Are you thinking about getting one or more tattoos removed? We are sure you have considered tattoo removal cost. You’re not wrong for wondering how much you will end up spending to prepare yourself.
The answer depends on several factors, including the size, location, type of tattoo, and the number of sessions required to clear the tattoo completely. Many people decide to get tattoos as a form of self-expression and to mark significant life events.
For others, getting a tattoo might be a spur-of-the-moment or a drunk, dazed decision. Whether you regret your ink or are ready for a change, tattoo removal can be a great option.
It can range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. Here’s everything you need to know about tattoo removal costs.
What is the Average Tattoo Removal cost?
Tattoo removal procedures fall into “laser” or “non-laser” procedures which always determine the final cost.
Laser Tattoo Removal Cost
Laser tattoo removal involves a series of treatments with a laser that uses light to break down the pigment in your tattoo, removing it over time. The cost of these procedures varies depending on where you live, the technician, and how complicated the artwork is.
With laser tattoo removal, each session typically lasts about one hour, and you can expect to pay $250 to $400 per session, which can amount to over $3000 if you require up to eight sessions to remove your tattoo altogether.
However, the high melanin concentration hinders the laser’s standard light intensity from penetrating the skin of people with dark skin. So, removing the tattoo requires a low light setting, which means more sessions than for those with fair skin tone.
This makes it vital for you to opt for a professional that can determine the perfect light intensity that will not affect your skin. On the other hand, most tattoo parlous fix their price based on the volume of the tattoo you want to be removed.
To give you an idea of how much each session costs, here’s a breakdown of the cost for standard laser removal procedures: The standard laser removal and tattoo treatment procedure average cost for one treatment per session is around $400.
A bilateral or half-body tattoo is $1200, while full-body tattoos are $1900, and complex geometric tattoos are $2300. These prices are just an estimate and will vary with different tattoo parlors.
Non-laser Tattoo Removal
There are several options available that don’t involve laser light therapy, such as:
Dermabrasion
One of the most common types of non-laser tattoo removal is dermabrasion. It involves using a specialized device to chip away the top to the middle layer of the skin. The procedure is painful and might be ineffective in eradicating the tattoo.
Typically, laser removal costs are more expensive than non-laser tattoo removal. You can find a beautician who performs the required dermabrasion sessions for below $1000.
Due to how raw and red dermabrasion can leave your skin, you must apply ointment to prevent infection, avoid sunlight, and tighten clothing for the first few weeks. If you are concerned about the scars, use anti-scarring creams when the spot has fully healed.
Surgical Excision
For a more extreme option, you can opt for surgical excision, and we say extreme because it leaves a scar on the tattooed area. That’s because it involves trimming the tattooed spot before getting sewed back hence why people only do it for small tattoos.
Surgical tattoo removal costs can be entirely on the high side since it is a form of surgery that requires local anesthesia in a plastic surgery establishment. During the procedure, the doctor will use a sharp knife like a scalpel to remove the tattooed skin layer.
They carefully stitch the skin together when they are sure the tattoo is no longer visible. This leaves an injury you must properly care for to avoid infections.
What to do Before Your Laser Tattoo Removal Session
It would help to avoid a few things before your laser tattoo removal session to ensure the best results. These practices can harm your skin and delay your tattoo’s removal, and they include:
- Avoid sunlight or tanning beds before your appointment. These can cause your treatment to be more aggressive when the laser becomes aimed at a specific area of your skin. Before your session, you should avoid the sun and tanning beds for at least 24 hours before the treatment.
- Avoid taking aspirin or ibuprofen just before your treatment. These anti-inflammatory drugs can thin your blood, making laser treatment more difficult.
- Avoid using a hair dryer or other heat source on your skin. The treatment may be more uncomfortable if your skin is red and warm.
Why is Laser Tattoo Removal so Expensive?
The answer lies in the equipment and licensing needed to use lasers.
Tattoo laser removal machines are expensive because of their high price tag and because they’re designed and built specifically for particular purposes. They are unlike a standard laser hair-removal device, in which the technicians use an outlet on multiple people with different body types and sizes.
The machines used for tattoo removal must also be specially calibrated for each client. This involves placing the client’s tattoo under a magnifying scope, which adjusts the laser treatment to ensure the tattoo is destroyed. So, that’s why you have to pay high to use one.
What to Expect from a Laser Tattoo Removal Session
Once you arrive at your appointment, the technician will assess your skin to determine which machine is best for treating your tattoo. They’ll also check your skin’s sensitivity to make sure the laser is safe for use on your skin. It would be best if you had gone through the assessment during your consultation session.
If your technician isn’t using a laser removal device, they may have to shave or scrape off some of the hairs surrounding your tattoo for the best results. When your technician is ready to begin, they’ll clean the tattooed spot and inject a particular medication to help freeze the site.
Then the laser is directed at the tattoo on your skin to target the pigment. The laser treatment may burn a little bit. You may feel a little sting or a heat sensation during the procedure. Some people may even feel a tingling sensation, but it should only last a few seconds, which is normal.
Your technician will then move the laser across your tattoo; When the treatment is finished, a bandage is placed over the tattoo before you are all set to leave. The entire procedure should take about 45 minutes to 1 hour for larger tattoos to be prepared to stay for hours.
Ask your technician beforehand if you have questions about what to expect during your appointment.
Side Effects of Laser Tattoo Removal
Some people are more prone to skin irritation and scarring than others, and so is the case for tattoo removal. If you quickly develop scars or react to treatment, ensure your technician knows them before your appointment.
Even if you don’t have any specific risk factors, it’s still essential to wear sunscreen and dress lightly when getting a tattoo. There are a few possible side effects of tattoo removal, including:
-Skin irritation
-Swelling
-Bruising
-Infection
-Scabbing
-Scarring
FAQs
Who should get Laser Tattoo Removal?
The best patients for laser tattoo removal are individuals with small, dark, and well-defined tattoos. Also, anyone with realistic expectations about treatment results is welcome to try.
However, laser tattoo removal might not be suitable for everyone. Before now, people with dark-colored tattoos were asked not to get laser tattoo removal treatments, as the dark colors absorb the light energy laser uses to remove the ink.
That’s because the previous lasers did not have enough power to penetrate deeply into the skin and do their job. All that has changed now with the new powerful lasers available to technicians to use for tattoo removal.
It also helps to have your tattoos placed on a large, flat area of skin that can be laser-scanned easily. This way, you can remove your tattoo in lesser sessions.
What are the benefits of tattoo removal?
Tattoo removal can be a satisfying and satisfying experience. It can help ease your body’s negative feelings about specific areas of your skin art. That way, instead of hiding these skin areas, you can decorate them with something that represents who you are.
While not everyone is naturally inclined to get inked, the lifelong commitment to getting a tattoo can be intimidating to some people. Getting rid of an unwanted tattoo can make someone feel liberated, as there is no longer a permanent reminder of an event that may have caused them emotional distress.
Getting rid of an unwanted tattoo is a way for the individual to remove a reminder of something that may no longer hold significance.
Is there a specific order for getting tattoos removed?
The laser does not damage the skin much when smaller tattoos are treated first before larger ones. This is because small tattoos are easier to see and remove. Some people prefer to remove larger tattoos first, then get smaller ones removed later.
Most people find removing the small tattoos easier than tackling the large ones.
Does tattoo removal leave scars?
Laser tattoo removal uses a probe to heat the ink and suction to remove the unwanted pigment. This procedure is not known to cause scars unless something goes wrong.
Asides from the discomfort that comes from the process, you should expect some redness, blistering, swelling, and scabs, which can leave light to deep spots. They should get visibly better within a few days, depending on how well your skin takes the impact of the lasers.
Consider a doctor or a tattoo removal specialist.
The importance of booking a comprehensive session with a doctor or tattoo removal specialist cannot be over-emphasized.
A dermatologist can tell you if it’s safe to tattoo that area, and a technician trained in laser tattoo removal can give you proper care and attention while you are getting your ink taken off.
Conclusion
There are even people who get tattoos to remove them. You can change tattoos, so they don’t look like the original image anymore. Tattoo removal is expensive and depends on several factors, so some people shy away.
Not all tattoos need to be removed. Some people prefer removing tattoos by covering them with another piece to keep the tattoo.
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Fashion & Beauty Enthusiast
Hi, I'm Fanti. I'm a fashion, beauty, and lifestyle enthusiast, and the ultimate curves queen. Here, I share beauty, fashion, and lifestyle tips to teach, inspire, and give confidence to all women.