colored ink removal lowres

Removing New Tattoos & Colored Ink

MEDermis Laser Clinic wants all of our clients to feel prepared before beginning the laser tattoo removal process. That’s why we offer FREE consultations and regularly post helpful tips on our blog. Today we’re going to dive into the topic of removal times and speed based on the tattoo color, as well as how soon after getting a tattoo you can have it removed—both of which are very common topics we’ve experienced in our tenure.

Read on for all of the need-to-know factors that can help you make your decision, or if you want to speak with our Certified Laser Specialists face to face, go ahead and give us a call to schedule your consultation!

Does Tattoo Color Matter?

There’s some misinformation around colored ink and tattoo removal, for example, many believe that it’s not possible to remove blue, purple, and green inks. However, that is totally dependent upon the type of laser used. While many clinics across Texas don’t have the proper laser to do the job, that’s not a problem for us at MEDermis Laser Clinic.

As you may remember from our Ultimate Guide in Tattoo Removal, removing a tattoo is a process that involves directing lasers to break down the tattoo and essentially disintegrate the ink into smaller fragments that are absorbed and flushed out by the body.

Different lasers and wavelengths do not penetrate the skin like tattoo gun needles, so they require varying technologies. Our Certified Laser Specialists will walk you through the entire process and what to expect for your unique tattoo.

What to Expect

During our 13 years in the industry, we’ve been asked a lot of questions, but one of the most common is “which are the easiest tattoo colors to remove?“. While tattoo removal with lasers is a pretty straightforward process, all inks are not created equal and some pigments can pose hurdles in establishing a removal timeline. However, our team at MEDermis Laser Clinic has had success in removing many different colors. Read on to learn about the specifics.

Many expect that the number of sessions they need will be mostly defined based on tattoo size, location, and even age of the ink, but the color of ink used could also determine if your removal process is “fast” or not. Black is the most common ink used and is often the “easiest” to remove, but what about the rest of the color spectrum?

  • Depending on the shade used, blue ink can be tricky. Darker shades of blue are more straightforward, while lighter shades of blue pigment are more challenging and may require more sessions.
  • As far as colors go, green may be the easiest to remove apart from blue and black. However, like its blue counterpart, the difficulty level will depend mostly on the shade used with darker shades being easier to remove than the lighter shades.
  • Red is recognized as a universally difficult color to remove because warmer tones aren’t always absorbed by certain lasers and can even be repelled.
  • While red is difficult, orange and yellow are even more challenging. Both have a bright profile that is tough to fade making the correct laser selection crucial. The lighter your skin type, the more success we have had with these colors.
  • Depending on your skin tone and the location of the tattoo, pink is also considered one of the most difficult colors to remove. Luckily for you, we have had great success removing pink tattoos.
  • White is another tricky tone thanks to its bright nature. It’s hard to fade a color that isn’t exactly a color, and the ink likes to stand its ground. But don’t worry, the MEDermis team has experience working with white ink.

During your initial consultation with our Certified Laser Specialists, we’ll assess the color spectrum of your tattoo and give you a closer estimate to expect. Laser tattoo removal can require anywhere from 3 to 7 sessions to safely and efficiently remove a tattoo. However, be sure to keep in mind that if you’re sporting certain colors as mentioned above, you may need more sessions.

Apart from the color of the ink, there are some other important considerations you should keep in mind. The type of ink used can skew results as some inks create a contradictory reaction that causes the skin to become darker instead of lighter, which is a factor your Certified Laser Specialist will review with you during your consultation. In addition, the ink density will affect the length of your removal process. Shading in tattoos is fairly easy to remove and can be taken care of in a few sessions.

We hope this information was insightful and answered all of your questions, but if you’d like a little more info or you’re ready to schedule your consultation don’t hesitate to get in touch!

To wrap up today’s informative post we’d like to switch gears and touch on another topic: how soon after getting a tattoo can you have it removed?

Removing New Tattoos

While many people don’t even consider removing a tattoo until years after they’ve had it, we’ve had our fair share of clients come in asking how soon they could get their new tattoo erased. Typically, most are unhappy with how their new tattoo turned out, but regardless of the reason, there’s an important time frame we recommend.

No matter how unhappy you are or how painful the wait may feel, it is critical that your new tattoo is completely healed before you start the laser removal process otherwise you may have to endure unwanted side effects. Your skin is your largest organ and it’s also incredibly sensitive, our goal is to remove your tattoo as safely as possible.

Many laser clinics recommend waiting at least six weeks after getting a new tattoo before starting the removal process, but a tattoo can actually take anywhere from 8 to 16 weeks to completely heal.

To be 100% sure your tattoo is completely healed and that your skin will be safe throughout the process, we recommend waiting a couple of months before seeking out laser removal. However, as you reach that 3-4-month mark, you may go ahead and schedule your consultation so we can start making a plan for your unique tattoo and give you an idea of the number of sessions to expect.

Is your unwanted ink causing you distress? We understand. However, failure to wait for the healing process to be completed could result in some nasty side effects for you. Blistering, scarring, and skin discoloration are all possible when trying to remove fresh or “wet” ink. The wait is well worth it.

MEDermis Laser Clinic Can Help!

Tattoos are designed to be permanent, which is why you’ll want an expert on your side to help you through the process. We’re proud to have been serving clients in Austin and San Antonio longer than any other clinic in the entire southwest region of the U.S. Contact us today to schedule your FREE consultation!

Have more questions about tattoo removals and what to expect at MEDermis Laser Clinic? Browse our FAQs here or check out our other blog posts for answers.

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