4 Tattoo Removal Questions You’ll Hear as a Laser Tech

Are you thinking of starting a career in laser tattoo removal?

Here is some food for thought: Last year, over $24 million was spent on tattoo removal compared to the $16 billion spent in the medical aesthetics industry overall.

Tattoo removal training at National Laser Institute will not only teach you the skills and techniques necessary to become a great tattoo removal technician, but it will also provide you with treatment information to answer common tattoo removal questions.

Common Tattoo Removal Questions

Throughout your career as a tattoo removal technician, you may find yourself answering some of these common tattoo removal questions:

1. How many laser tattoo removal treatments can I have before my tattoo is removed?

One of the first things you will learn during laser tattoo removal training is that this medical aesthetic treatment is not considered a quick fix. Clients will often return for multiple visits – six to 15 treatments or more – before their tattoo is gone.

The number of treatments needed depends on a variety of factors: age, color, type of ink and size. Typically, older tattoos will take fewer procedures, and tattoos that are not very deep may take less time to disappear.

Now, while no one can guarantee to 100 percent remove a tattoo, it is possible to remove enough so that it is not noticeable.

2. Does laser tattoo removal hurt?

This is probably one of the first questions (if not, the first) clients will ask when considering tattoo removal. As laser technicians know, laser tattoo removal is not completely pain-free. It is not the most painful experience, but many people say that it feels similar to being snapped by a rubber band. But don’t fret! Some tattoo removal clinics use topical numbing creams to help minimize discomfort during the treatment.

3. Does laser tattoo removal cause scarring?

Before laser tattoo removal, scarring was a real possibility for clients looking to ditch their unwanted ink because of methods like dermabrasion and excision. Many first-time clients will wonder if laser tattoo removal will leave their skin scarred because of these older methods. With today’s laser technology, there is a minimal chance of developing scars.

However, some factors can increase a client’s chances of developing scarring, including poor circulation, immune system deficiencies, certain prescription medications and not following proper aftercare guidelines.

4. What do I do after a tattoo removal appointment?

Once you become a laser technician, you will need to advise each client to follow aftercare guidelines. These guidelines will help ensure that the skin heals properly. Your laser technician may say:

• Keep the treated area clean and dry. Gently clean the tattoo removal area with soap and water. Pat dry and do not rub.
• Blistering is common. Blistering is likely to occur after your treatment. It is an indication that your immune system is healing the area and beginning to remove the ink from your tattoo.
• Do not pick at scabs or scrape the skin. This may result in infection and scarring. Shaving should also be avoided until the area is healed.
• Use a cool compress. To reduce discomfort and inflammation, apply a cool compress up to 24 hours after your treatment. You may take Tylenol, but you should avoid aspirin as it can increase the risks of bruising or bleeding.
• Wear sunblock. Your laser tech will suggest wearing sunblock with an SPF of 25 or higher over the treated area for three months following the laser treatment. Do not wear makeup, creams or topical medication on or near the treated area unless recommended by your laser tech.

Factors That Affect Laser Tattoo Removal

Several factors determine laser tattoo removal success:

• Size of the tattoo. Depending on the size of your client’s tattoo, it may have to be treated in stages to prevent too much energy being absorbed by the skin in one session.
• The color of the tattoo. Each tattoo color has to be targeted at a specific color wavelength. Darker colors are the easiest to remove.
• Type of ink used. The types of inks used in tattoo vary greatly, and not all can absorb tattoo removal lasers easily.
• The skill of the tattoo artist. More experienced tattoo artists can inject the tattoo ink at the same depth in the skin, so the laser would be able to be calibrated to target most of the ink at once.

Tattoo Removal Training at National Laser Institute

If you are interested in pursuing a niche career in laser tattoo removal, you can learn this and many other laser treatments in just two weeks with cosmetic laser training courses from National Laser Institute!

Our courses are divided into two sections: didactic (classroom) and clinical hands-on training. You will spend the first half of each course doing classroom education. Here, you will learn things like tissue interaction, wavelengths and laser selection, patient care and more!

The second half of the course is spent doing hands-on training in an educational setting. You will have the opportunity to treat a variety of clients and tattoo types to gain real-world experience.

Our courses are taught by some of the industry’s leading cosmetic laser techs, skincare experts, nurses and doctors who have seven to 20 years of experience in the medical aesthetics field.

By the end of the course, you will feel comfortable and confident to perform tattoo removal treatments in any medical setting!

If you would like to learn more about our cosmetic laser course options, fill out the form on your right or give us a call at 1-800-982-6817.