Everything you need to know about tattoo removal

From tattooing to tattoo removal

After going under the pins and needles, some people bitterly regret their tattoo and want to get rid of it because the tattooed pattern no longer matches their desires.

In this article, we will see how you can laser remove makeup on the body thanks to the competent advice of Dr. Hugh Cartier, dermatologist and former president of the laser group of the French Society of Dermatologists.

Get off the tattoo?

Before you go to a tattoo artist, be sure to finalize your tattoo project (feel free to refer to our Tattoopedia section to learn more about these different steps), but hey, as the years go by (sometimes too quickly), the tattoo we wear may no longer satisfy.

And that's when you wonder how to erase it?

As a tattoo enthusiast, I will answer you if you are thinking of a lid stuck but people have decided to remove their tattoo and we are going to figure out how it can be removed with a laser.

Although there are plastic surgery techniques such as deep scrub, which are very abrasive, today they are considered too heavy and outdated due to the effects of scarring. Their use is necessary if laser tattoo removal is not considered.

What is tattoo removal?

Looking in LarousseWithout much surprise, we learn that removing a tattoo means destroying it. And to get rid of a tattoo (although there is a good old resurfacing technique that should be extremely painful and reserved for peeling), the laser has proven to be the most commonly used option these days.

There are different inks, and they are made up of pigments that break down under the action of a laser so that tattoos can be removed. In a sense, the laser "breaks" the tattoo ink balls under the skin so that the body "digests" them.

But keep in mind that the more the tattoo is saturated with pigments, the more important will be the number of sessions of its removal.

Laser and tattoo

Removing a tattoo is much more painful than getting a tattoo, roughly speaking, the action of a laser will be to "break" and destroy the pigments contained in the ink. The noise that the laser makes when it strikes the skin to defragment the pigments is quite impressive and painfulDr. Cartier clarifies that “it hurts! You need a local anesthetic. The first few sessions can be painful and sometimes people refuse to have their tattoos removed. Laser hitting the tattoo can cause burns, scabs, blisters. Parts of the body such as the tibia, the back of the ear, the wrist, or even the inner surface of the ankle are very painful when a tattoo needs to be removed. You should know that the laser emits a shock wave equivalent to 100 watts, so we are working in no time. The dermatologist explains that when we look at the tattoo removal box, its location, the healing process (which can be different depending on the area of ​​the body), the thickness of the tattoo, the use of colors (not to mention the composition of the pigments) are parameters that need to be considered. It is also very important to remember that tattoo removal is a laborious process. “When someone is in too much of a hurry, I refuse to get rid of him, because this is a process that can sometimes take 000 years. The sessions are spaced apart, because the skin is injured by the laser, inflammation occurs. You should first do one session every two months, then every four to six months. This slows down normal healing and thus leaves as few marks as possible, that is, lightens the skin at the site of the old tattoo. "

color

It is known that yellow and orange colors are difficult to remove with a laser. According to an article published in Santemagazine.fr, blue and green are also reluctant to treat the laser as red or black, the action of the laser will be more effective. Keep in mind that it is difficult to get rid of mixtures that should have a light color! Dr. Cartier points out that when a tattoo is composed of multiple colors (orange, yellow, purple), he can also opt out of removing the tattoo because he knows it won't work. The practitioner also emphasizes the fact that it will be necessary to create a document to find out the composition of the tattoo ink (the molecules used to pigment the skin are not always known), and when the molecule is hit by the laser. this triggers a chemical reaction that turns it into a new molecule. Hugh Cartier notes that there is artistic ambiguity at this level, and that not knowing the exact nature of the pigments in ink can pose a health risk - even if today it is impossible to say that permanent makeup and tattoo removal are bad for you. health!

The so-called "amateur" tattoo, that is, made in the old fashioned way with Indian ink, is easy to remove, because the ink does not remain deep under the skin, and it is much more "liquid", less concentrated. than tattoo ink overloaded with pigments.

Traumatic tattoos (pricks are too deep and often by hobbyist tattooists) may require more laser sessions than a tattoo that is more extensive, thinner and more defined.

How many sessions?

Before going under the laser, you need to ask your dermatologist for a quote to find out how many sessions are needed to remove the tattoo.

The tattoo removal session lasts 5 to 30 minutes and The Grand Prix start at 80 euros, but dermatologists do not necessarily apply the same prices, and some sessions can go up to 300 euros or more! The price will, among other things, be determined by the quality of the product. laser used.

The size of the tattoo, the composition of the ink, the number of colors used, the location of the tattoo, and whether it was bitten by an amateur or a professional all affect the number of sessions.

Usually, tattoo removal can take longer than originally anticipated.

Sessions should be split over several months, so be sure to be patient, because getting rid of a tattoo sometimes takes over a year or even three!

It is also important not to expose the laser-treated area to the sun, and to speed up healing, be sure to apply a greasy substance or even take antibiotics.

The main thing is not to scratch the crust and not swim in the sea or pool!

Tattoos that cannot be removed

There are also tattoos that cannot be erased, such as tattoos based on varnish, fluorescent ink or white ink. Tattoo removal works much better on light skin than on dark or matte skin, where the laser action remains very limited and runs the risk of causing depigmentation.

Where to go?

Dermatologists are the only ones who can use lasers because it is a medical act.