How Does Tattoo Removal Work?
Do you have unwanted ink? Then you’re probably looking into getting a tattoo removed. One of the most effective methods is laser tattoo removal. But how does tattoo removal work? Can it actually erase a permanent tattoo? Let’s find out.
How Lasering Removes the Tattoo Ink in Your Skin
How Tattoos Become Permanent
A tattoo is designed to last forever. But how do tattoos become permanent in the first place? After all, don’t skin cells shed and regenerate?
When you get a tattoo, the artist deposits ink in the dermis, or inner layer of your skin. Because the ink particles are locked into the dermis, they won’t be absorbed by the tissue underneath the dermis. This careful placement also ensures that the ink won’t dissolve when the outer layer of your skin, known as the epidermis, naturally regenerates.
Your white blood cells also play a role in the longevity of your tattoo. They’re part of your immune system and help your body fight disease. Think of white blood cells like your own personal army. When they detect something foreign in your body, they attack it and work on eliminating it.
When you get a tattoo, your white blood cells detect the presence of something unfamiliar in your body. They respond by eliminating the ink particles. But here’s the trick: most of the ink particles are too big for your white blood cells to absorb. So, the skin cells around the particles heal, the ink particles stay, and the ink becomes permanent.
How Tattoo Laser Removal Works
Since tattoo ink is located in the dermis, you have to somehow get to that inner layer to remove those ink particles. That’s where lasering comes in.
When laser light is applied to your skin, it gently heats up and breaks down the ink particles. This light works from the outer layer in, removing the ink it reaches first that’s closest to the top layer of skin. After it works through the shallowest layers of ink, it eventually dissolves the deepest layers.
After laser treatment, the broken-down ink particles are tiny enough to be absorbed by your army of white blood cells. Once absorbed, the tiny particles are sent to your lymph nodes and eventually eliminated through perspiration, urine or fecal matter.
How Long Does Tattoo Removal Take?
Tattoo removal is rarely a one-and-done deal. That’s because lasering works from the outside in, meaning it may take several sessions to target the deepest layers and fully remove the ink from your skin.
These sessions typically have to be spaced apart by several weeks. The absorbed ink isn’t flushed out of your system immediately, so you need some time for your body to do the work. This also allows your lasered skin to heal between sessions.
The good news is that treatment sessions don’t take long. Depending on the size and color of your tattoo, it may only take a few minutes. The brevity of tattoo removal treatments makes it easier to schedule them during your busy day.
Choose an Experienced Tattoo Removal Specialist
It’s critical to find an experienced tattoo removal professional you can trust. At Balance Hormone, our caring healthcare professionals will help you determine the right treatment for your tattoos. We’re dedicated to ensuring your comfort and giving you the best possible results.
Learn about our tattoo removal treatments by calling us today at 480-718-9960 or schedule an appointment.
