Start Fresh with Tattoo Removal

Are you struggling to love that once adored tattoo? Whether you have tattoo regret or you have simply outgrown it, let us help you refresh your skin with Tattoo Removal.  

A tattoo is a permanent form of body modification where an artist injects inks and pigments (dyes) into your skin. Normally your immune system works to remove foreign particles from your body, but ink particles are far too big for your immune system to remove on its own, which is why the tattoo remains in your skin permanently. Unless, of course, until tattoo removal treatments are performed.

What is Tattoo Removal and How Does it Work?

Tattoo removal is a procedure used to remove an unwanted tattoo. The most common method used today, and within our salons, is Laser Tattoo Removal.

Our Laser qualified technicians will perform the treatment with the  Nd:YAG Q-Switched Laser device. The laser directly targets the tattoo ink with nanosecond bursts of high intensity light, while avoiding the surrounding tissue. The tattoo ink absorbs the laser light, shattering into tiny fragments. These fragments are absorbed and carried through the body’s lymphatic system fading and removing the tattoo. This process can take several weeks as the tattoo slowly fades over time.

What Tattoos Can We Treat?

When treating tattoos, we are working with two different wave lengths – 1064nm and 532nm.

1064nm (infrared light) absorbed by black and most other dark ink colours. It is poorly absorbed by melanin and haemoglobin, making this the safest laser for all skin types including darker skin. 

532nm (green light) is absorbed by red and orange inks. As it is highly absorbed by melanin, it is only safe for skin types 1-4.

While we see great results with the laser, tattoos which contain green and yellow ink are the hardest to remove. The type of tattoo also needs to be taken into consideration when understanding what tattoos we can treat successfully.

Professional/Studio – This type of tattoo is the most common type of tattoo and done by a professional in a studio/parlour.

Amateur/backyard – This type of tattoo may run a risk of scarring and pigment changes depending on how the tattoo was performed.

Cosmetic – Cosmetic tattoos are on the face such as brow tattooing, lash liner and lip tattooing. Depending on the type of ink used, it runs a risk of turning black and remaining black until the tattoo is completely removed.

Pre & Post Care Advice

To get the best results from your tattoo removal we will give you recommended pre and post care in your consultation. Always listen to the advice given by your therapist for maximum results. Here is the advice you will need to follow to ensure you get the most out of your treatment.

Pre Care Advice

• Avoid sun exposure and keep your tattoo out of direct sunlight. Regularly apply a minimum SPF 30+ to the area up to 4 weeks prior.
  
• Reduce/stop smoking up to 4 weeks prior.
  
• Avoid waxing and/or use of chemical depilatories to the area up to 2 weeks prior.
  
• Shave the area 24 hours prior to treatment.
  
• Ensure no fitted clothing is worn on the area where the tattoo is being removed. We suggest arriving with loose fitting clothing to prevent rubbing or irritation after treatment.
  
• Numbing creams can be applied to numb the surface or body part prior to treatment. We recommend applying the cream at least 1 hour before treatment. Numbing cream can be purchased from your local pharmacy.
  

Post Care Advice

After the treatment, your skin will develop some redness and may start to radiate heat. This sensation is often likened to the feeling of sunburn and will last from several hours to a few days.

• Ice the area as soon as possible after treatment and repeat this several times in the first 48 hours.
  
• Keep the treated area covered with dressing for at least 2-3 days, if the dressing falls off it is fine to reapply a new dressing from your local pharmacy.
  
• You will experience some light scabbing and/or blistering on your tattoo in the days to follow. Ensure not to pick at any scabbing or pop any blisters to maximise your healing. Allow these to fall off in their own time.
  
• Once the tattoo is healed, we recommend applying a Vitamin E cream regularly to improve the skins' hydration. This will help the skins healing process.
  
• Your tattoo may develop an itchy sensation; this is a normal part of healing as your body starts to get rid of the ink particles.
  

Kirby-Desai Scale

A predictive scale, known as the Kirby-Desai Scale, was developed to assess the potential number of tattoo removal treatments necessary. There are 6 parameters that determine the Kirby-Desai score. 

• Skin type – Melanocytes (skin pigment cells) absorb laser energy, as a result, darker skin types may see slower results and need more treatments than lighter skin types.
• Location – Closer to the head/heart area, the easier it is to eliminate the ink. 
  
• Amount of ink 
  
• Layering of ink
  
• Scarring and tissue changes – Ink from scarring is much harder to remove.
  
• Colours – Some colours are more difficult to treat than others, with green and yellow being the hardest.

Due to the considerations above, it can be extremely difficult to give an estimate number of treatments required to remove a tattoo without seeing it in person. For this reason, we recommend you come into the Salon for a complimentary consultation where we can provide you with all the information you need. 

Treatment Cost

Our pricing for Laser Tattoo Removal is based on the size of the treatment area. You can see our list of prices here. Costs are quoted per treatment.

 Consultation

A consultation with your complete skin therapist is essential before any removal treatment is performed. In our consultations, we will go over everything you will need to know about your tattoo removal journey, any medication or allergies and any questions or concerns you may have. You can book online or phone your nearest salon to get your tattoo removal journey started. Find our full list of salon locations.