I Regret My Tattoo: What Can I Expect with Tattoo Removal?

You got the tattoo when you were young and impulsive, but things have changed.

Maybe it referred to someone you no longer love or commemorated something you now want to forget. Maybe you’ve outgrown it, maybe you’re just tired of it, or maybe your new job doesn’t permit tattoos.

Whatever the motivation, the result is the same: You want to remove your tattoo.

Our expert team at Skin Med Spa, led by board-certified practitioners Barbara Kowalczyk and Michael Fressola, is ready to help. Here’s what you can expect with tattoo removal.

How does tattoo removal work?

When you get a tattoo, the artist injects ink and dye into your skin to form the design. Your immune system usually removes foreign particles like this from your body, but ink particles are too big for them to remove — this is why a tattoo is permanent.

Tattoo removal is simply the process of removing this permanent ink from your body by breaking the ink into smaller particles your immune system can safely remove. Although there are several methods for tattoo removal, we use a laser treatment called the Lumenis Tattoo Removal treatment at Skin Med Spa.

What should I expect with laser treatment?

You’ll start with a consultation with one of our trained and certified team members. We’ll evaluate your individual situation: We’ll ask how and when you got the tattoo, we’ll measure the size of it, take a photo to record the results, and we’ll design our exact treatment plan based on what color ink is in the tattoo and how deep into your skin the pigment extends.

The laser uses ultrashort pulses of light energy to break the ink particles down into smaller pieces that your immune system can then dispose. During the treatment, you can sometimes actually hear popping sounds of the ink particles bursting, but don’t be alarmed. This does not harm the skin surrounding the tattoo area at all.

Your level of pain or discomfort is related to the kind of tattoo you’re removing. Some patients say it feels similar to getting the tattoo, and others say it feels like a rubber band snapping against your skin. You’ll likely feel some soreness after the treatment as well.

Depending on your tattoo,  you’ll likely need several treatment sessions to complete the process. When you got the tattoo, the artist applied the ink in layers, so it takes some time to flush out the ink particles in each layer. Your skin also needs time to heal between treatments — the procedure can sometimes result in swelling, discoloration, blistering, and superficial scarring. Ice packs and antibiotic cream can help your skin recover.

The treatment can remove 100% of some tattoos, but others include a color of dye that resists removal, and some ink is too deep in your skin for lasers to reach. (Blue and black ink respond well to the removal treatment.)

If you’re ready to remove your tattoo, contact Skin Med Spa to schedule an appointment. You can call our Downers Grove office at 630-541-8413 or use our online scheduler to request a time that works for you!