Tattoo Removal

As you grow and change, a tattoo you loved 10 years ago might not make you as happy as it once did. At Bloom Health NP in Frederick, Maryland, nurse practitioner Sheila K. Rohe, MSN, CRNP, FNP-C, can gently and safely remove your unwanted tattoos. While tattoos are meant to be permanent, Bloom Health NP has the most advanced technology to carefully remove your tattoo without damaging the surrounding skin. Call the office today or schedule an appointment online today to learn more.

What is tattoo removal?

Tattoo removal uses laser technology to break up and eliminate unwanted tattoo pigment in your skin. Unlike other procedures, such as a surgical incision, laser tattoo treatments don’t require the removal of your skin, so they have minimal side effects.

How does tattoo removal work?

During tattoo removal, Sheila beams varying wavelengths of laser energy into your tattoo to break up the pigment. Your skin absorbs these beams each time the laser pulses, converting the light energy into heat.

Once the energy converts to heat, it shatters the pigment in your tattoo and breaks it up into smaller particles of ink. Over time, your body’s lymphatic system naturally removes this pigment from your body.

How long does tattoo removal take?

How long laser tattoo removal takes depends on the color and size of your tattoo. Smaller tattoos require fewer pulses than large ones, so they typically fade within six sessions or less.

Full black tattoos are the easiest to remove because black absorbs all wavelengths of light, while others can’t. Brown, dark blue, and green tattoos fade faster than bright, colorful pigments.

Most people need at least six to nine 20-minute treatments spaced 6-8 weeks apart before their tattoos fully fade, but you may need as many as 10 sessions if you have a large, colorful tattoo. In total, tattoo removal can take up to eight months approximately..

Is tattoo removal safe?

Laser tattoo removal from a trained laser specialist is safer than alternative options, such as surgical excision or dermabrasion. A laser can gently extract pigment from your skin without damaging the surrounding area.

Most people describe laser tattoo removal as feeling like snapping a rubber band against your skin, so it’s also less painful than other options.

Are there side effects of tattoo removal?

It’s common to experience minor swelling, redness, bleeding, or small blisters after your tattoo removal treatments. These temporary side effects should subside within a few weeks.

Tattoo removal is a safe way to remove your unwanted tattoo fully. To learn more, call the office or book an appointment online today.