[00:00:00] Welcome to the Faded Podcast. In this episode, I am going to explain how you can prepare for your tattoo removal session. There are a couple of reasons why you want to prepare. Number one, you want the best results you can possibly get, and number two, you want it to be as safe as possible for your skin.

[00:00:17] So how do you prepare for your session? I am going to assume that you have already been to the studio or you have had some type of consultation, you have gotten a quote, you have booked the first appointment, and you are ready to go. Whether it is at our studio or at another studio, the general preparation is pretty much the same.

[00:00:37] So we are going to assume that all of that has been taken care of. You have already had the consultation, and you are starting your journey. How do you prepare yourself? How do you prepare your skin? What are some things that you should avoid before you come in to get laser tattoo removal?

[00:00:56] Before you prepare for the laser tattoo removal session, you should first understand how it works. You should have received that information in your consultation, but I will give a very short explanation of how the process works.

[00:01:14] The laser has an energy pulse. The energy pulse penetrates your skin, finds the pigment in your skin, and shatters the pigment into tiny particles. There is a small explosion occurring underneath your skin, and when the pigment shatters, the particles become very tiny. Then your body absorbs that pigment over time.

[00:01:37] It is your lymphatic system that picks up the pigment. Knowing this should help you prepare for what you are getting yourself into. When you come to get laser tattoo removal, there are a couple of things that you must be aware of. Number one, you should already know what the aftercare is.

[00:02:00] You should book your appointment at a time when you are able to follow the aftercare. Do not book your appointment and then the next day go on a surf trip to Indonesia or something like that. You want to be able to properly take care of your tattoo after the laser session. Part of preparing is knowing what the aftercare is and booking an appointment at a time when you are able to follow it exactly.

[00:02:27] You do not want to take any chances. You do not want to book eyebrow removal or tattoo removal and then go to the beach the next day or sit on somebody’s dock and go fishing. You want to plan your removal and make sure that you can follow the aftercare exactly.

[00:02:48] So number one in preparing is actually knowing what the aftercare is. Depending on where you go, there might be slightly different aftercare instructions, but generally speaking, tattoo removal aftercare is pretty much the same. You should not go swimming, you should not be in jacuzzis or saunas, you should not do hot yoga, and you should avoid sun exposure for a couple of weeks.

[00:03:09] All of that is pretty much the same. So number one: make sure you know what the aftercare is and that you are able to follow it when you book your appointment. Number two when preparing for laser tattoo removal is you want to make sure that you come in rested and healthy.

[00:03:28] You do not want to show up to a tattoo removal session hungover, extremely tired, coming off a cold, or with a compromised immune system. You want to make sure that you feel healthy, rested, and hydrated. You want to be in top condition before you come in to get laser.

[00:03:49] The reason is: if you laser that pigment and it shatters, and you are depending on your lymphatic system to pick it up, you should be healthy so you can get good clearance. Otherwise, you are going to waste your money. I already mentioned this, but you must make sure that you do not have any sun exposure on the treatment area.

[00:04:09] That does not mean that you have to avoid the sun completely. It just means that the treatment area should be kept out of the sun. A lot of people use bandages, KT tape, or clothing to protect their skin from the sun. If you have a tattoo on your arm that you plan on having lasered and you intend to spend time in the sun, you can locally protect that area with a bandage, KT tape, or a UV sleeve.

[00:04:30] Many of our clients do that, and it is the best option. You do not have to avoid the sun completely, but make sure the treatment area is protected. You also want to avoid self-tanner. Not only is the sun dangerous, but anything that changes the pigmentation of your skin should be avoided.

[00:04:57] If you are going into a tanning bed, that is definitely a no. Any type of lotions or sprays that make your skin darker should be avoided. The best approach is to come into the studio as pale as possible. The lighter your skin, the better the treatment will go.

[00:05:20] We can treat more aggressively, it will be safer, you will not feel as much pain, there is less chance of blistering, and overall it will be a better process. So come in at your palest and you will be happy that you did. You also want to avoid any type of active ingredients, whether it is retinol, AHA, BHA, or any acids.

[00:05:47] You want to completely avoid any chemicals that compromise the integrity of your skin. Do not put them on the treatment area. If you have a tattoo on your face, for example your eyebrows, and you need to use retinol elsewhere on your face, that is fine—just do not put it on the treatment area.

[00:06:00] Your face is fine, but the brows, if they are being lasered, are not. The same applies to body tattoos. Avoid any chemicals that could make your skin more sensitive for a couple of weeks before and after getting laser tattoo removal.

[00:06:43] Now let us talk about what you should bring to your tattoo removal session. Everyone is nervous during their first session, and by their second, third, or fourth session they are like professionals. So I want to tell you what to expect so you feel confident and ready to go.

[00:07:00] Number one, wear loose clothing that allows easy access to the tattooed area. If you have a tattoo on your thigh, do not wear tight shorts that are difficult to remove or that will cause friction afterward. Wear something loose and comfortable that is easy to put on and take off and will not irritate your skin.

[00:07:29] If you have something on your waistband, or if you wear a bra and have a tattoo near your bra line, make sure you wear something comfortable and not too tight. If possible, wear a shirt instead of a bra when leaving, so it is not abrasive on the treated area.

[00:07:49] The same applies to the pant line. Do not wear clothing that is tight and abrasive. Wear something loose and comfortable so when you leave the studio, you feel comfortable and your clothing is not rubbing against the treated area.

[00:08:06] Let us talk about numbing cream. Some clients choose to numb the tattoo before they come in, and others want to see how it feels without it. If it were me, I would use numbing cream because it does not impact the efficacy of the laser. If I were getting laser tattoo removal, I would absolutely use numbing cream.

[00:08:26] But if you prefer not to, that is fine. Some people do not respond well to lidocaine, which is the active ingredient in most numbing creams. Make sure you are okay with that ingredient, either by checking with your doctor or based on your medical history.

[00:08:51] If lidocaine is okay for you, I recommend using it prior to coming in. We normally tell clients to apply it about half an hour before the session. After applying the numbing cream, cover it with plastic wrap and tape so it does not wipe off and has time to absorb into the skin before it dries.

[00:09:13] So numbing cream is a plus, but make sure the ingredients are safe for your body. If you are coming from far away—driving or taking the train—and will not be home for a while, I recommend bringing a cold compress or ice pack that you can use while traveling back home.

[00:09:40] I normally recommend icing the tattoo on and off: five minutes on, half an hour off, periodically throughout the day after you get lasered and the following day. So if you are traveling from far away, bring your own cold compress or ice pack.

[00:10:04] When you leave the studio and you are sitting in your car or on the train, you can put an ice pack on the area to cool the skin. When I recommend ice packs, it is not only for pain relief but also to cool the tissue down. You want to settle the skin.

[00:10:22] There was a small explosion underneath your skin, and the heat from that combined with your body temperature will raise the overall temperature. You want to counter that by applying a cold compress or ice pack to avoid blistering, swelling, and to reduce pain.

[00:10:52] Now let us talk about what you can expect during your laser tattoo removal session. Normally, when you come in, we have a quick chat. Even though people have consultations before booking their appointment, some do not, and they book the tattoo removal without any prior consultation.

[00:11:09] Either way, we like to sit you down and have a quick conversation to make sure we are on the same page before we start. We will talk about the process, go over the consultation again briefly, explain how the laser works, and explain what you can expect. We will go over the aftercare to make sure it is fully understood, and answer any questions you may have.

[00:11:34] After that, we will take photos of the tattooed area so we can compare them later. After taking photos, you will get into the chair or onto the bed—whatever position allows access to the tattoo. If needed, we will shave the area, clean it with alcohol, and ice it.

[00:12:00] We will ice the tattoo and also blow cold air on it. We use two cooling methods: an ice pack and cold air. We aim to get the skin as cool as possible without causing too much pain before beginning the laser process. After icing, we will do a test spot to see how you feel.

[00:12:22] If everything looks good and you feel okay, we will begin lasering the tattoo. If you need breaks, let us know and we will take breaks. If it hurts and you want to stop briefly, no problem. If you want to leave, you can, though we rarely have clients who end the session early.

[00:12:43] Most clients take breaks, and that is completely fine. If you prefer to go straight through without breaks, you can do that as well. We will finish zapping, then ice the area again, blow cold air on it, apply ointment, bandage it, and send you on your way.

[00:13:06] Normally, after that, you head to the front desk to settle payment. Whether you pay per session or purchase a package is up to you. We will not pressure you; we will give you the information, and you decide what you want to do. At that point, you can book your next session.

[00:13:32] We normally recommend at least two months between sessions unless otherwise advised. In unique cases, we might tell you to wait longer, but normally it is eight weeks between sessions. Once you book your next session, you are out the door.

[00:13:53] It is important to remember the aftercare instructions. When you leave, we will give you a small card, but it is important to know that aftercare starts as soon as you walk out. That is not the time to go to the gym or the beach. This is now the time for you to play your part in the process.

[00:14:16] A lot of clients ask what they can do to help the process. When they hear that removal takes nine to twelve sessions, they often ask how to speed it up. There are things you can do to help the process, and things you should avoid.

[00:14:43] Things you can do: stay hydrated, eat healthy, be well rested, and believe it or not, be happy. Doing all of those things boosts your immune system, and a boosted immune system breaks down pigment particles faster than a system that is not boosted.

[00:15:00] Things you should avoid are the exact opposite of what I just mentioned.

[00:15:04] Let us recap some things you can do to prepare for your tattoo removal session. Number one: know the aftercare. If you know the aftercare, you can book your session at a time when it is possible for you to follow it. Number two: show up healthy and in great condition. If you are not feeling healthy, if your skin is acting up, or if you are sick, simply rebook your appointment. Come in when the circumstances are best for you and you will see the best results.

[00:15:32] Number three: wear clothing that allows easy access to the tattoo. Wear comfortable clothing that does not irritate the area after treatment. That is the best-case scenario. Do not wear clothing that makes it difficult to access the tattoo or that is uncomfortable to put back on afterward.

[00:15:58] Another point: you can put numbing cream on beforehand. If you decide to use numbing cream and it is safe for your body, apply it thirty minutes before your appointment and cover it with plastic wrap. When you arrive, we will remove the wrap, wipe off the cream, clean the area, and begin.

[00:16:18] Numbing cream is an option. If you use it, apply it thirty minutes before and cover it with plastic wrap. Last but not least, if you have any questions, ask. We will gladly answer any questions you have, but if you do not ask, we do not know what you want to know.

[00:16:38] I hope this episode was helpful in preparing you for your tattoo removal journey. It is quite a journey. It will take several sessions, so it is important to know what you are getting into before you start.

[00:16:58] Thank you for tuning into the Faded Podcast. We will catch you again next week.