Why Is Proper Aftercare Important?

Laser Tattoo Removal Aftercare

Successful laser tattoo removal is teamwork: our expertise and your body. How you take care of your body between tattoo removal sessions can be the difference between needing 20 treatments and 10 treatments.

3 Essential Steps for Laser Tattoo Removal Aftercare

It’s critical to keep your body and skin in optimal health starting from the very first session. Following these aftercare steps religiously can help you achieve better results, reduce the risk of side effects, and speed up the healing process between sessions.

Keep the treatment area clean and dry

Avoid sun exposure to the treated area

Apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly

Post Treatment

You may (or may not) experience any of these normal side effects

Blistering
Tenderness or Irritation
Itching or Hives
Swelling
Bruising

Avoid activities that may cause irritation (direct rubbing over the area) for 24-72 hours.

“In 99% of cases, we don’t have any complications at all.”

Bill Kwan, MD

Laser Tattoo Removal Aftercare FAQs

We’re firing a high-intensity light into your skin so minor side effects are extremely common post tattoo removal. If you see any of the following side effects, don’t be alarmed. Please reach out to us and we'll be happy to answer questions and advise on the proper course of action.

Minor Laser Tattoo Removal Side Effects and How To Treat Them

Blisters

You can get tiny water blisters or big water blisters. It’s really common with laser tattoo removal. You can carefully lance any large ones with a sterile lancet, but they tend to go completely within a few days.

Scabbing

Sometimes the skin is a little raw after the treatment and you can get a little bit of scabbing over the area. We recommend you keep it covered and keep it clean with a little bit of alkaline water, and it’ll be fine within a few days.

Crusting

Crusting means some fluid has come out of the tissue and left a bit of a light crust on it. Again, we expect that to happen. Simply keep it covered and keep it clean and it’ll be fine within a few days.

Infection

Keeping the area clean and preventing bacteria going into compromised skin is what you want to avoid. Do your best to keep it covered and keep it clean.

Changes in skin color

This is more common with darker skin types where the skin could be slightly lighter or darker in color after treatment. It tends to resolve over time and there are topical creams that will help bring that color back down to the original skin color.

Laser Tattoo Removal Aftercare FAQs

Minor Laser Tattoo Removal Side Effects and How To Treat Them

You can get tiny water blisters or big water blisters. It’s really common with laser tattoo removal. You can carefully lance any large ones with a sterile lancet, but they tend to go completely within a few days.
Sometimes the skin is a little raw after the treatment and you can get a little bit of scabbing over the area. We recommend you keep it covered and keep it clean with a little bit of alkaline water, and it’ll be fine within a few days.
Crusting means some fluid has come out of the tissue and left a bit of a light crust on it. Again, we expect that to happen. Simply keep it covered and keep it clean and it’ll be fine within a few days.
Keeping the area clean and preventing bacteria going into compromised skin is what you want to avoid. Do your best to keep it covered and keep it clean.
This is more common with darker skin types where the skin could be slightly lighter or darker in color after treatment. It tends to resolve over time and there are topical creams that will help bring that color back down to the original skin color.

Healthy Aftercare Patient Following Removal

How Your Overall Health Affects Tattoo Removal Results

A strong immune system can give you a stronger chance of removing your tattoo successfully. Boosting your body’s overall health can make a real difference to the speed and the end result.

Why? Your laser session is just the first step of the process. Your body has to work hard to flush out the ink after the laser has broken it down. Find out more about how it works here. Find out how to improve your immune system below.

3 ways to boost your immune system for laser tattoo removal

Unsurprisingly, healthy normal activity is one of the best things you can do for your tattoo removal aftercare.

Step #1 Stay hydrated before and after treatments

Drinking enough water will improve your circulation, bringing lots of white blood cells to the area to take away the ink. And, water is always going to be good for your skin, so the more the merrier.

Step #2 Eat clean and regularly

Eat healthy foods that give your body lots of nutrition. This will give your body the fuel to regenerate healthy skin cells. Regular meals means more nutrition too.

Step #3 Stay Active

Regular exercise is important. Exercise makes you healthier so your immune system isn’t overworked and can concentrate on removing your unwanted ink and making your skin as healthy as possible.

Avoid The Sun After Tattoo Removal Treatment

We recommend keeping your newly treated tattoo out of the sun for a full two weeks, so it's not ideal to get a treatment right before your beach vacation. We also know you’re not going to lock yourself inside your house and become a vampire, so there are things you can do to help.

Sunscreen

Using SPF 50+ sunscreens that contain at least 20% zinc oxide is the tip of the iceburg. But this isn’t really enough for best-in-class aftercare results.

Keep it covered

We know you can't go all Vampire mode so when you're outside, keep your treatment area covered. Light colored clothing is a great option as it doesn't get as hot.

Keep it clean

Try covering the tattoo with waterproof cushion tape or a large band-aid. Kinesiology tape is a great option when playing sports or exercising outdoors.

All your tattoo removal aftercare questions answered

We know all of this information can feel quite overwhelming and you’re going to have a lot of questions. That’s why our experts explain it all as simply as possible right here.

How does laser tattoo removal work?

Joshua Weitz, MD, turns to the white board to help him explain it in detail. It’s laser science so it’s pretty complicated but we’ll do our best to explain it as simply as we can.

How does skin color affect tattoo removal results?

Your body is doing all of the hard lifting in between laser removal treatments, so staying healthy leads to better results. Staying out of the sun and avoiding excess heat from exercise is essential. Follow our best practices and it will make a big difference.

What is the best laser for tattoo removal?

After extensive research, we are unequivocal about using the PicoWay® laser. With a significant price tag, we see it as an investment in your skin. They are all we use.

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Schedule Your Free Estimate

Proper aftercare is crucial for achieving the best possible results from your laser tattoo removal treatments. By following these guidelines and working closely with your Removery technicians, you can help your body heal more efficiently and effectively between sessions. If you have any questions or concerns about your tattoo removal aftercare, don’t hesitate to reach out to our expert team for guidance and support.
Please fill in this form and we’ll call you to set up your appointment where we can easily quote you the cost of your tattoo removal.

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