Once you complete your first session, you may be wondering what you can expect from laser tattoo removal after one treatment.
Unfortunately, unlike getting a tattoo, laser tattoo removal is a process often requiring between six to nine treatments for complete removal. Because of this, we always warn people that you may not see massive changes to your tattoo right away. But don’t be discouraged! Every time you sit under the laser, you are making progress. And while it might be difficult to notice significant changes at first, a comparison between photographs taken during previous visits can reveal the true extent of progress.
The typical results from laser tattoo removal after one treatment vary. Things like ink color, concentration, age, and the depth of the actual tattoo, all factor into the responsiveness of the tattoo to laser treatment. And, while your first session should show at least some results, there are a few things that might affect the upfront visual significance of your laser tattoo removal after one treatment.
Tattoos don’t always fade consistently across the entire image
Differences between colors, thickness, and depth in a tattoo will affect how it fades. For example, tattoos that include black lines and colors (especially green or blue) may require different treatments — you might see fading in one portion of your tattoo but no results in another. That’s why we tackle your particular tattoo’s laser tattoo removal with a review and consultation at the beginning of every session — choosing the best action for that session to create the most results.
Some kinds of tattoos are more difficult to remove than others
Difficulty has more to do with density than darkness. Ink layers are broken up by the laser and removed from the top down. The thicker and more dense the tattoo, the longer it will take. Thick tattoos and black lines are incredibly stubborn in showing immediate results, often appearing fuzzy before they show fading.
Different colors often require different lasers to remove ink effectively
Our research and experience show that reds, oranges, yellows, and browns are best treated with wavelengths of 532nm, whereas dark colors like black are best removed with wavelengths of 1064nm. For this, we use our Cutera laser, which operates in those two wavelengths. On the other hand, green and blue tattoo inks require a 755nm wavelength to remove, for which we use our PicoSure laser.
The location of your tattoo matters
The closer to your heart that the tattoo is, the faster it will fade. This is due to increased blood pressure and immune cells present in areas closer to your heart. As a result, chest and back tattoos will fade faster than hand and foot tattoos.
Smoking significantly increases your tattoo removal time
The American Medical Association’s Archives of Dermatology found that smoking can reduce the chance of successfully removing a tattoo after 10 treatment sessions by 70%. As a smoker, the body’s immune system is already dealing with removing smoke and other particles from the lungs, which significantly reduces its ability to tackle the additional foreign objects caused by broken-up ink particles. That’s not to say that we can’t remove your tattoo if you’re a smoker, but be prepared for a longer recovery time and quite a few more sessions to achieve complete removal.
Everyone’s body processes ink removal differently. It takes time for the body to process broken-up ink particles and remove it from the tattoo site. So the results from one person’s laser tattoo removal after one treatment, may vary drastically from another person’s. We can give you our best estimate when you come in for a free consultation during your first visit, but your results will be specific for your body and particular tattoo.
