How Many Laser Tattoo Removal Sessions Will I Need?
On the day you got your tattoo, you felt confident you’d enjoy having it forever. However, over time, you’ve come to be less than excited with it on your body — and are exploring your removal options. Perhaps lifestyle changes have impacted your personal preferences. Maybe you’ve simply outgrown it. Whatever the case, we’re here to shed light on a common question regarding tattoo removal: how long would it take?
As a leading provider of tattoo removal in Little Rock, AR, Dr. Devlin and his team have put together this guide on how many laser tattoo removal sessions you may need.
A Word on the Average Number of Sessions Needed for Tattoo Removal
When you consider the myriad variety of tattoo sizes and styles available, the process of laser tattoo removal looks different for everyone. The number of tattoo removal sessions you’ll need must be determined by a professional. When you visit us for a consultation, our cosmetic surgeon, Dr. Devlin, will be able to determine how many sessions you’ll need.
That said, there are some averages and estimations that can inform what to expect. Most patients typically need six to eight sessions before seeing the kind of results they’re after. Larger tattoos may take upwards of 10 or more treatments.
To ensure the skin heals properly, your appointments may be scheduled six to eight weeks apart. With these averages in mind, patients can expect anywhere from 8 months to a year.
Factors That Can Increase the Number of Tattoo Removal Sessions Needed
There are several things that can make your tattoo harder to remove, and therefore, require more sessions. We’ve put together some of the biggest ones:
- Color of Tattoo and Skin: Simply put, laser removal works by picking up on the contrast between your skin and ink. This means black ink on fair skin comes off easier than “warm” colors on more sun-kissed or olive skin (think tattoos with red, brown, or even flesh-colored pigments).
- Quality of Tattoo: High-quality tattoos done by a professional may be more challenging to remove than amateur or do-it-yourself tattoos since the ink used for professional tattoos is typically inserted deeper into the skin.
- How Long You’ve Had the Tattoo: The longer the tattoo has been on the skin, the easier it will be for our lasers to break up the color. This is because the ink has had more time to disperse into the skin.
Want to Learn More About How Many Tattoo Removal Sessions You Need?
No matter the reason you want to remove your tattoo, you want the process to be as quick and effective as possible. That’s where our team steps in. The team at our cosmetic surgery office in Little Rock, AR, uses top-of-the-line laser systems that can eliminate or lessen the appearance of tattoos.
When you contact us for an initial consultation, we’ll schedule a time to take a close look at your tattoo and learn a bit about you to get a good idea of how many sessions you’ll need to get results you're happy with. For more information, reach out to our team today.
