Tattoos are expressions. Expressions of love, interests, beliefs, ambitions, culture, identity, etc.
But what happens when the words or arts etched into your skin don’t express who you are, or what you want to be identified with anymore? You remove them! And that’s what we help you do at Ink Doubt. There may be so many mistakes you cannot erase, but your tattoo is not one of them. We assure you.
Tattoo removal isn’t something you do every other day. That’s why we want to walk this path with you by offering our advice on how best to prepare yourself for the procedure. Our advice is based on our professional knowledge and experience as Denver’s superior tattoo removal provider.
In this article, we share healthy habits and tips you should practice before and after your tattoo removal procedure. We share these tips with you because we do not want you to experience any complications during and after the procedure.
In addition to these tips, we also answer some of your most pressing questions on tattoo removal.
Enjoy.
Care Tips: Before Tattoo Removal
- Protect the tattooed area from UV radiation, at least, one month before the procedure.
This means you’ll avoid UV tanning beds and sun exposure. You’ll also have to wear sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or more every day.
Why?
UV radiation increases the production of melanin which, though healthy, can cause scarring and pigmentation marks after the tattoo removal procedure.
It also makes the skin less tolerant of laser treatments by making it difficult for your skin to break down the ink pigments of the tattoo. This will cause the duration of the tattoo removal to be stretched.
- To speed up your healing process, stop smoking and drinking at least 6 weeks before treatment. This will keep your kidney and liver in good health.
What does smoking and drinking alcohol have to do with tattoo removal?
Nicotine, found in cigarettes, is a substance that causes the narrowing of the blood vessel, thereby reducing nutritional blood flow to the skin. This reduced blood flow impairs the efficiency of your macrophages and lymphatic system. It also impairs the healing/ replacement of injured tissue.
You should read our article on How Laser Tattoo Removal Works to gain a better understanding.
As for alcohol, it diminishes the efficiency of the immune system. And just like nicotine, it makes it harder for the skin to regenerate new, healthy tissue to replace the injured ones.
3. Drink lots of water and eat healthy.
A major part of the tattoo fading after the tattoo removal procedure depends on your immune system. That’s why the duration of recovery varies amongst individuals.
Drinking lots of water and eating healthy boosts your immune system.
4. Topically applied products that cause photosensitivity shouldn’t be applied at least 3 days before treatment. They can cause rashes, burning, swelling, erythema, etc.
5. Bathe before coming in. Don’t apply body lotions, fragrances, oil, and similar products after bathing.
6. Research the best place in or around your area to go for your tattoo removal. Amongst other things, find out if the doctors are qualified.
At Ink Doubt, our laser technicians have received expert training at New Look Laser College- which is arguably the best laser tattoo removal school in the USA. That’s one of the many reasons we pride ourselves as the superior tattoo removal provider in Denver.
Care Tips: After Tattoo Removal
After the tattoo removal procedure, of course, your dermatologist will give you specific advice on how best to take care of your skin and certain symptoms you may experience.
However, below are some general advice on how to take good care of your skin after tattoo removal.
- It is not unusual to experience some mild pain or discomfort a few hours after the procedure. Press an ice pack on the affected area after treatment to manage the pain or discomfort. You may have to do this more than once within 24-48 hours after the tattoo removal procedure.
- Keep the area of the treated skin away from heat for, at least, 10-14 days after the procedure. This means no hot baths, saunas, or sun exposure.
- You may notice blisters on the surface of the treated area. Don’t peel or pop the blisters. Let it pop on its own.
- Apply recommended ointment and cover the treated area with a sterilized bandage to prevent infection.
- Avoid strenuous exercises that can affect the treated area for a while because it’s still sensitive.
- Maintain communication with your dermatologist even after the procedure. If you observe any untoward reaction, contact him/ her.
- Eat healthily. Stay healthy.
Other Things to Do Before A Tattoo Removal
- If you’ve had a dermal fill, Botox®, laser treatment, or any other medical spa treatment around your tattooed area, kindly inform us during consultation.
- If you have skin concerns/ disorders or you’re on any medications, you should communicate this during your consultation. This will help your dermatologist or aesthetician determine the best tattoo removal procedure to use on your skin and prep you for it.
Consultations with us are FREE. During the consultation, we answer any procedural questions you may have, access your tattoo in person, and get you familiarized with our technology before committing you to treatment. You can book a session with us by tapping here already.
Related Questions
Does Tattoo Removal Leave Scars?
In unusual cases, yes.
Remember we earlier mentioned that you may observe blisters on the surface of the treated area(s). Peeling or popping those blisters can lead to scarring.
Applying excessive fluence during laser treatment can also result in scarring.
Can Laser Remove Tattoo Completely?
Yes.
However, you should know that there are different factors that affect the results you get during/ after your tattoo removal procedure.
One of them is the age of the tattoo. The older the tattoo, the higher its chances of being erased. But this is not always a given.
Other factors are the location of the tattoo and your skin type.
You’ll need to show up for different sessions during your laser tattoo removal procedure. Ceteris paribus, your tattoo will fade further after each session till it clears completely.
Does Laser Tattoo Removal Hurt?
Errr 😬. Yes, it does. But it’s bearable, we promise you. Some of our previous clients say it hurts less than getting a tattoo itself, so we know you’ll do just fine.
Ready to start your tattoo removal journey? We’re only one call away.