before your laser session

• No sun exposure, tanning beds and sunless tanning cream for 4 weeks prior to treatment. Sun exposure decreases the effectiveness of the laser treatment and can increase the chance of Posttreatment complications.

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• Use a broad-spectrum UVA/UVB sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher. Apply to the treated area every 2 hours when exposed to the sun and it is recommended to make this a part of your skin care routine.

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• Remove all makeup, creams or oils prior to treatment.

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• Be sure to inform your care provider if you have ever had cosmetic tattoos or cosmetic pigmentation or permanent makeup applied near the area of treatment

during your laser session

• Before the session we do offer numbing cream for sale, we recommend purchasing this at the consult and then starting to numb the area BEFORE you arrive for the removal. We do recommend wrapping the numbing cream in plastic wrap and letting us remove it before the session.

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• During the session, expect to be very anxious, this is normal. You can ask us any questions you need 

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• The pain of the laser is manageable - we can take breaks and help you manage the experience. It is very fast however - most removal sessions are done in under 5 minutes.We can explain the pain as an electrical shock like when you touch a metal object after rubbing your socks on carpet or a bacon grease splatter

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• After the session, expect pain like a bad sunburn and some tightness in the treated skin - this lasts about 24-48 hrs ​

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• The treated area is sensitive to touch 

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• Some people have blisters - do not pop these if possible

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• Itching for about a week to 10 days after the session in the treatment area ​

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• Scabbing in the treatment area after about 5 days

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• You will NOT see immediate results, immediately after the session you get 'frosting' on the treated skin which goes away within 20 minutes, but the treated area will look exactly the same (or darker in some cases) for a about a week, after the first week you will start to see a slow breakdown of the ink within the skin. Since we do not use heat we are not causing damage to the skin so the ink is not breaking through the skin like what happens initially with q-switch lasers. The lack of immediate results is NORMAL and it does not mean that the tattoo removal did not work - please wait the full 6-8 weeks to see results from the process 

after your laser session (days one - seven)

Redness and blistering is normal- do not be alarmed.

Wash with Tattoo Lovers Care Foam Soap (or a mild unscented soap) once a day and then apply a thin layer of Tattoo Lovers Care Salve (or another unscented tattoo moisturizer)

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• Avoid high pressure water on wounds, and do not submerge in bodies of water

• Take Tylenol for pain management (not ibuprofen to prevent bruising)

• You can use a cold compress for 10 minutes to reduce inflammation 

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If you develop a fever, the wound is hot and very red, there is a yellow gold crust or you begin to develop symptoms like a flu (cold sweats, chills, nausea) - contact a doctor immediately

after your session (days seven +) 

Wash with Tattoo Lovers Care Foam Soap (or a mild unscented soap) once a day and then apply a thin layer of Tattoo Lovers Care Salve (or another unscented tattoo moisturizer)

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• Do not pick scabs or blisters

• Avoid high pressure water on wounds, and do not submerge in bodies of water

• Apply Tattoo Lovers Care Cream (or another mild unscented moisturizer) once a day as needed to prevent dryness and speed up complete healing 

• Apply SPF 30+ Sunscreen for at least 30 days when exposing the wound to sun

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• Healing is usually complete in about 4 to 8 weeks, depending on the patient’s aftercare, immune system, and level of treatment.

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• Scarring, which can be hypertrophic or even keloid, can occur but is very rare. Loss of skin pigment (or excess gain of skin pigment) in the treated area may occur, but is temporary in almost all cases.