Tattoo Removal

Why is My Tattoo Darker After Laser Removal?

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Published: 03.27.2016
Updated: 06.06.2024

Why Does My Tattoo Look Darker After Laser Removal?

Contrary to what you might think, your tattoo is not getting darker and it’s a normal part of the removal process. Your tattoo is actually still fading even if it looks more vibrant. In fact, it means you are well on your way to clear, tattoo-free skin!

Tattoo ink will often oxidize which is what happens to white ink when laser treated. The white pigmentation turns into a darker pigment because the laser breaks the particles apart into tiny fragments which oxidize with the light exposure and the tattoo often turns into a light brown or blue shade.

How Does Laser Tattoo Removal Actually Work?

Essentially the laser breaks apart the larger ink particles into tiny fragments for your white blood cells to carry away through the lymphatic system. As the white blood cells are working to naturally remove the fragments, the tattoo can often look more vibrant due to there being more tiny particles in the dermis. This is a good indication that the laser accurately targeted those particles and the tattoo is well on its way to being completely removed. Each session will break apart layer by layer of ink until there aren’t any large particles for the laser to target. It can take several sessions before you see any meaningful fading because of this effect.

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How Long Does It Take For A Tattoo To Fade After Laser Removal?

As you can see from the visual, the laser is breaking those larger particles into tiny fragments which spreads the fragments across the tattoo and indicates why a tattoo looks darker after laser treatment. What you see on the surface often doesn’t represent the work being done below the epidermis. With continued sessions, clients can expect to start seeing fading around 3-5 sessions due to there being fewer layers of ink in the dermis..

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Tattoo Removal With Removery

At Removery, you can expect to be treated by the leading tattoo removal experts in the industry. We are always happy to answer clinical questions and encourage clients to learn more about the removal process. Read more about how long it takes to remove a tattoo and book a free consultation with us today!

Tattoo_removal_expert_Carmen Carmen Brodie VP Clinical Operations

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We’re on a mission to give you the most straightforward, easy and efficient laser tattoo removal experience. Your estimate will be entirely bespoke to your tattoo; the size, the colours, the ink. It won’t take long and afterwards you’ll have a plan to finally get rid of your unwanted tattoo and get back to being you.

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