Why Should I Choose Laser Tattoo Removal? 

Photo-dynamic laser technology tattoo removal is the safest and most successful method of removing amateur and professional ink from your skin (see our ‘before and after’ images). This type of laser does not burn the skin or leave a scar as it directly targets the ink particles and not your skin.

Isn’t It Easier To Get My Tattoo Covered With A New One?

If you want a different tattoo it is normal practice to fade down the old tattoo first so that a new one can be cleanly applied over the top without the tell-tale 'ghosting' than can often be seen with cover-up tattoos. Your tattoo artist will have much more scope to give you the beautiful tattoo that you want if s/he is working on skin closer to its natural state.

How Does It Work?

It will take some time to remove your tattoo and you will require several treatments depending upon the size (and to some extent, the colour) of your tattoo. This is because tattoo ink is designed to be a permanent feature held in the dermal layer of your skin and therefore, isn’t straightforward to remove. The photo-mechanical energy of the laser penetrates the epidermal and dermal layers of the skin and directly hits the tattoo ink shattering it into tiny particles. Your body’s lymphatic system then gathers the shattered particles, digests them and flushes them away along with the other toxins in your body, in its usual manner. This process will take some time as it is dependent upon the efficiency of your lymphatic drainage system in removing the shattered ink particles. Obviously, the larger the tattoo the longer the process will take as there is more ink to be removed.

Which Colours Are Easier To Remove?

Because of the nature of light, darker colours absorb more laser light than lighter colours. Therefore, at first, you will notice a change in the quality of black, grey, dark blue, dark red, dark green, purple and dark brown sooner than you will in lighter colours. We have a Quanta Q-Plus C Nd:Yag and Ruby laser which means we are able to remove all colour pigments, even including yellow and white.

Will The Treatment Hurt?

Yes, a little. However, it is no more painful than having a tattoo inked onto your skin. Many people liken it to the sensation of having a rubber band flicked against your skin but at Tattoo Liberation we think it’s more like a very quick hot pinprick. We will, of course, cool your skin so that it doesn’t become uncomfortable and after treatment we will apply a soothing gel.

How Many Treatments Will I Need?

Everyone responds differently to treatment and most tattoos are unique in some way. If you have a very efficient lymphatic system your tattoo pigment will disappear faster than in the case of an impaired lymphatic system. We provide a full consultation and patch test and we discuss the treatment with you before you start your first treatment session. 

Will I Have To Have A Patch Test?

Yes, you will need to have a patch test on a small area of your tattoo 24 hours (or more) before your first treatment to ensure that your body will not suffer any detrimental effects from exposure to the laser light. The patch test will take place at the end of your consultation. 

How Long Will A Consultation Take?

Your consultation and patch test will take place at the same time and will take approximately 30 to 45 minutes. 

Will You Ask Me About My Medical History?

Yes. You will need to answer questions on your health, family medical history and current medication to make sure you are suitable for laser treatment. It will be helpful to tell us the name of any medication you are currently taking or have taken in the previous six months.

All information confided to Tattoo Liberation is held under the conditions of the Data Protection Act 1998 and will not be passed on to any other party.

How Long Will A Treatment Take?

A small single colour treatment will take less than 10 minutes if the tattoo is only a few centimeters in diameter. Obviously, the larger the tattoo, the longer it takes to treat

What Can I Expect From The Treatment?

During and directly after your treatment you will experience what is termed ‘whitening’. This is not a blister forming from your skin but a combination of gases, pathogens and dead skin cells reacting to the treatment to cause temporary white film on the skin’s surface. This is perfectly normal and nothing to worry about and will disappear very shortly afterwards. Some people experience ‘pinpoint bleeding’ where tiny drops of blood are brought to the skin’s surface. Again, this is perfectly normal and nothing to worry about and it will subside shortly afterwards. It is possible that some of the shattered ink particles may even be expelled onto the skin’s surface. This is a good thing to happen as it means that some of the particles are being expelled immediately from the body. Redness and blistering in the treated area are a natural reaction to the treatment and both will reduce and subside after a short time. For more details see the ‘aftercare’ page.