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Can I Remove A Tattoo My Friend Gave Me?
The answer is YES! Amateur tattoos are generally easier to remove than professional ones. Why? Because amateur tattoos typically have less ink deposited at varying depths and therefore require fewer treatments. Exceptions occur when the ink is deep under the skin or scarring is present.
Professional tattoos, on the other hand, have a more even amount of ink at a more consistent depth. Most of the ink is located deeper in the skin than amateur tattoos, and more ink is used. Professional tattoos also often include colors that are difficult to remove. Other colors such as reds, blues, greens can become more difficult to remove, depending on whether the tattoo was done by a professional or an amateur.
Black tattoos are the easiest to treat. If you have an amateur or professional tattoo that has brightly colored ink, it will be more difficult to remove. Colorful ink contains larger and stronger molecules which are more difficult for any laser to break down. Black ink is made of mostly carbon and is much easier for the laser to break.
Amateur India Ink Tattoos
If your friend used India ink for your tattoo, then you’re in luck. India ink is one of the easiest amateur inks to remove. But depending on the location of your tattoo, you may need additional sessions. Fading is generally slower for tattoos located farther down the arm or leg. These tattoos often require more laser treatment sessions and may demonstrate slower healing in-between sessions.. As a rule of thumb, tattoos located closest to the heart are easiest to treat because they have good circulation and fast healing rates.
Laser tattoo removal works by targeting pigment colors in the skin’s dermis, the layer of skin between the epidermis and subcutaneous tissues. Light beams emitted by the laser are absorbed by tattoo pigments, which then fragment. The body absorbs and then eliminates the pigment fragments.
The Q-switch is the gold standard laser used in tattoo removal. It produces pulses of light boasting an extremely high peak power. Several types of Q-switch lasers exist, and each one targets a different color spectrum at different wavelengths. Because Q-switch lasers are so precise and intense, tattoo pigments fragment instantly, causing minimal damage to the surrounding tissue.
Before a laser tattoo removal session, your clinician will determine which type of laser to use and how many treatments you’ll need. The number of required treatments is based on the tattoo’s age, size, type, and pigment depth.
Find a Professional You Can Trust
What happens during a laser tattoo removal treatment? Before the session starts a medical professional will apply an anesthetic cream, and you’ll be given protective eye gear to wear, along with a cooling device. The medical professional will then gently place a handpiece against your skin and deliver laser pulses to the tattoo pigment. With each laser pulse, most people experience a sensation similar to a rubber band snapping against their skin. The amount of laser pulses depends on the tattoo’s size, but most treatment sessions only last a few minutes.
Get Great Results With LaserAway
Laser tattoo removal is the only safe and effective method to remove unwanted tattoos. After a series of successful laser treatments, most tattoos are gone.
Why LaserAway?
We’ve committed over a decade to helping people of all skin types discover their best skin ever, with over 3 million treatments performed and new locations opening every month! We use state-of-the-art technology for maximum results, our clinics are supervised by board-certified, industry-leading dermatologists, and our treatments are implemented by registered nurses, nurse practitioners or physician associates who undergo one of the most comprehensive training programs in the business. Our mission is to make our clients feel beautiful by providing the best and most effective aesthetic treatments in the nation in a friendly, relaxed environment.
Ready to invest in yourself? Schedule a free consultation today by filling out a request form or calling the LaserAway staff at (855) 233-9134. Our nurses look forward to making sure your service and skin are as smooth as possible!
