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Case Study

Protected: Sleeve Tattoo Removal Results

Success Story
Success Story
You’ve probably seen the entire removal process for singular tattoos—but what about tattoo sleeve removal results? The term, “tattoo sleeve” refers to a limb being completely covered by tattoos. Tattoo sleeves cover a large area of skin, sometimes with extremely intricate artwork depending on your preferred style(s). However, sleeve tattoos can be removed the same way as other tattoos. With sleeve tattoos, laser removal can become a larger investment of your time and money compared to a smaller piece. You’ll want guidance from a laser tattoo removal expert to ensure your final results are satisfactory, along with the journey it takes to get there. Removery’s advanced laser technology and dermatologist-backed protocols can remove your tattoo sleeve with ease and return your skin to its “pre-tattoo” appearance.

Book a Consultation Call for a Smooth Tattoo Removal Experience

 

Fading for Cover-Ups

Sometimes, a tattoo cannot be successfully covered with a brand-new design directly on top of it—even with the most skilled tattoo artist by your side. Laser tattoo removal offers an incredible solution to make tattoo coverups both possible and easier, known as tattoo fading. This process purposely lightens your tattoo to eliminate harsh lines and shading that can limit your dream design. As the tattoo lightens, your tattoo artist can create a coverup piece with more artistic freedom and details. Tattoo lightening also allows artists to produce cleaner, more crisp work due to the removal of excess ink in the skin. With tattoo fading, you can get a fresh piece of ink without undergoing a full removal—and save some money in the process.  

About PicoWay® Laser Technology

Removery proudly uses the state-of-the-art PicoWay laser by Candela to safely remove and fade unwanted tattoos. The PicoWay’s picosecond technology allows the laser to target ink particles without harming surrounding skin tissue—and it even does so at a much faster rate than other lasers utilized in the industry.  

Sleeve Tattoo Removal Before and After Transformation

This Removery client wanted their old black and grey piece lightened to prepare the skin for a higher quality realism tattoo. His former tattoo was composed of bold, rigid linework that would be extremely difficult to hide in a new design—thus, making a coverup impossible to attempt without some sacrifices. During an initial consultation, our client learned that his dream tattoo was possible without a full removal. The older, full sleeve tattoo could be significantly faded within 3-5 treatments, opening up a realm of possibilities for a coverup design. After a few sessions, some bold lines were still prominent—specifically in the top right of the tattoo. However, the tattoo artist’s ingenuity tastefully incorporates these harsher outlines into the new realism tattoo. Looking at the before and after picture(s), you would never guess this client has a coverup tattoo, or that it started with the tattoo removal process first. Removery’s advanced laser technology provides safe and effective tattoo fading without causing unnecessary skin damage that can impact the appearance of your cover-up tattoo.  

Factors that Affect the Removal of Tattoo Sleeves

Your tattoo sleeve removal will be determined by your sleeve’s size, ink color(s), and age—along with your commitment to aftercare protocols following each treatment. Everyone’s experience with laser tattoo removal is unique, but there is one consistency amongst all clients: a full removal takes time to happen.

Tattoo Size

Half-sleeves and full sleeves significantly alter how the laser tattoo removal process is completed. Larger tattoos are separated into 4-6 sections by your laser specialist and treated as if they are separate tattoos. Every section undergoes a separate treatment at a different time, but the tattoo is still removed cohesively as if it’s one piece. Though it may seem inconvenient, this method is crucial for maintaining a safe and effective removal experience for clients. Removing a larger tattoo at once can cause excessive swelling, uneven fading, and circulation issues. A large-scale removal can also overwhelm your immune system due to the overabundance of ink breaking down. Splitting the tattoo into 4-6 sections allows your body to properly react to treatments and can improve your final results.  

Ink Age & Color(s)

Your tattoo’s color palette can make the tattoo removal process more complicated, especially if older technology is being used. Certain ink colors require a particular wavelength of laser to safely target particles within the skin. Pigments such as green, blue, yellow, and orange are extremely hard to remove without state-of-the-art laser technology. Improper wavelength settings and/or outdated technology can elongate your tattoo removal journey or prevent you from a complete removal entirely. The age of your tattoo can also affect your tattoo removal journey—positively or negatively.  Older tattoos are more reactive to laser treatments compared to newer, more recently applied tattoos. As a tattoo ages, your body naturally breaks the ink particles down very slowly. It is a relatively miniscule difference. However, your tattoo will fade as ink breaks down over time. The older your tattoo is, the better it will respond to laser treatments due to this natural breakdown of ink.  

Skin Tone

While more advanced laser technology ensures tattoo removal is safe and effective for everyone, the process can require a different approach for certain skin tones. Higher amounts of melanin cause the laser’s energy to be absorbed at an increased rate, often resulting in skin discoloration due to improper wavelength settings.  To ensure removal treatments are 100% skin-safe, most reputable laser removal providers use a numerical scale known as the Fitzpatrick Scale to measure the amount of melanin in one’s skin. Not all tattoo ink colors can be removed from darker skin tones safely due to how higher amounts of melanin react to the laser. Using the Fitzpatrick Scale, laser specialists can determine which ink colors can be removed based on your exact skin tone.   Removery has conducted extensive research to find the best laser for removal treatments on darker skin tones. The PicoWay laser by Candela is their top choice for every single treatment.  

Tattoo Removal Aftercare

Tattoo removal aftercare can greatly impact how your skin heals after each treatment, your final results, and the amount of time it takes to achieve a full removal. Most clients experience redness, swelling, and/or temporary pigment changes from their treatments; but these usually resolve on their own with patience and time. In some cases, clients will experience scabbing or blistering which may cause temptation to pick at the treatment area. Removing these scabs or popping blisters can have extreme consequences that lead to permanent scarring or even infection. Other severe complications such as hypopigmentation and hyperpigmentation are rare and typically preventable when following aftercare guidelines properly. After each tattoo removal session, you should always follow your aftercare instructions to avoid serious complications and ensure your final results are perfect. Because laser tattoo removal relies heavily on your immune system, it is important to maintain a healthy lifestyle during your tattoo removal journey. Eating a balanced diet, staying hydrated, and exercising can increase your immune system’s ability to discard ink. Your overall health can make a huge difference in how many treatments you will need to fully remove your tattoo. So, you should strive to take care of your body during this time, and only schedule tattoo removal treatments when you are healthy.

What Strategy We Use this Tattoo Sleeve Removal

To fade this tattoo, our laser specialist separated the area into 4 sections due to its larger size. Each section was treated individually on different days to ensure the skin wasn’t overwhelmed, along with the immune system while discarding ink. Because the original tattoo was black and grey, the removal process was simplified compared to a colorful tattoo. Black is the easiest color to remove, typically resulting in faster fading—and that is exactly what our client experienced here. He was ready to start planning for his tattoo coverup after 3-5 removal sessions at Removery.

Pros and Cons of Complete Removal of Tattoo Sleeve

Removing a sleeve tattoo can be a strong investment of your time and money, making it crucial to consider all aspects of the process before starting.  

Benefits of Removing a Full-Sleeve Tattoo

Eliminating an unwanted tattoo, regardless of its size or complexity, provides a grand opportunity for personal growth and reinvention—if that’s what you’re looking for. You can remove a tattoo that no longer reflects who you are and return your skin to its “pre-tattoo” appearance within 2 years of starting treatment. Laser tattoo removal is a great tool to achieve your professional dreams, especially if a larger sleeve tattoo is hindering your employment. Tattoos are extremely normalized today; however, certain professions still have limitations on body art, such as flight attendants and military personnel. Covering a tattoo with makeup or additional clothing can be exhausting for daily life, making laser tattoo removal a great option.  

Challenges in Sleeve Tattoo Removal

Removing a tattoo sleeve can be a significant investment of time and money, especially if you’re planning a coverup afterwards. Most full removals take 8-12 sessions, spaced out 6-8 weeks apart. The entire process can take an upwards of 2 years, which might not be feasible for some people—especially if you’re undergoing tattoo removal for employment. For larger tattoos, laser tattoo removal can cost an upwards of $10,000 for a full removal depending on the removal provider. The cost often deters people from ever starting the process, and rightfully so. That is why Removery is dedicated to making tattoo removal more accessible for everyone, regardless of finances. We offer a variety of treatment packages including our coveted, Complete Removal Package, that includes unlimited sessions for one fixed price. Once you choose your treatment plan, you can split the cost into flexible, monthly payments starting at just $63 per month. When considering laser tattoo removal, you should recognize the potential risks that can occur during the process. Laser tattoo removal is a non-invasive cosmetic procedure that does not cause damage to surrounding skin tissue; however, complications can still occur. Severe reactions such as hyperpigmentation, hypopigmentation, scarring, and infection are considered rare, and usually happen due to neglecting the treatment area during healing. You should choose a skilled and quality tattoo removal provider, along with followingfollow the proper aftercare protocols to minimize risks to your skin health.  

Choose Removery for Tattoo Removal Expertise

Whether you’re interested in a full removal or fading, Removery has you covered for every step of the process. Our state-of-the-art laser technology produces safe and effective tattoo removal results at a faster rate than older technology, making it the perfect tool to aid in your skin transformation. At Removery, you’ll get advanced laser technology, doctor-endorsed clinical expertise, and photo-worthy results. Schedule a free consultation to begin your tattoo removal journey today:

Get Your Personalized Sleeve Removal Timeline

 

It seems crazy doesn’t it. But it’s all about wavelengths and William Kwan, MD is here to explain it all in simple English. Certain wavelengths target certain colored ink. These wavelengths are not focused on the pigmentation of your skin so they avoid it completely. Smart eh and completely safe.

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In our hands with our experience it is 100% safe. We have performed over 1.6 million successful treatments, but there’s a reason Bond villains always have a laser, in the wrong hands they can be very dangerous.

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How old it is. How big it is. How colorful it is. There are a number of different factors that affect how long it takes to completely remove a tattoo or fade a tattoo for a cover up. Each tattoo and everybody is unique which makes it so difficult to give an accurate timeframe for removal.

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