Tattoo Removal

Hi Ye Xu, It is unfortunately quite painful. Pain is of course, very subjective so it depends very much on the pain threshold of every person as well as the location of the tattoo. The parts of our skin, which have more nerve endings, will have a stronger sensation. Areas such as the face, neck and fingers are more sensitive. These are areas where you might feel more pain as compared to the shoulder or forearm. I take steps to ensure that the procedure is as comfortable as possible for all my patients. This involve the generous use of numbing cream and the use of a chilled air blower.

Information is easily available online. It is also in the palm of your hands. I would do a search on your favorite search engine either on your smart phone or computer and read a few reviews before making a decision on the ideal person to help remove your tattoos. You also need to consider the laser technology used as well as the person operating the laser. This is going to be a long process and you will need to be comfortable with the person who is doing the treatment. The current gold standard laser remains the Medlite C6.

I’m afraid that it would not be possible unless your tattoo has very little ink to begin with. Most tattoos usually require 3 to 12 sessions depending on the laser used and the person using it. Some factors that will affect how quickly your tattoo clears include: Your body’s immune system (ability to breakdown the ink and repair itself) Body placement of your tattoo Type of ink colors Amount of ink used Is it over an existing scar or a pre-existing tattoo? Whether or not you smoke Technology definitely plays an important role in the rate of complete removal.

Hi Mei Siew, The best method for tattoo removal remains the laser. Choosing the right person to do the job is just as important as the laser technology used. The PicoWay treatment remains my favorite laser for this purpose because of the range of colors it can treat in addition to the speed at which it clears most tattoos.

Your skin color will be absorbing the laser energy as well as the tattoo ink. The darker you are, the more melanin you have. This also absorbs the laser energy in addition to the tattoo ink. It is possible to remove your tattoo, except that you may very likely require more sessions when compared to someone with a lighter skin tone since I need to be more conservative with the energy settings used. Regardless of whether you have dark or fair skin, you face the same risks and side effects. Individuals with darker skin tones may face an increased risk for hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation.

Most black ink tattoos take about 3 to 12 months depending on the type of laser technology used. Colorful tattoos such as yours are harder to treat. On an average, each laser treatment is spaced out between four to six weeks as stacking the treatments too closely together can cause damage and possibly leave you with scars. The colour and amount ink being treated also determines the number of sessions required. Green and sky-blue inks are especially difficult to remove using the traditional lasers. Such lasers include the gold standard Medlite C6. Look to newer technologies such as the PicoWay.

Your skin needs time to heal. Attempting to remove a tattoo whilst it is still healing only increases your chance of scarring. Minimally, I would advise four to six weeks between each laser treatment as stacking the treatments too closely together can cause damage instead. You might need to wait a little longer if you are a smoker as well.

Hi Jie Sheng, Your skin needs time to heal. Attempting to remove a tattoo whilst it is still healing only increases your chance of scarring. I advise all my patients to wait at least 4 weeks before going for treatment. In my experience, tattoos that are less than a year old are much harder to remove when compared with a tattoo that has been there 10 years. Your body tries to get rid of the ink as soon as you get it. Older tattoos means that your body has had more time to remove when compared to a fresh tattoo.

Hi Sising, Before the PicoWay arrived, it was green and sky blue. I would say that the hardest colour to remove is now red/brown. Black ink is the easiest and most straightforward colour to remove. However, I have seen an increasing trend in metallic black ink being used. This makes the removal process much more complicated as the metallic pigment tends to reflect the laser energy away. This results in additional sessions to completely remove the tattoo. In a tattoo removal process, the part that absorbs the laser energy is called the chromophore.

I’m afraid that it is not very effective. I have seen these creams advertised as well and I have interviewed some of my patients who have used them. The consensus is that the results are marginal, if any, at best. The laser remains the gold standard for tattoo removal. It would be wise to consider this as your only option. I have seen too many scars as a result of other attempts at trying to remove tattoos using common household agents. My advice is to choose carefully where you get your treatment.