Laser tattoo removal - anyone had this done?
Discussion
Hi,
I do a lot of this ! Unfortunately I don't work in London although I can recommend a couple of units.
One is at Bedford Hospital (an NHS facility that sees private patients). The laser unit is ran by a dermatologist and a plastic surgeon who will both see private patients.
The other is a highstreet chain Sk;n I think it's called, quite well respected.
Whichever you go with you need a Q-switched laser (ruby, Nd:yag or alexandrite). If they do not have one then do not go, don't be fobbed off by a beautician shining a light on you and charging a couple of hundred quid, there are lots of charlatans out there !!!!
You will never completely get rid of your tattoo. Home made ones do better than professional ones but you can often be left with a 'ghosting' of the original tattoo.
With regards to cost, it depends on the number of sessions (could be upto a grand). Seeing a plastic surgeon can also give you the option of having it surgically excised, which I do on occasion.
Hope it helps,
Drfrank
I do a lot of this ! Unfortunately I don't work in London although I can recommend a couple of units.
One is at Bedford Hospital (an NHS facility that sees private patients). The laser unit is ran by a dermatologist and a plastic surgeon who will both see private patients.
The other is a highstreet chain Sk;n I think it's called, quite well respected.
Whichever you go with you need a Q-switched laser (ruby, Nd:yag or alexandrite). If they do not have one then do not go, don't be fobbed off by a beautician shining a light on you and charging a couple of hundred quid, there are lots of charlatans out there !!!!
You will never completely get rid of your tattoo. Home made ones do better than professional ones but you can often be left with a 'ghosting' of the original tattoo.
With regards to cost, it depends on the number of sessions (could be upto a grand). Seeing a plastic surgeon can also give you the option of having it surgically excised, which I do on occasion.
Hope it helps,
Drfrank
Hi,
In the process of having one removed myself........When I was younger had some pointless Japanese symbols around my arm in a band........disgrace!!!
I go to the body clinic, they are an establised cosmetic surgery type place in Harley Street but have a branch in South Woodford, which is right around the corner from me and suits. They have others in east London too I think.
Wherever you go, do your homework and have a detailed consultation, ask all the questions you want the answers to, you will get an idea how knowledgable the tech is.
Personally ive had 3 treatments thus far, I have 5 symbols and I would say they are faded about 50%, which as I understand it is very good progress. Ive had these treatments over the last year, due to lack of time, however I feel the longer recovery period helps me. From research, the laser penetrates the skin and "blasts" the ink causing it to fragment and break up, your bodys own immune system then removes these smaller particles over a period of weeks/months. Ive personally found the longer I leave between sessions the more the tattoo fades.
Also, it will hurt!!!!! Your skin will blister and bubble and crust over. I personally think that causing this much trauma to the same area of skin every 6 weeks is too much and would lead to scarring, everyone is different but I like to leave the sessions at least every few months - Ive had the tattoo over 12 years, so if it takes another year to go then so be it! I was told to budget for 10 treatemants, hoping with the results ive had thus far it will be significantly less. Costs me £130 as session, but you can get packages upfront that make it a lot less.
Also - Black is the easiest colour to remove, green, yellow, red etc are apparently very difficult.
Last but not least, you cant really have the treatment if you have been in the sun recently/have a tan due to the laser and pigmentation issues - Thats the reason why ive not had a session for months!
Hope this helps!
In the process of having one removed myself........When I was younger had some pointless Japanese symbols around my arm in a band........disgrace!!!
I go to the body clinic, they are an establised cosmetic surgery type place in Harley Street but have a branch in South Woodford, which is right around the corner from me and suits. They have others in east London too I think.
Wherever you go, do your homework and have a detailed consultation, ask all the questions you want the answers to, you will get an idea how knowledgable the tech is.
Personally ive had 3 treatments thus far, I have 5 symbols and I would say they are faded about 50%, which as I understand it is very good progress. Ive had these treatments over the last year, due to lack of time, however I feel the longer recovery period helps me. From research, the laser penetrates the skin and "blasts" the ink causing it to fragment and break up, your bodys own immune system then removes these smaller particles over a period of weeks/months. Ive personally found the longer I leave between sessions the more the tattoo fades.
Also, it will hurt!!!!! Your skin will blister and bubble and crust over. I personally think that causing this much trauma to the same area of skin every 6 weeks is too much and would lead to scarring, everyone is different but I like to leave the sessions at least every few months - Ive had the tattoo over 12 years, so if it takes another year to go then so be it! I was told to budget for 10 treatemants, hoping with the results ive had thus far it will be significantly less. Costs me £130 as session, but you can get packages upfront that make it a lot less.
Also - Black is the easiest colour to remove, green, yellow, red etc are apparently very difficult.
Last but not least, you cant really have the treatment if you have been in the sun recently/have a tan due to the laser and pigmentation issues - Thats the reason why ive not had a session for months!
Hope this helps!
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