Getting your lover’s name permanently inked on your skin shows devotion and loyalty – but what happens when you don’t feel the same way anymore?
Celebs are no strangers to getting wacky designs tattooed on their bodies – Megan Fox has had a portrait of Marilyn Monroe erased from her back and replaced with ‘We Will All Laugh At Gilded Butterflies’; Angelina Jolie and Melanie Griffith have had their ex-lovers tatted on them (and they’ve since removed them); while Miley sports the crying cat emoji on her inner lip.
The latest innovation in tattoo removal is Cynosure’s PicoSure – a high-intensity light treatment that works to “shatter” the tattoo ink into tiny, dust-like particles without harming the surrounding skin.
Tattoo removal in the past has been difficult to say the least, especially with dark colours such as green and blue. “In the past, these shades were the hardest colours to remove, but that’s no longer true with the new PicoSure treatment,” says Sandra Sostres, Registered Nurse and Clinical Educator for Cynosure Australia. “However, white and pink colours can still be challenging because treating these inks can lead to paradoxical ink darkening.”
Best of all, you’ll start seeing results after just one session. In fact, 50% of the tattoo can be cleared after the first treatment. You’ll notice a significant difference in skintone, colour, and density… however this does depend on the kind of ink that was used and how much of it was inserted into your body.
“Tattoo ink is not standardised so it makes it almost impossible to predict the ultimate success of laser removal treatment,” continues Sostres. “Results may vary as there’s no way of knowing what tattoo ink was used, how deeply or how much ink was injected.”
Thinking about getting it done? Here are some things you should keep in mind:
- Some scabbing can form after the treatment, but not in every case. The degree of scabbing depends on the colour and density of the tattoo pigment and the laser energy used to treat the tattoo.
- After your treatment, avoid baths, swimming or immersion into hot tubs or saunas until the area has healed up.
- No physical activities for 24-48 hours; contact sports or any sport or activity that may cause bruising or scraping of the treated area should be avoided.
- No shaving and exfoliating in the treated area until it is completely healed.
- If crusting occurs, do not pick at the scab or allow the skin to become scraped as this may result in infection and scarring.
- Avoid sun exposure and once it is healed, if the area has to be exposed to the sun wear a 50+ sun block at all times.
Picosure, from $500 a treatment
Have you tried laser tattoo removal before? What was your experience like? Tell us in the comments below…
