How Long To Keep Bandage On After Laser Tattoo Removal?

When someone wants to get rid of their tattoo, the most obvious solution is to get a laser removal treatment. It might be slightly painful, but it is the most effective method to remove compared to other methods out there. The aftercare instructions are easy to follow too. Just make sure to keep the bandage on after getting the laser tattoo removal procedure done. But do you know how long to keep the bandage on?

Laser tattoo removal has its own aftercare that you will have to do to ensure that the skin is healing properly. The very first step is to keep a clean gauze bandage over the skin to protect it after getting the tattoo removed. As it is the first step, it will determine how well your skin will be healing. So let’s find out how long you have to keep it and the aftercare that you need to make sure your skin is back to normal in no time!

Key Takeaways

• The bandage has to be kept on for a certain amount of time to protect the sensitive skin after getting the tattoo removed.
• There are things that you should and shouldn’t do for the aftercare of your tattoo removal. These will help speed up the healing process.
• The time between sessions will be dependent on the healing of the skin, but doctors usually have a set amount of time before you get your next session.

Time Length To Keep Bandage On After Laser Tattoo Removal

You can remove the bandage within 2 to 3 days of getting the laser tattoo removal treatment done unless your practitioner recommends waiting longer.

After your first session of laser treatment, your laser-certified physician or practitioner will wrap your skin with a clean and sterilized gauze bandage. This bandage has to be kept on for at least 24 hours after the procedure. Keeping for 3 days can ensure maximum safety of the healing skin. But, you will need to remove the initial bandage 8 to 12 hours later to clean the area and use a cold compress. Then, you will have to apply a sterile clean gauze bandage over the skin again and keep it on for 3 days. After that, you are free to remove the bandage to let the skin naturally heal.

The first 3 days are important to keep the area clean and dry. That is why the bandage will act as a protective barrier and protect your skin from any dirt, germs, and bacteria. After these 3 days, your skin will have healed a little, and removing the bandage will increase the healing process.

Even though the bandage is there to keep the lasered skin protected, your skin needs to be able to breathe to allow for natural healing. That is why after the 3rd day, you will be removing it.

Once it is removed, that is when you start doing all the necessary aftercare of the skin. Very much like the aftercare for tattoos, the lasered skin needs time to heal. This could be anywhere from 4 to 8 weeks.

But the aftercare itself will be a little different from how you care for your tattoo.

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Laser Tattoo Removal Aftercare

There are some things that you need to do for the aftercare of laser-removed tattoo skin. So here are the things that you should definitely be doing until the next round of lasers (or when you are done with the sessions).

Cold compress for frosting

Frosting can occur due to your skin releasing carbon dioxide and plasma right after the laser treatment.

If you notice frosting then take care of the frosting by applying a cold compress or ice pack wrapped in a dry and clean towel and keep it on the skin for 15 minutes. Do this anytime you feel any pain or discomfort after going back home. You could also take ibuprofen for the pain as well.

Cleaning the area

Your esthetician probably has bandaged the area, take the bandage off and clean your skin. Keeping the skin clean is very important after each laser treatment session. You may use an antibacterial solution to clean the area twice a day. Be extra careful during cleaning as blisters form after the procedure.

Applying ointment

Pat dry the area and apply antibiotic healing ointment. You can go for any reliable antibiotic healing ointment like Neosporin to use on the affected area. Then you can apply a fresh and sterilized bandage over the skin.

Aloe vera gel

When you reapply the bandage after cleaning every time, you may apply some aloe vera gel on the skin. Aloe vera is one of the best natural cooling and soothing ingredients that are beneficial to the healing skin.

Apply a thin layer on the skin and then carefully wrap a clean bandage over it to make sure that the skin does not feel irritated under the bandage for the first 3 days.

Note: You can skin aloe vera if you are applying antibiotic healing ointment.

Apply sunscreen

After the laser tattoo removal process when you remove the bandage after 3 days, your skin will be very light-sensitive. This is because the skin just went through concentrated light attacks to break the pigments in the tattoo ink.

Avoid sun exposure and apply a layer of moisturizing sunscreen on the skin to protect it. It should be at least 30 SPF rating sunscreen to ensure UV rays don’t affect your skin at this stage of healing.

Moisturize

After 3 days of going through the procedure and removing the bandage, you can start applying moisturizer to keep the area hydrated.

Stay in the shade

Staying in the shade is one of the best ways to heal the skin. The sun is really bad for both tattoos and the skin after the tattoo is removed. Avoiding the sunlight will ensure that your skin is not agitated and safely healing. So, try your best to stay in the shade till your skin is completely healed.

Wear loose clothing

The tattoo removal will leave the skin feeling sensitive to the touch as well. That is why you should wear clothing that is not constricting the area of the skin. When blood flows through the skin, it promotes faster healing so make sure to wear loose-fitting clothes and allow the skin to heal properly.

Fastening The Healing Process Of Laser Tattoo Removal

Apart from taking proper aftercare, the next most crucial thing you can do to speed up the healing process is to boost your immune system after going through the tattoo removal procedure. Boosting your immune system will not only promote the healing of damaged skin cells but also help you fight off any possible infection.

To boost your immune system do the following:

• Eat plenty of vegetables and protein
• Drink plenty of water
• Sleep at least 8 hours daily
• Avoid junk food as much as possible

A healthy immune system can shorten the time length between each laser tattoo removal session as well. It can increase white blood cells and help fight off any possible infection.

Things Not To Do After Getting Laser Tattoo Removal Treatment

There are also things that you shouldn’t do for the skin that had the tattoo removed.

So let’s look at the common things you shouldn’t be doing,

Don’t touch the area

The skin where you had the laser treatment done will itch! It is important to make sure that you do not touch the area, only touch it when you wash, and apply antibiotic healing ointment. The skin will blister, turn red, feel very itchy, and so much more. To ensure proper healing, avoid touching the skin unnecessarily.

No beautification

Avoid tanning beds, shaving, or putting on make-up on the skin at all! I know that the skin will look a bit weird and you may want to put on some make-up, but it is important to keep the area free from anything that blocks it. Shaving the area from any hair is a big no-no too! The skin will be very sensitive and shaving the area will make the skin feel even more irritated. That is why avoid using any artificial product to enhance skin beauty after laser treatments.

No swimming or saunas

Just like newly tattooed skin, you should avoid soaking the area after getting a laser session done. Saunas and hot tubs are also forbidden. The steam and heat combination will leave the skin feeling very irritated and cause more chances of infection!

If the procedure is done on a body part that you can keep elevated and not touch the water then you may use a hot tub. Avoid swimming pools and rivers as well because germs and chemicals from these open water sources can cause infection.

Avoid extensive physical activities

Sweating is also another thing that should be avoided. The skin needs to be as clean and dry as possible to promote the best possible healing conditions. Sweating will cause the skin to be clogged, slowing down the healing process and making the skin feel worse! So avoid extensive physical activity while your skin is fully healed.

No smoking or alcohol consumption

Smoking is one thing that you should try to reduce if not completely stop for the time that you are healing. It hinders the healing process as well! Alcohol has blood-thinning properties. Smaller blood vessels mean less blood flow in the area that needs to be healed. That is why you should avoid alcohol as well!

Time Between Each Laser Tattoo Removal Session

The ideal wait time between laser removal sessions is about 6 weeks. This is to allow the skin to completely heal after having one session. The number of sessions will depend on the size of the tattoo and the colors that the tattoo has. Black tattoos are easier to remove as black absorbs the most light. That is why some laser removal takes over 10 sessions while some only take 2 to 5 sessions.

It is important that you follow the aftercare that your doctor has provided to you. They set a guideline so that your skin heals within the time for your next session. Your skin might even heal before the 6-week mark but that is a variable that most doctors will not take into account. A set 6-week period is enough time for the skin to heal, bar anything that makes the skin worse like an infection. It all starts with the bandage and it will end with the aftercare. That is why keeping the bandage on for the appropriate time is the most important step of aftercare!

When To Call For Help

Even though laser treatment is effective, the reaction that people have will be different. Sometimes, it is best to call for help when you see signs of:

• Infection
• Bleeding
• Severe itching
• Unusual discomfort in the area

Call your doctor and get your skin checked out as soon as possible. Otherwise, there is a risk of the condition getting worse.

FAQs

How long does it take for the laser removal to heal?

It takes about 6 weeks and you might need anywhere from 5 to 15 sessions to completely remove the tattoo.

Does the tattoo get lighter or darker after removal?

The tattoo is supposed to get lighter after each tattoo removal, where the final session of laser tattoo removal will completely remove the tattoo, leaving only the skin.

How can I speed up my healing after laser tattoo removal?

Drinking plenty of water, getting adequate sleep, immunity-boosting food, avoiding smoking and drinking alcohol will all speed up the healing after a laser tattoo removal session.

Final Thoughts

If you keep the bandage on your skin for too long it can cause delay the healing and cause infection. On the other hand, removing the bandage too soon can leave your skin unprotected which can also lead to delayed healing and infection. So, make sure to keep the bandage for 2 to 3 days and then remove it after your laser tattoo removal session.

The first 3 days are important to keep the bandage on to prevent the skin from being damaged. After that, you should follow the aftercare that is provided by the practitioner, knowing what to do and what not to do. Getting a tattoo can be awesome but wanting to get rid of unwanted ink is fine as well, nobody can judge you for that.

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