Tattoo Removal FAQ

One of the first things we do when you show up for your first tattoo removal experience at The UnTattoo Parlor is photograph your tattoo. This photograph is used to document and compare changes between treatment sessions, and to help advise us on our treatment plan. Once photographed and compared with any previous documentations, we numb the area of skin with a lidocaine injection before applying the tattoo removal laser. Lidocaine numbs the skin, allowing your tattoo removal experience to be pain free. This local anesthetic is optional, and choosing to forgo is perfectly fine but may result in some discomfort. The laser is then applied by hand, making sure that the entire tattoo area is covered with precision. Once the treatment is finished, we apply an antibiotic ointment and cover the area with a protective dressing. Many people feel well enough to resume their regular activities immediately after treatment. After treatment your body will slowly rid itself of the tattoo ink and you should see significant fading of your unwanted ink. We recommend between 1-3 treatments for lightening and 3-6 treatments for complete removal.

Tattoo removal is a process. You should experience some significant fading, but don’t expect a complete tattoo removal after one session. We usually recommend between 1-3 treatments for lightening and 3-6 treatments for complete removal with the Enlighten Cutera laser.

No, most self tattoo removal methods work by repeatedly destroying or removing the whole area of tattooed skin. These processes can lead to fading or tattoo removal over time, but are rarely effective in the complete removal of a tattoo and often leave scarring behind as a result.

PicoSecond laser tattoo removal is simply laser tattoo removal treatment that is completed using a PicoSecond laser. These lasers provide a faster and less damaging tattoo removal experience because they operate at a faster speed than traditional Q-Switch lasers. (Picoseconds – one trillionth of a second, vs nanoseconds – one billionth of a second). This allows them to remove tattoos more quickly and completely than older-style Q-Switch lasers, and do a better job of fading and removing green and blue inks.

Sometimes we get questions about whether we offer free tattoo removal for military. At The UnTattoo Parlor we offer a 10% discount to all active and former military personnel.

If you are currently pregnant, you may be wondering “can you get laser tattoo removal while pregnant?.” Currently, there is no research that indicates that laser tattoo removal poses a risk to your baby’s health, but that isn’t a 100% guarantee. The biggest risk posed during laser tattoo removal is an increased chance of scarring, hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation. This is due to an increase in the photosensitivity of your skin that happens while you are pregnant, potentially causing your skin to become more sensitive to the laser used for treatment. Because of this risk, if you are currently pregnant, we advise you to consider whether tattoo removal is right for you.

Patients often seek gauged ear surgery to repair elongated or stretched earlobes, commonly resulting from the gradual stretching of earlobes due to large plugs or heavy earrings. To repair gauged ears, the surgeon makes a small incision in the elongated part of the ear and removes excess tissue. Then the earlobe is reshaped and stitched to return it to it’s original unstretched shape.

Yes! Once treated, the previously tattooed skill will need some time to completely heal and for internal inflammation to settle. We recommend waiting around 6 weeks after your last tattoo removal session before getting a new tattoo in the same area.

Although commonly regarded as the most difficult colored inks to remove, we’ve found that green and blue ink tattoo removal is effective and fast when treated with our PicoSure laser.

While the chance of scarring after treatment is unlikely, there are some temporary side effects that you may expect from your skin after laser tattoo removal. After treatment, most patients notice that their skin turns white and puffy in the treated area. This is a sign of healing and will most likely subside in a few hours. Following that, patients may also experience:

• Redness
• Tenderness
• Swelling
• Blistering
• Scabs
• Bruising
• Hyperpigmentation
• Hypopigmentation

These side effects are all temporary, however, and should subside completely in a few weeks. After that, your skin should return to it’s normal texture, with a reduced appearance of the unwanted tattoo.