How to Remove an Amateur Tattoo?

Can I Remove A Tattoo My Friend Gave Me?

The answer is YES! The good news? 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.

There is a caveat: as far as ink colors go, black tattoos are the easiest to treat. 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. If you have an amateur tattoo that has brightly colored inks, it might actually be more difficult to remove than a professional one. The reason? Since over 100 different types of inks are used in amateur tattooing, some of the more obscure, brightly colored ones may be more resistant to laser technologies.

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. Tattoos located on the back are the easiest to treat. As a rule of thumb, tattoos located closest to the heart are easiest to treat because they have good circulation and fast healing rates.

You’re probably wondering about the science behind laser tattoo removal. 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 radiated 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 most common type of 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 physician 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. Before determining an appropriate treatment plan, your physician will first test out the laser on your skin to see how it reacts.

Find a Professional You Can Trust

So 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

There’s no other choice, really. Laser tattoo removal is the only safe and effective method to remove unwanted tattoos. After a series of successful laser treatments, most tattoos are pretty much gone. Keep in mind, however, that how fast your tattoo disappears depends on its color pigments, depth, and age. But even stubborn cases aren’t hopeless. Though colors such as yellow, green, or light blue are more difficult to remove, they can certainly be faded. The same goes for ink that rests deep within the dermis.

The good news is that technology just keeps on getting better. Newer laser technologies such as the Nd: YAG and Q-switch can now effectively treat even the most stubborn ink colors.

So what are you waiting for? Schedule your free, no-obligation laser tattoo removal consultation at LaserAway today by emailing LaserAway.com or calling the staff at LaserAway at (888) 965-2737.