Tattoo Removal Frequently Asked Questions

Many clinics respond to this question with: it can cause brief discomfort.

We prefer to be honest and tell it exactly how it is. Yes it hurts! Everyone we treat is different and certain areas on the body are more sensitive than others, most people describe it as a hot rubber band flicking your skin.

As we have been through the process ourselves we are dedicated to providing the best possible pain management and that is why we use a Cryotherapy chiller which blows -35 degree cold air onto the treatment area. This cold air minimises pain and thermal injury to your skin.

If you are concerned about discomfort we also can provide you with a topical anaesthetic cream which alleviates most of the discomfort associated with the treatment.

Does it hurt?

The heat produced by the laser procedure is localised to a very small area but it can cause some brief discomfort. For those with sensitive skin, a topical anesthetic can be used. We use a chiller that cools the skin by blowing -35 degree cold air onto the treatment area. This reduces the discomfort of tattoo removal quite significantly.

How effective is laser tattoo removal?

Laser treatment is very effective on most types of tattoos and most colors. Generally, tattoos can be totally eliminated by laser treatment, resulting in no residual dyes or scarring. Laser tattoo removal is a new science and the latest models of lasers are more effective than earlier models. The methodology is not simple. Different frequencies must be used for different colors of tattoo ink. It is crucial that the laser tattoo removal procedure be performed by an experienced licenced operator who has received specialised training for this procedure.

The mechanism of tattoo removal uses non-ionising radiation, which has no detrimental effect on the molecular structure of DNA.
Lasers used in tattoo removal have been in use for many years and in this time there has been no recorded case of increased development of cancers in the group treated.

After the laser procedure you may experience some redness, swelling and scabbing and sometimes blistering. This is a normal process as the body works to eliminate the tattoo dyes. Most people find that within 1 – 2 weeks depending on their tattoo/colour/location they are completely healed to perfect skin as before the treatment.

During consultation we explain in great details your after care. We also provide you with a detailed after care pack and the personal phone number of the laser specialist in case you have any questions or concerns after hours.

The MOST important we can tell you is NO SUN! NO SUN! NO SUN!

All tattoos and all people are different but it generally takes between 5 – 12 laser treatments to completely remove a tattoo. This depends on many factors including the colour of ink used, the client’s immune system, the size and location of the tattoo, how deep the ink is, how much ink, the age of the tattoo and whether it was applied by a professional or an amateur. Homemade tattoos can take between 1-3 treatments to completely remove the ink.

We have successfully performed over 42,000 treatments , with this experience we can give you an accurate estimate on the number of treatments required to remove or fade your tattoo.

Some clients desire lightening of an existing tattoo in order to cover or alter it with a new one. In most cases, a minimum of 2-3 treatments is all that’s required to lighten an existing tattoo.

Yes! You can certainly tattoo over the old tattoo after laser. Most tattooists will require you to wait a minimum of 8-12 weeks after the laser treatment.

At Rethink, individuals younger than 18 can be treated for tattoo removal with parental consent.