Can tattoos be completely removed in 1 session?

Doctor's Answers 2

I’m afraid that it would not be possible unless your tattoo has very little ink to begin with. Most tattoos usually require 3 to 12 sessions depending on the laser used and the person using it.

Some factors that will affect how quickly your tattoo clears include:

  • Your body’s immune system (ability to breakdown the ink and repair itself)
  • Body placement of your tattoo
  • Type of ink colors
  • Amount of ink used
  • Is it over an existing scar or a pre-existing tattoo?
  • Whether or not you smoke

Technology definitely plays an important role in the rate of complete removal. A tattoo removal laser has the ability to transmit powerful laser pulses, which breaks down the ink particles. However, not all laser machines in the market are able to deliver the same results largely due to the power of the lasers used as well as the experience of the operators.

I personally prefer to use the PicoWay laser as the quickest way to remove tattoos. The picosecond technology is able to deliver small bursts of laser energy that penetrates deep into the skin in picoseconds (one trillionth of a second).

This ensures that there is minimal damage to the area outside of the treatment zone. This also means that more pigment is burned up with each laser application and the pigments are broken up into much smaller fragments when compare to the Q-switched lasers.

You will typically only see changes after you have at least a few sessions done. My PicoWay does significantly reduce the required number of sessions.

No tattoos cannot be removed in one session. The colour, the amount of ink and the depth/layer of tattoo used determines how fast tattoos can be removed. Your body clearance and the ability to heal or risk of getting hypertrophic scarring certainly plays a part in tattoo removal.

The reason why it needs multiple sessions is because of increased risk of scarring with each increased power. A experienced doctor will know how to determine what power to use to manage tattoo removal with the power used.

Thks


Related: The Ultimate Guide to Tattoo Removal in Singapore


Similar Questions

How much does laser tattoo removal cost in Singapore, and what affects the costs of tattoo removal?

Picosecond lasers for tattoo removal costs $700 – $1200 per session. 3 - 8 sessions are usually required, depending on individual characteristics and your tattoo type. The estimated total bill will be about $2000 for simple tattoos. Challenging tattoos may cost up to $4000 to remove. As you can see, effective tattoo removal in Singapore is definitely not cheap, which makes it all the more important to get it right the first time! The costs for tattoo removal will differ according to how many sessions you need.

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Answered By

Human

How can I get the best results after tattoo removal, and what is the recovery process like?

It is very important to adopt proper post laser aftercare for the entire recovery process. After each treatment, the treated area may seem like a superficial burn wound and you need to treat it like an open wound. You may expect to experience the following side effects like blistering, scabbing or itching after a few days. However, the above side effects are temporary and will subside within a week. I prescribe a treatment regime and when followed helps to speed the healing process and reduce the chances of scarring.

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Dr Kevin Chua

Aesthetic

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