Most Difficult Types of Tattoos to Remove
So one late night you got a tattoo that perfectly epitomized your twenties forever. But now that you’re older, maybe that tattoo doesn’t seem so cool — the feeling of forever is a bit longer than you were betting on. Luckily, with laser tattoo removal technology, you can have your unwanted ink removed safely with little pain or damaged or scarred skin.
Tattoo removals at MEDermis Laser Clinic in Austin and San Antonio are typically completed in three to seven sessions, each lasting about 15 to 30 minutes. What determines the number of sessions you’ll require to lose your old ink are the characteristics of your tattoo, including its:
- Age and ink density: Older tattoos are easier to remove because the ink density has decreased over time. How concentrated your tattoo’s ink determines the number of sessions you’ll need, and newer tattoos have a high density of ink because of their recent application.
- Coloring: Laser technology has evolved to the point that nearly every color can be targeted and removed, but some colors are easier to remove than others. Black and darker blues are very simple while light greens, yellows, and turquoise are much more difficult.
- Location: When a tattoo is removed using laser technology, the laser targets the ink particles, breaking them apart. The body’s natural processes and circulation then remove the ink. Locations with low circulation like the face, hands, and feet are more difficult for tattoo removal versus areas like the chest and arms.
Additional Factors Making Removal Difficult
When you’ve finally taken the plunge to have your tattoo removed, there are additional factors that will help determine how well and quickly your tattoo ink will fade besides its age, coloring, and location. If the tattoo is taking longer than expected to fade, keep in mind that these conditions make removing tattoos harder:
- Size: Naturally, a larger tattoo will take longer to remove than a smaller one as it will require more sessions to properly fade and remove the tattoo.
- Smoking: Because the body’s circulatory system helps remove broken down ink particles, it may take longer for smokers to displace the ink and heal after each session. Because of the slower healing process, smokers may also require more time in between sessions.
- Layering: If you’ve chosen to cover an older tattoo with a newer one, the density of the ink will be higher than an average tattoo and require more sessions to completely remove the ink.
- Artist training: Tattoos applied by a professional will take longer to remove because the concentration, density, and evenness of the ink application will be greater than one added by an amateur.
- Skin coloring: Individuals with light- or medium-toned skin will have more success with tattoo removal because the lighter tones don’t significantly absorb laser light, so the beam is concentrated on the tattoo pigment. People with darker skin tones can still have success with laser tattoo removal, but it will require more sessions because the technician will use specific wavelengths on lower settings to prevent side effects.
Have Your Unwanted Ink Lasered Away With MEDermis Laser Clinic
Why are you still living with and covering up your old and unwanted tattoo ink? By having your tattoo removed at MEDermis Laser Clinic, you can have your old skin back. We guarantee that with the latest laser removal technology, you can have clear skin again safely, affordably, and with minimal side effects and scarring. Our certified laser removal technicians have removed nearly 300,000 tattoos throughout San Antonio and Austin, TX — schedule a free consultation today by completing our online form or calling us at 512-637-5277 (Austin) or 210-402-4030 (San Antonio).