According to statistics unveiled by a nationwide survey, it was found that one Australian in five has a tattoo of some kind or the other. This, of course, is quite evident in the fact that Aussies love to get inked! If you’re on this web page you are probably considering removing a tattoo, or wondering how does tattoo removal work.
However, what it doesn’t tell us is that a large percentage of Aussies who get inked at an early age often have to get them removed later on due to a variety of reasons that depend on the individual and their circumstances. In case you are looking to get a tattoo removed yourself, here are five things that you should know about it in advance.
There is an Element of Risk
The actual lasers used are certified to be used for tattoo removal by the authorities, but they are still lasers and will burn your skin to a degree during the process. So, unless handled by a licensed practitioner, preferably a dermatologist, laser removal can cause complications that range from burns and scarring to severe hyperpigmentation and infections.
It should be noted that, even when handled by expert dermatologists, hypopigmentation and hyperpigmentation are common side-effects.
You May Experience Slight Pain, Depending on the Circumstances
Depending on how many sessions it takes, how big the tattoo is and how skilled the dermatologist happens to be with the work, the pain experienced will differ from person to person. Also, different people have different pain tolerance thresholds, so that will be a major factor as well.
All said and done, the pain is mostly mild and the area could be locally anesthetized to begin with, which would mean that you won’t feel a thing during the procedure.
Everyone Will Need to Wear Eye-Shields
The laser used for tattoo removal is powerful enough to cause serious retinal damage, so both the dermatologist and the patient must be wearing protective eye-shields during the process. Anyone present during the process will need to wear them as well. If the place says they are unnecessary, find a new place to get your tattoo removed!
There is a Chance that the Tattoo May Not be Completely Faded
Once again, a number of factors come into play, such as the size of the tattoo, the type, colour and amount of ink used, and the age of the person and the tattoo, in determining how removable the tattoo really is. In most cases, though, tattoos can be faded beyond visibility, but the area could look discernibly different from the surrounding skin.
One-Session Tattoo Removals are Mostly a Myth
You may see adverts about one-session tattoo removals from time to time, but they are not genuine claims. Some smaller tattoos might be removed in just two to three sessions, but most standard tattoo designs take anywhere between six to ten sessions on average before they can considered “removed.”
Also, to reduce the chance of infection, your dermatologist will prescribe both oral antibiotics and an antibiotic cream for the area. Taking and applying these is essential in preventing skin infections.