Frequently Asked Questions

Yes at this point in time, lasers are your best choice when removing unwanted tattoos. The QSwitched Yag laser is currently the most common laser on the market and it will remove black and red inks very well.

There are other options for tattoo removal but they can be risky. Lasers have been used for over 20 years in removing tattoos and are consistently the safest option. Having said that, laser tattoo removal is more complicated than it looks so you need to chose an experienced laser operator.

The truth is that it does bite a bit. Most people say it hurts more than getting the original tattoo but of course it depends on your pain threshold. We have had some clients say it wasn’t really that bad, although they are the exception.

We also apply cool packs to the treatment area before and after your treatment. This can make it more comfortable for you. You can use Emla numbing cream 60-90 minutes before the treatment although there is a lot of discussion about how the use of numbing cream can reduce the effectiveness of the laser treatment.

If you are really worried about the pain then you can add hypnotherapy pain management to your treatment. You can go to our article on pain management during your treatment or checkout www.straightthinkinghypnotherapy.com for more information about what hypnotherapy can do for you.

How long is a piece of string? Sorry we know that this is a serious question but it really is quite difficult to predict how many treatments you will require. We need to balance safety (no blistering or scarring) with fast and effective tattoo removal. The first thing is, we have an awesome laser so that definitely helps speed up the process.

We also offer dermal pen treatments pre-laser. A dermal pen can improve the time it takes to remove your tattoo by up to 50% based on antidotial evidence from laser tattoo removal operators who use this combined technique. Check out our Youtube clip on using micro-needling to increase laser tattoo removal efficiency

There are also things you can do as well to increase the efficiency of your laser tattoo removal.

• Be fit. Vigorous exercise improves lymph fluid flow
• Don’t Smoke
• Take Vitamin C
• Drink lots of water
• Eat healthily
• Keep the treatment area moist

Generally yes, laser is safe, but of course it depends on the laser operator. There is a lot to know when removing tattoos with laser so it is important that you investigate who is going to do your treatment for you. In some countries (like New Zealand) you don’t even need training to offer laser tattoo removal so check where your laser technician trained.

No definitely not! There are so many technical issues around laser types but one of the easiest ways to know if you are being treated with a good laser is the size of the laser. Now this is not always the case, but if you are getting treated with a small laser ie a portable laser, then there are some risks involved. Portable lasers generally don’t have enough power to deliver an effective single shot to the ink, so they actually deliver a double shot. This increases the risk of surrounding skin damage. A really effective tattoo removal laser will deliver a really fast shot that and the heat created in the skin will dissipate really quickly therefore reducing the chance of tissue damage. By using an underpowered laser that has to deliver a double shot in order to smash up the ink you can end up with scarring. Having said this, I do use a portable laser on my prison visits because a 120Kg laser will not fit in the back of my Prius.