Tattoo removal

Laser tattoo removal using Q switched ND YAG is the gold standard for removing and reducing tattoos of all colours.

Faded or unwanted tattoo?

Tattoos or body art decoration has been around for centuries. Your tattoos may not be that old (!) in fact we can treat tattoos of any age in pretty much any area of the body. If you have had a change of heart about a particular design, if it doesn’t look the way you thought; you might want it faded down to be replaced with another design; or you simply just don’t want it any more, laser tattoo removal is the answer.

Traditionally the main methods of tattoo removal have been dermabrasion, chemical removal, or cutting out the tattoo. Often these methods take a long time to fully heal, can leave behind scarring or may not be that successful. The industry standard, and most effective for laser tattoo removal is the Q Switched Nd: YAG laser. This laser produces a beam of light that targets the tattoo and is absorbed by the ink at different depths inside the skin. The skin is not damaged in this process, so it is a lot safer than other forms of removal. Q Switched Nd: YAG laser is powerful enough to shatter the ink into smaller particles that can be safely and naturally filtered then eliminated from the body. Each time you have a laser treatment you will see more and more fading, as the tattoo pigments get fewer and fewer inside the skin.

At Rejuv Skin & Laser Clinic you will be treated by professionals with over 22 years laser and IPL experience, in New Zealand and internationally.  As a laser educator, your therapists will be able to tell you exactly how the process works and will be honest in the results you expect to achieve.

FAQs

Below are some of the most common questions people ask about Laser Tattoo removal

Can all colours be removed?

The majority of tattoos can be removed or dramatically knocked back or reduced. At Rejuv we will never know what has made up the pigment in the ink but generally black, red, yellow and most greens are the easiest to remove, with light blues and being more difficult. Some inks can-not be removed such as more recent white pigments.

Can I have the tattoo faded and replaced with a different design?

Definitely. A lot of clients might want to change a part of an existing tattoo or want a cover-up over the whole tattoo. This may only take a few treatments to fade out the ink enough for a tattoo artist to be able to begin your new design. Sometimes it takes only 2-3 sessions to be faded enough. Full advice will be given at your consultation but we do recommend that your skin is fully healed from the laser treatment. This might take 8 – 12 weeks.

How many treatments will I need?

This can be difficult to determine, but on average most clients take 6-12 treatments to achieve their desired result; full removal or faded for a cover-up. There are a lot of factors that contribute to the number of sessions it takes, and these include;

  • The type of ingredients in the ink; mineral, organic, plastic, vegetable
  • How many layers the tattoo has
  • Your individual response to the laser treatment
  • Whether your tattoo is home-made or professional
  • The colours used in the tattoo

After each treatment, we recommend waiting for 6 – 8 weeks before your next session. Your body will still be fading the tattoo for several months after even just one treatment.

Does it hurt?

Let’s be honest, you do feel it. Everyone will feel it differently. A lot of clients will say laser tattoo removal feels like ‘a hot, burny flick’. We have many ways to lessen the sensation. Your skin can be numbed with topical anaesthetic if you really need it. Treatments are generally very fast, and most clients just to put up with it. A small tattoo can be treated in less than 3 minutes.

What are the side effects?

Swelling, redness and a sensation similar to sunburn is a normal reaction to laser treatment. It can remain swollen and tender for a while and may form small blisters that shouldn’t be picked. All of these reactions are normal and you might only get one or the other. You will be treated in a sterile environment and bandaged at the end to ensure your skin heals the best it can. We will give you an aftercare sheet that we highly recommend you follow to avoid poor healing that can lead to scarring.

Still have questions?

Please get in touch if you have any questions.

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Rejuv was started in Tauranga by Heather, who saw a real gap in the market for professional and effective skin & hair treatments that focused on results, not promises.
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