Before Your Treatment

Laser Tattoo Removal Before-Care Instructions

Now that you’ve embarked on the tattoo removal process, there are several factors you should be aware of to improve pigment removal efficiency, reduce potential uncomfortable side effects and prevent having to attend additional sessions to fully remove the tattoo. Laser tattoo removal is the best and safest option for eliminating unwanted tattoos, but its overall effectiveness can be determined by you.

Laser tattoo removal is the process of using a laser to target and break apart tattoo pigment. The technician targets the laser to those ink particles, heating them up so they come apart. The body’s immune system then removes those particles from your body over time naturally. At MEDermis Laser Clinic, we’ve found that an average patient requires three to seven sessions to completely remove a tattoo — achieving at least 95-98 percent ink clearance. Our sessions are typically only 15 to 30 minutes long and are scheduled six to eight weeks apart to ensure there is ample time for the skin to heal between sessions. The number of sessions you’ll require depends on your tattoo’s characteristics — the ink’s age, location, size and coloring.

Here's what to know before your laser tattoo removal session.

How to Prepare for Laser Tattoo Removal Treatment

Before your laser tattoo removal treatment, it’s best to know items and activities to avoid to ensure the most effective laser treatments. To have safe and successful treatments, your skin must remain clear, receptive and durable. Prior to beginning treatments, please avoid these activities:

  • Before entering your session, the treatment area must be clean — free of any lotions, makeup or sunscreens.
  • Sun exposure, including tanning beds, should be avoided for at least one week prior, but four weeks is preferable. These items lower the effectiveness of laser treatment and increase the chance of post-treatment effects. Being in the sun boost’s your skin’s melanin, which reacts to the laser. Melanin, also known as skin pigment, causes the skin to burn or tan, which makes it sensitive and vulnerable to burns or blistering.
  • Applying tanning products like spray tans or self-tanning lotions are also discouraged by laser technicians. The skin absorbs toxins in the tanners and may react poorly to the laser treatment, delaying the removal process. Both products increase the probability of blisters, burns and hyperpigmentation — the excess formation of melanin — post-treatment.
  • Avoid waxing or mechanical epilation. Mechanical epilation is a machine that pulls all the hair from an area at the same time. These hair-removal procedures are popular, but make the skin sensitive and should be avoided to prevent side effects with the laser.
  • Antibiotics should be discontinued at least six months prior to beginning laser tattoo removal. Unless absolutely necessary to take for your health, several antibiotics have been known to have a negative reaction with laser treatment.

Schedule Your Free Removal Consultation Today!

For over 16 years, MEDermis Laser Clinic has been the premier tattoo removal specialists in San Antonio and Austin, Texas — we’ve pioneered the process, establishing industry standards and guaranteeing safe and effective laser removal for every patient. To make your tattoo removal simple and provide additional assurance, we provide free removal consultations to all patients to determine the number of sessions needed to remove your tattoo and answer any questions. As per our guarantee, if your tattoo removal takes longer than the estimated number of sessions, we’ll continue treating the area at no additional cost for up to one year.

Schedule your treatment today by completing our online form or speaking to one of our representatives in Austin (512-637-5277) or San Antonio (210-402-4030).

SET UP YOUR FREE CONSULTATION TODAY!