Laser Tattoo Removal in Columbia and Irmo
Have your unwanted tattoo removed at Balance Medical & Day Spa
You were certain that little bit of ink was the perfect way to express yourself and was such a great idea at the time. But we’ve all had experience we would like to forget and erase. Unfortunately some are more challenging to forget and erase than others and that oftentimes includes unwanted tattoos. When you decide to remove your unwanted tattoo, our laser tattoo removal process works to break down pigments and cells to remove the ink. This process acts to essentially reverse the tattooing process as the light energy slowly breaks up and releases pigment from the epidermis.
Balance Medical & Day Spa takes pride in offering the most current and up to date laser tattoo removal technology to our patients. We offer the most advanced and proven laser technologies available to us to achieve the best results for you. New advancements in laser tattoo removal technology provide us with a safe method to help you remove unwanted tattoos. Once our laser tattoo removal treatment course is over, your old tattoo will be virtually unnoticeable, without any harm to your skin.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How many treatments will it require?
Removing a professionally applied tattoo is usually a fading process that requires a series of treatments spaced at least 6 weeks apart. Professional tattoos usually require 5-10 treatment sessions for satisfactory clearing. The depth, color and amount of ink, as well as the location of the tattoo on the body, are all determining factors in how quickly the tattoo can be removed. Most amateur, “street tattoos” and traumatic tattoos are removed in fewer treatments.
How does laser tattoo removal work?
Our award winning, state of the art lasers are considered the best in the industry today. The lasers use a beam of light to lighten significantly or completely remove your tattoo. The lasers work by directing energy toward ink in the skin with highly concentrated color filtered light beams. These laser beams break up ink particles into tiny fragments which are later cleared up by the body naturally. The laser does this by delivering high-intensity light in pulses of a few billionths of a second into the treated area. The laser selectively targets the pigment of the tattoo without damaging the surrounding skin. The procedure is bloodless and no incisions are made.
What about lightening an existing tattoo?
Many tattoo artists encourage customers to receive a minimum number of laser treatments to lighten an existing tattoo before covering it with a new one. This will dramatically reduce any chance of the old tattoo appearing through the new one. In most cases, a minimum of 2-4 treatments is all that’s required to lighten an existing tattoo.
What are the treatments like?
Some patients say they feel a slight sting, like the snap of a rubber band on the skin or the same feeling as getting a tattoo, in a fraction of the time. Some patients feel more comfortable numbing the area with a high-power topical anesthetic cream mixture, which is available at our office.
Will the laser definitely work on my tattoo & why are some tattoos harder to remove than others?
Before any treatment begins you will receive a thorough and honest consultation and detail the results you can expect to achieve based on your tattoo.
There are many different things that can affect the ease of your tattoo removal including your skin tone, the size and location of the tattoo, the color of the tattoo, the type of ink used and the individual’s ability to heal.
Generally, black, red, dark orange and dark blue tattoos will respond relatively quickly to laser treatments. Green, purple, brown, light orange and light blue may require more visits.
Other variants also include how evenly the pigment was injected into the skin, and how long the tattoo has been in place.
Remember to bring a list of any questions with you to your free consultation.
What will my skin look like after the treatment?
Right after your treatment, your skin will have a white discoloration, and the area around the tattoo may become reddish and could have some swelling. This is normal and will disappear slowly over time. Results take about 6 – 8 weeks after each treatment. Immediately after treatment, antibacterial ointment and gauze will be applied to the treated area to minimize infection.
What will I need to do after treatment?
Following treatment must be kept clean. It is fine for you to take a bath or shower the day after treatment but the treatment area must not be scrubbed. Your skin might feel a bit like you have a sunburn for a couple of days afterward and the treated area may remain red for a few weeks. The area of tattoo removal may form a scab which should be allowed to heal naturally.
After healing, the ink will gradually and continually fade.
Are there any side effects?
On occasion, a whitening of the skin may occur. However, normal skin tone should return within 6-12 months following your last treatment session. Since the ink used in tattooing is not regulated, some patients have only partial clearing even after several sessions.
