You can hardly find a tattoo lover who never had a regrettable tattoo. Even people who are not into tattoos may get a tattoo of their lover’s name and regret it after breaking up. And there are a few who got their tattoo when they were drunk and regret it after sobering up. So rest assured, you are not the only one on the planet who has a tattoo that they don’t want anymore. Removing a tattoo is now easier than ever. With a few sessions, you can completely remove any sort of regrettable tattoo.
There is no quick fix when it comes to removing a tattoo. The only annoying thing that might be in the tattoo removal process is that it requires quite a few sessions. So you will need to visit your tattoo removal studio quite a few times regardless of the size, design, and color of your tattoo. But the session can be less or more depending on a few factors.
Key Takeaways
- It may take about 6 to 10 sessions to remove a tattoo, maybe even more for larger tattoos!
- Various factors such as ink color, placement of the tattoo, and tattoo size determine the number of sessions it will take to remove the tattoo.
- A single session usually takes 15 to 30 minutes to ensure that your skin is not exposed to too much lasers.
- The break between sessions depends on the strength of your immune system. In general, it is 42 to 48 days.
5 Factors for Number of Sessions Required to Remove A Tattoo
It takes 6-10 sessions on average to remove a tattoo. You will notice visible results right after the first session. But to remove the tattoo completely, it may require 10 or more sessions. Usually, after 2-3 sessions the tattoo removal expert can tell you exactly how many more sessions you will need. That said, it may take only two sessions if it is a tiny little tattoo. And it may take up to 20 sessions if it is a big tattoo. There are many factors such as the size of the tattoo that determines how many sessions it will take to remove the tattoo completely.
Many factors can affect the number of sessions you will need.
Here I listed the top 5 factors, let’s take a look:
1. Ink color
Ink color plays a crucial role in how many sessions you may need to get rid of the tattoo completely. Dark green and black are the two colors that are quite easy to remove and may take fewer sessions.
On the other hand, colors such as purple, red, yellow, etc. are much more difficult to remove and may take more sessions. Even the shading that was done on the tattoo will also play a factor, where lighter shading is easier to remove than heavier color shading.
2. Skin type
It is easier to remove a tattoo from fair skin and requires fewer sessions to do so.
And it is difficult and takes more sessions to remove a tattoo from a darker skin tone as the tattoo removalist has to be careful to not break down the melanin in darker skin.
3. Placement
Blood circulation is crucial for healing after you get laser treatment. If the placement of the tattoo is away from your heart, then it would get less blood flow then a tattoo that is placed closer to your heart.
A tattoo that gets more blood flow will heal faster and get rid of the color pigments faster hence taking fewer sessions to get the job done. A tattoo placed away from the heart would get less blood flow and be slower to heal hence it will take more sessions to be completely removed.
4. Immune system
If you have a strong immune system not only you will heal faster but also get rid of the broken-down pigment by the laser faster. As a result, it will take lesser sessions to get the tattoo removed. If you have a weak immune system it will take more time to get rid of the broken-down pigments and take more sessions to remove the tattoo.
5. Tattoo age
A fairly young tattoo that is only a few years old will take more sessions as the colors are still vibrant. An old tattoo that is nearly a decade old will take lesser sessions to be removed because the tattoo is more faded so less pigments have to be broken down.
It takes a lot of patience to go through all the sessions to get rid of the tattoo completely. I have seen so many people quit after a few sessions because they got bored. Maintaining the schedule of sessions is not everyone’s cup of tea. Many unexpected things can happen that may disrupt the schedule and later you just don’t feel like going anymore. Not to mention these sessions are expensive if you go to a reputable tattoo removal studio. So not everyone can afford the preferred number of sessions.
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Time A Tattoo Removal Session Takes
On average a tattoo removal session can take 15 minutes to 30 minutes. You will be surprised to learn that a session may take less than 5 minutes depending on the tattoo removal method and tattoo size. Usually, it takes a modern laser removal machine to do these quick, safe, and effective tattoo removal sessions.
To give a rough idea, on average a 4-inch tattoo removal session would take twelve to fifteen minutes, a medium size or 6-inch tattoo would take twenty to forty minutes, and a very big tattoo that is over 6 inches may take up to an hour. Long sessions like an hour are broken down into two parts and done on different days. Even though you have to visit the studio twice but it will count as a single session.
Break Between Tattoo Removal Sessions
A break between tattoo removal sessions can be up to 42 to 48 days. It mostly depends on how strong your immune system is and how big the tattoo is. Many don’t consider the break between sessions. After a session is done you need some break time to heal. Heal from what? To understand that first, you need to know how a laser tattoo removal machine works.
The laser uses intense heat to break the color pigment of your tattoo. This high-intensity beam or heat not only breaks the pigment but also damages the skin. Do not worry, the laser is very precise, only the tattooed area of your skin will get damaged and you won’t get any scars. After a session, your immune system will work to get those broken-down pigments out of your body and heal the skin. You may feel you are healed just after 14 days but it takes about 42 days to heal completely.
Now if you do not take breaks between sessions or schedule sessions without taking a proper break then you may face permanent scars on your skin. Not to mention it will take more sessions to get rid of the tattoo as your body is not getting enough time to remove the pigments between sessions.
Pain Related to Tattoo Removal
Tattoo removal sessions are not completely painless. But the pain is very mild and it is defiantly less painful compared to the pain you went through when getting the tattoo done. However, the pain that comes with the healing is probably the thing that you would have to worry about the most.
When the laser pulses hit your skin you may feel pain as if an ant is biting you. It is a bit little painful but not a pain that is unbearable. When the session is done, you may feel pain as a mild sunburn. The worse pain is between the session during the first two weeks. The sight of attack from the lasers will be very tender and sensitive to touch and light as well! So you will have to be careful of just about everything when it comes to the pain you have to deal with in between sessions.
Preparing Before Tattoo Removal Session: 8 Easy Tips
Preparing yourself for the tattoo removal session is very important. There are certain things you need to get done to make the session easier for yourself. I mentioned a few tips below that you can follow to better prepare yourself for the laser tattoo removal session:
1. Eat before your session
Laser tattoo removal is fairly painless but still a bit uncomfortable. It will be difficult for you to go through the session on an empty stomach. Not to mention you need your immune system to stay strong during the session. And to keep the immune system strong during the session it is important to eat a healthy meal or snack before the session.
2. Hydrate your self
Going for a session dehydrated is the last thing you should do. During a long session, there is a possibility you could faint or face other health issues if you are dehydrated. So make sure you drink plenty of water before your sessions.
3. Lower your expectation
Mostly tattoo remover procedure works but in some cases, you may have to carry a light, or faded tattoo even after the full procedure. So mentally prepare yourself and lower your expectation.
4. Learn the extent of the healing period
The size and place of the tattoo can affect the healing time. If the tattoo is big and away from your heart, then it will take more time to heal. The closer is it to where a large portion of your blood vessels are, the quicker it will heal So learn the extent of the healing period and prepare yourself accordingly.
5. Amateur vs Professional tattoo
Professional tattoos are evenly inked and easier to remove. Amateur tattoos are always difficult to remove because the ink is not packed correctly in the dermis of the skin. So prepare yourself for tattoo removal on an amateur tattoo.
6. Take Tylenol, avoid aspirin or ibuprofen
Blood thinners such as aspirin should not stay in your system during laser sessions according to FDA. Stop taking aspirin or ibuprofen at least 14 days before your session. Instead, you can take Tylenol before your session. It is an acetaminophen which relieves pain but doesn’t thin your blood so you will be safe to take it.
7. Avoid beauty products
Avoid using any beauty products on the tattooed area as it may react to the laser. Make sure that the tattoo area is exfoliated and shaved so that it is easier for the lasers to work on it. The clearer the skin, the more effective the lasers will be.
8. Remove jewelry
If you have any jewelry on the tattooed area remove them. Jewelry can react to the laser, either heating it up or blocking the lasers.
Recovery After Tattoo Removal Session
You are not technically done even after the session is over! Just like a tattoo, you have to do certain aftercare to take care of your sensitive skin. Here I mentioned a few steps that you should take to recover after getting your session done.
- Cover: After your laser session, the area could appear red and swollen. You can use a bandage to cover the area for four days after your session. It will protect and speed up the recovery.
- Taking medicine: You can take medicine by consulting your doctor to speed up your recovery and avoid any health issues. Healing ointment can help you out a lot.
- Avoid moisturizing: Avoid moisturizing the area and try to keep the area dry. Moisture can attract infection.
- Eat healthily & hydrate yourself: You need a strong immune system for a speedy recovery. So make sure you eat healthy food and stay hydrated.
- Avoid direct sunlight: Direct sunlight can cause harm to sensitive skin. Make sure to apply sunblock before going into the sunlight.
FAQs
How to know if I am in peak condition for tattoo removal sessions?
If you are healthy with a strong immune system and not on any blood thinner then you are in peak condition for a tattoo removal session.
Is it possible to remove a tattoo in just one session?
Yes, it is possible. But the tattoo size, ink color, and placement will matter. Typically, a tiny tattoo will need one session to remove.
How much does a tattoo removal session cost?
A single session can cost you 150$ to 400$ on average, where the total removal will cost somewhere around 800$ to 4000$.
Final Thoughts
Yes, taking multiple trips to the tattoo removal studio is not fun. But it is essential that you follow through with all your session according to schedule to get rid of your tattoo completely and safely. A small tattoo can be removed in 1-2 sessions and an average-sized tattoo can take up to 10 sessions to be removed completely. If your tattoo is old or got faded, has a darker color, and you have a strong immune system then you can expect fewer sessions to get rid of your tattoo. Removing a tattoo completely may cost you around 3,000$ on average. It is a costly process so make sure you consult with your tattoo removal expert to know how many sessions it will take and the total cost of it.
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