skincare

October 4, 2022

Laser Tattoo Removal: Your Top Questions Answered

Tattoo Removal blog, laser, med spa, skincare, tattoo

male-back-with-tattoo The art of tattooing is significant in many cultures today. While our reasoning for expressing ourselves through this medium may differ from centuries past, there is still meaning to the art that people tattoo on their bodies. However, there are times when a piece of tattooed art no longer holds the same value or importance. You may wonder, ‘is there a way for me to remove a tattoo that I no longer desire to have?’ Luckily, we live in a time in which that is possible. You may have many questions about tattoo removal, so we have put together some of our most frequently asked questions to help you better understand laser tattoo removal.

Q: Do Lasers Extract Tattoo Ink From Your Skin?

It is a commonly believed that laser tattoo removal extracts the ink from one’s skin to remove the tattoo, but this isn’t true. Tattoos are meant to be permanent, and they are. The ink used for tattooing is insoluble, which means it cannot dissolve or be absorbed by the body. Lasers allow us to break down the ink into small particles. When they are small enough, the body can trigger its natural healing process to absorb and remove the particles.

Q: Can Laser Tattoo Removal Address Different Color Ink?

Yes, color tattoos can be treated with lasers. However, black ink will respond the best to this type of tattoo removal because black ink absorbs the wavelengths from the lasers easier than colors. One of the most complex colors to remove is green. Luckily, at Laser Lights, we have FDA-approved lasers to treat all colors, including green.

Q: Is Laser Tattoo Removal Painful?

Pain or discomfort is relative, and every person will tolerate laser tattoo removal differently. We can use a numbing cream to alleviate discomfort, and certain over-the-counter pain relievers may also help if needed. Typically, when selecting an over-the-counter pain reliever, you will want to use a product containing acetaminophen because it does not thin your blood, which leads to bruising but will discuss with you during your treatment to recommend the best choice for your specific needs.

Q: How Many Sessions Will I Need?

Since every person is as unique as their body art, we cannot provide a one-size fits all removal plan. The amount of sessions needed to remove your tattoo will depend on several factors that are part of the Kirby-Desai Tattoo Removal Scale. For example, skin type, tattoo size, and tattoo location all contribute to developing a plan that will work for you. During your tattoo removal consultation, we will discuss all the factors that need to be considered so that you can receive the best possible outcome.
If you’ve been considering tattoo removal, the upcoming fall and winter seasons would be the perfect time to begin laser treatments. Schedule your complimentary consultation with Laser Lights Cosmetic Laser Center, and we will develop a customized tattoo removal treatment plan specifically for you. For more information, be sure to follow us on Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram.

January 12, 2022

What to Expect from Your Laser Tattoo Removal

Tattoo Removal blog, educational, laser tattoo removal, med spa, skincare

Have you ever looked back on pictures of yourself from ten or twenty years ago and thought, “What in the world was I thinking with those fashion choices?” Yet, at the time, you couldn’t imagine that you’d ever fall out of love with that style.

The same thing often happens with tattoos. You get a tattoo thinking that you’ll love it forever, but a lot can change about your personal style and preferences. If you have a tattoo that no longer suits you, Laser Lights Cosmetic Laser Center is here to help with laser tattoo removal. To help you understand what to expect, our specialists are giving you a breakdown of the laser tattoo removal process.

Before Laser Tattoo Removal

Every laser tattoo removal treatment process begins with a consultation because each tattoo and each patient is unique. Our licensed laser technicians will ask you what medications you’re taking, assess your tattoo, discuss your history with the tattoo and with your skin health, and ask you what results you’re looking for: whether you want to remove the full tattoo as thoroughly as possible or whether you want to remove a specific part of the tattoo to incorporate it into a new tattoo.

During your consultation, we’ll determine the most effective way to customize your treatments. We’ll speak with you about the treatment plan we recommend and what you can expect.

During Each Laser Tattoo Removal Session

Depending on your preferences, we can use topical numbing cream to make your laser tattoo removal treatment as comfortable as possible. When you’re ready, your treatment provider will give you protective goggles to wear to safeguard your eyes from the laser light.

Next, your provider will adjust the laser’s settings based on the area and colors they’re targeting in the session. They will treat a test spot to verify or fine-tune the settings so they’re ideal for your needs.

At this point, your provider will proceed to treat the tattoo. They will place the laser handpiece against your skin and send a series of fast pulses of the laser into your skin. Those pulses will break the ink particles within your skin into smaller particle sizes. This allows your body to gradually extract and remove those particles, lightening your tattoo one session at a time.

During your treatment, you may have some discomfort. Most people compare the sensation to the feeling of a rubber band snapping against their skin. While every person’s experience is different, most people tolerate the treatment very well.

At the end of each treatment session, your provider will apply an ice pack to soothe the tattoo removal area, because redness and swelling are common. Next, they will apply a topical antibiotic to prevent potential infections, and then apply a bandage to the area. They will give you instructions for caring for the treatment area as it heals over the next several days.

After Your Laser Tattoo Removal Session

Your treatment area will take time to heal after each session – usually about five days. You’ll then notice that in the weeks between treatment sessions, your tattoo will gradually fade a bit more after each session because your body is removing the ink particles little by little. Note that some tattoos may initially get darker before they fade, but this is normal.

Ultimately, you will receive a series of laser tattoo removal treatments that are four to six weeks apart. The number of sessions it will take to reach your tattoo removal results will depend on many factors, like the colors of your tattoo, the size of the tattoo, how your body responds to the treatments, and more.

It will be important that you protect your skin from sun exposure for six weeks before and after each treatment. The sun can interact with your skin poorly if you have had a recent laser treatment, leading to potential complications like long-term pigmentation changes.

Getting Started with Laser Tattoo Removal Treatments

Laser tattoo removal can sound intimidating to many people, but you can rest assured that at Laser Lights Cosmetic Laser Center, you’re in good hands. Our licensed laser technicians are experts in providing safe and effective laser tattoo removal treatments, and we’ll guide you every step of the way. To get started, schedule a tattoo removal consultation today. Remember to follow us on Facebook and Instagram for more laser treatment insights.

September 21, 2021

Is Fractionated Laser Skin Resurfacing the Best Facial Rejuvenation Option for You?

Laser Skin Resurfacing, Microneedling, Skin Care, Skin Tightening anti-aging, facial, rejuvenation, skin resurfacing, skincare

It happens to all of us: we look in the mirror from time to time and our eyes go immediately to our wrinkles, age spots, and other signs of aging. If your skin isn’t looking as youthful and energized as you feel, there are numerous ways that an experienced and skilled medical professional can give you the results you’re looking for. Is fractionated laser skin resurfacing the best path for you?

As with any cosmetic procedure, the first step in the fractionated laser skin resurfacing journey is finding out if you’re a good candidate for the treatment. Ask yourself these questions from our Laser Lights Cosmetic Laser Center team to see if fractionated laser skin resurfacing might be your best choice.

What Cosmetic Concerns Do You Want to Treat?

Aging creates several facial symptoms that most people want to remove, including fine lines, wrinkles, skin laxity, and age spots. Fractionated laser skin resurfacing can reduce all of these signs of aging, as well as sun damage and scarring. This versatile procedure can also make these same improvements to your neck, hands, and chest.

Keep in mind, though, that laser skin resurfacing only treats mild skin laxity – it doesn’t create notable results in heavily sagging skin like significant jowls. For dramatic skin tightening, a surgical facelift might be a better choice.

Do You Have Any Potential Risk Factors?

As beneficial as fractionated laser skin resurfacing can be, it does have its risks too, like any other cosmetic or medical procedure. For most patients, these risks are minimal as long as you follow your pre-treatment and post-treatment instructions from our knowledgeable licensed laser technicians.

There are certain qualities that can increase your risk for side effects, though, including very dark skin tones, active acne, and a current cold sore. If you have any of these risk factors, you may be a better fit for a different facial rejuvenation treatment, and our treatment providers can recommend the best options for your needs.

Are You Prepared for Your Recovery?

Because fractionated laser skin resurfacing creates small clusters rather than treating every bit of skin throughout your face, this treatment has a shorter recovery time than traditional laser skin resurfacing. It does still have a recovery period, though, and it can take a few weeks for your skin to fully heal.

To be a candidate for fractionated laser skin resurfacing, you need to be ready to care for your skin after your procedure. Our treatment providers will give you clear instructions for both before and after your treatment, including avoiding sun exposure and keeping your skin clean.

What Are Your Expectations for Your Results?

You’ll hear from countless people who have had fractionated laser skin resurfacing that it made a tremendous difference in their appearance and their confidence, but it’s important to realize that the procedure has limits too. It isn’t a replacement for a surgical facelift, for example.

It’s crucial to know what to expect from the treatment so you can make sure it’s the right procedure for you. Because fractionated laser skin resurfacing works with your body’s healing process, it takes time for your results to fully develop. Fortunately, though, for this same reason, the results are long-lasting and you will always look younger than you would have looked if you had not had the treatment.

Choosing Your Facial Rejuvenation Strategy

Fractionated laser skin resurfacing, Botox® and Dysport® injections, microneedling, facial filler injections, chemical peels, non-surgical skin tightening, treatments with natural growth factors – there are so many ways to look younger. Fractionated laser skin resurfacing is one of the most advanced, versatile, and effective among them. To find out if it’s the right choice for your cosmetic goals, schedule a free consultation at Laser Lights Cosmetic Laser Center. Be sure to also follow us on Facebook and Instagram for more cosmetic skin care tips.

August 31, 2021

How Nonsurgical Treatments Can Maximize Your Plastic Surgery Results

Facial Rejuvenation, Laser Skin Resurfacing, Microneedling, Skin Tightening microneedling, scarring, skin resurfacing, skin tightening, skincare

How Nonsurgical Treatments Can Maximize Your Plastic Surgery Results If you are a long-time Laser Lights Cosmetic Laser Center patient, you probably know that we have a sister practice, Southern Plastic Surgery. Between these two practices, our goal is to offer our patients a well-rounded variety of cosmetic options so we can give you exactly what you need to look and feel your best.

But we’ve found many people assume nonsurgical treatments and plastic surgery are meant as two “levels” of treatment so that patients start with non-surgical procedures and eventually move up to surgery. In reality, nonsurgical treatments have a place after cosmetic surgery too, and there are several ways they can make your plastic surgery results even better.

Scar Reduction Treatments

Our double board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. David Whiteman always consults with patients before surgery about what they can expect from their results. That includes the post-surgical scars. While plastic surgery scars are made as discreetly as possible, you can minimize your scars even further with nonsurgical scar reduction treatments. Depending on your specific needs, either microneedling treatments or laser treatments can effectively reduce scars and allow you to appreciate your surgical results more fully.

Treatments to Complement Your Results

Cosmetic surgery is a powerful tool to work toward your aesthetic goals, but every procedure has its limits. Targeted nonsurgical treatments can help you further enhance and complement your surgical results.

For instance, if you have surgical liposuction, non-surgical skin tightening can further contour the area and rejuvenate your skin. Similarly, a facelift is an exceptional way to address the changes to your facial structure that come with aging, such as overall sagging skin and shifting facial tissue. To further revitalize your look, though, fractionated laser skin resurfacing can improve overall skin texture, fine lines, wrinkles, and age spots.

Maintenance Treatments

Everyone’s appearance changes over time, sometimes because of natural aging and sometimes because of changes to our lifestyle habits. While plastic surgery is highly effective for improving your look as it is today, it cannot prevent future changes.

This is why many patients opt for nonsurgical treatments to prolong and refresh their surgical results. For example, if you have cosmetic surgery to reduce facial aging, nonsurgical facial rejuvenation treatments like microneedling, laser treatments, Botox® or facial filler injections, and other procedures can address new signs of aging that appear later.

The same is true for body contouring surgeries. You may have liposuction or a tummy tuck, for example, but then gain weight years later. Treatments like nonsurgical fat reduction with SculpSure® or nonsurgical skin tightening can contour your chosen areas and may be able to give you back your post-surgery physique.

Plastic Surgery and Nonsurgical Cosmetic Treatments: A Perfect Pair

If there are aspects of your appearance that you would like to change, you don’t need to decide between nonsurgical treatments and cosmetic surgery. The best path may be a combination of both. To discuss your options, schedule a complimentary cosmetic consultation at Laser Lights Cosmetic Laser Center or with Dr. David Whiteman at Southern Plastic Surgery today. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram as well for more aesthetic facts and tips.

July 30, 2021

How Long Will My Laser Tattoo Removal Take?

Tattoo Removal laser treatments, med spa, medical technology, skincare, tattoo removal

How Long Will My Laser Tattoo Removal Take?

There’s a recent People article about SNL comedian Pete Davidson and his journey to remove all the many tattoos throughout his body. While he’s already received several treatments, he says that according to his laser tattoo removal technicians, it will take two more years to complete the process.

This lengthy process surprised many readers, and it has led to questions from potential laser tattoo removal patients about how long their tattoo removal will take. Is it common for tattoo removal to take more than two years? Our experts at Laser Lights Cosmetic Laser Center are weighing in.

How Long Will It Take to Remove My Tattoos?

It’s true that laser tattoo removal is a multi-step process, with patients generally receiving treatments 4-6 weeks apart. The number of sessions depends on the person; the size, color, and depth of the tattoo; the tattoo removal technology; and other factors. But a two-year removal process is not common. For Pete Davidson, his tattoo removal is likely taking so long because of the extensive number of tattoos he has.

Factors That Will Affect Your Tattoo Removal Timeline

If Pete Davidson’s tattoo removal is taking so long, how long will yours take? There are actually many factors that will impact your treatment process. When you come to Laser Lights Cosmetic Laser Center for a consultation, our experienced technicians will be able to estimate the number of treatments you’ll need based on all these factors and more:

Tattoo Size – During a laser tattoo removal session, we can generally only treat a certain amount of surface area in one session. If, like Pete Davidson, you have a significant number of tattoos throughout most of your body and you want to remove them all, we will treat one area at a time until we have addressed all your tattoos.

Tattoo Depth – When you get a tattoo, the tattoo artist can inject the ink at different depths in your skin. Unsurprisingly, if your tattoo’s ink is deeper in your skin, it can be more difficult for lasers to reach. This usually means that it will take more tattoo removal sessions before you get the results you want.

Tattoo Color and the Technology It Requires – Tattoo removal works by sending targeted light that the ink in your tattoo will absorb. The energy from the laser breaks apart the ink particles so that your body can process them and remove them. This is important to know because some colors of ink absorb and respond to lasers more efficiently than others.

Black and dark green are the easiest ink colors to remove. Bright colors are difficult to remove because the pigments don’t absorb as much light. Different types of lasers may need to be used for your various tattoos as well because some colors respond better to certain types of laser light. Some of these lasers take longer to remove tattoos than others.

Tattoo Age – If you’ve had tattoos for many years, you have probably noticed that the ink fades slightly as the years go by. As a result, older tattoos will typically need fewer sessions of laser tattoo removal because your body has already removed some of the ink on its own naturally. The newer your tattoo is, the more treatments it will likely require to remove.

Treatment Quality – Not all laser tattoo removal sessions are equal. The quality of both the laser and your laser technician will affect the number of sessions it will take to remove your tattoos.

Laser tattoo removal technology has advanced over the years, and newer, more advanced lasers are more efficient in removing ink. The laser also needs to be properly maintained to make sure it’s working effectively enough to remove your tattoos as quickly as possible.

As we noted, the laser technician will impact your treatment as well because it takes a special skill and experience to do the job well. They need to be able to appropriately customize the laser settings and the treatment they administer to make sure they are removing your tattoo efficiently and safely.

Laser tattoo removal can feel like a long process, even if it doesn’t take two years or more, but our patients are thrilled with their results at the end. While the factors above can give you an idea of what to expect, the only way to know what your laser tattoo removal is likely to involve is to schedule a tattoo removal consultation at Laser Lights Cosmetic Laser Center. Our team can assess your tattoo(s) and give you an idea of what to expect. In the meantime, follow us on Facebook and Instagram for more insights and follow Dr. David Whiteman on TikTok.

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skincare

Laser Tattoo Removal: Your Top Questions Answered

Q: Do Lasers Extract Tattoo Ink From Your Skin?

Q: Can Laser Tattoo Removal Address Different Color Ink?

Q: Is Laser Tattoo Removal Painful?

Q: How Many Sessions Will I Need?

What to Expect from Your Laser Tattoo Removal

Is Fractionated Laser Skin Resurfacing the Best Facial Rejuvenation Option for You?

How Nonsurgical Treatments Can Maximize Your Plastic Surgery Results

How Long Will My Laser Tattoo Removal Take?

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