IS IT EASIER TO REMOVE AN OLD OR NEW TATTOO?
It is not easier to remove an old tattoo than a new one.
In fact, the data collected by NAAMA studios in London over the course of 30,000 successful laser tattoo removal treatments shows that the age of a tattoo has little impact on how easy it will be to remove.
There is some truth to the claim that in some instances, older ink might have begun to be cleared by the body’s natural immune response.
But really, with the LightSense™ laser our expert consultants are as confident removing brand-new tattoos as they are removing aged ink. What the data shows
A graph of removal progress over the first eight sessions divides clients into three groups, those with tattoos that are 1-5 years old, 6-10 years old, and those with tattoos that are over ten years old.
The curve steadily rises up, with little difference between the three groups.
“If anything,” Ben, Data Analyst at NAAMA says, “older tattoos seem to have slightly better progress.” But there is little difference between the three categories in terms of percentage removal at each of the eight treatments.
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“An ode to my rash decisions.”
—LYDIA REMOVED A NEW TATTOO AFTER JUST SIX MONTHS
Do tattoos fade naturally over time?
Over time the body’s natural immune response to ink pigment - an alien substance in the eyes of the lymphatic system - works to gently remove the smallest of the particles.
Some of the ink particles contained by macrophages are too big to be flushed out, so whilst over time the tattoo may fade a little, the ink will never clear entirely.
That is until you direct a super low energy, accurate laser beam at it.
In steps LightSense™.
Removing very new tattoos
Our experts suggest that you wait six to eight weeks for a new tattoo to heal before you begin laser tattoo removal.
After that it is possible to remove a new tattoo.
We have plenty of experience with clients who instantly regretted their tattoos and scheduled a removal in a matter of weeks. Many of them have shared their fabulous results with us.
After the newly tattooed skin is healed, you can begin to remove a brand-new tattoo.
Other factors that influence laser tattoo removal
The age of a tattoo is not as important a factor when it comes to laser tattoo removal as the following: the type of ink used; the location of the tattoo on the body; your skin’s exposure to the sun in the weeks leading up to treatments; and the overall health of your immune system.
Tattoo ink is under-regulated. When choosing a new tattoo design it is crucial that you research a safe and quality ink pigment as well. We are better able to remove high-quality ink with our laser.
The location of a tattoo matters. It is easier to remove a tattoo located near the heart, where the blood flow is strong, than from the extremities (think hands and feet).
If your skin is burnt and sun damaged we will not be able to treat you until the skin has healed. We have detailed sun exposure guidelines.
The health of your immune system is key for success in laser tattoo removal. That’s because after the laser has done its work breaking the ink pigment apart, the rest is down to the body, to flush out the unwanted ink.
How long does it take to remove a tattoo?
Every tattoo is unique and will fade in different ways. To get the best idea of how easy it will be to remove your personal tattoo we recommend that you book a patch test and consultation with one of our expert consultants.
Though we don’t give a one-size-fits-all answer to this question, we do offer tattoo removal in months, not years. Because the LightSense™ laser works on ultra-low energy there is less downtime between sessions, meaning you can come in for treatments more often than with traditional laser technologies.
Don’t just take it from us. If you’d like to find out more about the incredible results the LightSense™ laser can achieve fast on new tattoos, read up on it here.