the level of discomfort. In the same way that getting a tattoo on a fleshier area of the body hurts less as the flesh acts like a cushion, Laser Tattoo Removal also works the same way. Tattoo removal on areas with less natural padding, such as the wrists, feet, face or hands, will usually feel more uncomfortable than on an area such the thigh. 

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Many clients compare the sensation of Laser Tattoo Removal to getting the tattoo, or to the sensation of an elastic band being snapped against the skin. The good news is that the Picosecond Laser Tattoo Removal technology that we use is the most advanced in the world - meaning is delivers the best results in the shortest time possible, meaning discomfort is minimised to the greatest extent that technology allows. 

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Itching 

Itching is a common side effect of Laser Tattoo Removal, and again it’s a natural response from the body’s immune system as it goes about its work of healing. As with any skin irritation, it’s important to try not to scratch the area, as this could reduce the effectiveness of the treatment. Scratching could potentially break the skin and create a wound, which would then run a risk of scarring or infection. We advise you to avoid applying creams or lotion to the area, with the exception of Aloe Vera. If you are finding the itching to be intense, please contact us for advice. 

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Scarring 

Medical and cosmetic Laser technology is now so advanced that permanent scarring is very rare, occurring in less than two percent of cases. If scarring does occur, it is likely to be minimal and can be treated with Vitamin E oil or over-the-counter silicone patches, once the skin has fully healed. In order to minimise the risk of scarring, drink plenty of water, get enough sleep each night, and if you happen to smoke, quitting cigarettes will also aid healing. All of these measures boost the body’s immune system and support the neural processes that eliminate the ink and repair the skin.  

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Avoiding direct exposure to the sun further reduces any risk of scarring, as ultraviolet radiation can harm your skin’s pigmentation and increase the risk of scarring due to greater sensitivity. Keloid scars, which are raised, thickened areas of skin can appear up to 3 to 6 months after treatment, but these are very rare.

 

Hyperpigmentation 

In some cases, Laser Tattoo removal can affect the skin’s natural pigment or melanin. One possible consequence is called hyperpigmentation, essentially patches of darkened skin. This condition is more common among people with darker skin tones, and those with tanned skin. The condition usually resolves itself in time. If you have a concern about this, please speak with your Laser Technician . 

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Hypopigmentation

At the other end of scale is hypopigmentation, where the skin’s normal pigmentation has been removed, resulting in a lighter patch of skin where the tattoo was. Typically, it can take months or years for the pigmentation to return to normal, and for some, the pigmentation may not return. While this is a slight risk, it is to be balanced against the tattoo itself, which many people will still prefer to remove. 


Infection 

Because PicoSure® Pro Laser Tattoo Removal doesn’t actually break or burn the skin, the risk of infection is low, particularly if you follow the aftercare instructions that will be set out by your Laser Technician . The risk of infection increases if you scratch or pick skin, or burst blisters, so our advice is always to avoid doing this. In the event of infection, we invite you to contact us or your GP for advice. 

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Muscle soreness

Again this is unlikely, but in the event that you do feel some muscle soreness around the area, we suggest using a cold compress of ice wrapped in a clean cloth to soothe the area. Do not place ice directly against the skin as this can cause burning. We also advise against any products such as Deep Heat that could irritate the area. Cold, Paracetamol, and Aloe Vera are recommended for any soreness. 

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We hope you find this guide to some common side effects of Laser Tattoo Removal helpful. Your Laser Technician will explain the risks and offer you advice on pre-treatment and post-treatment care, which you can review here. 

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Here at Fadewell Solutions Laser Clinic in Tamworth, all our Laser Technicians are certified with VTCT Level 3 Anatomy, Physiology and and Pathology, VTCT Level 4 Certificate in Laser and Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Treatments, VTCT Level 4 Award in Core of Knowledge for Laser and Light Devices and ITEC Level 5 Laser Tattoo Removal. So you can be sure you’re receiving the best treatment available. We are always here to advise and answer any questions. While we want to fully inform you of any side effects, we are happy to say that we have successfully treated thousands of happy clients, and we look forward to helping you on your Laser Tattoo Removal journey. 

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We look forward to welcoming you at Fadewell Solutions, our Tamworth Tattoo Removal Clinic.

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