When you decide to have a tattoo erased, it’s a big choice, but choosing the right tattoo removal shop to do the job is an equally important decision. Whatever reasons you have for removing the tattoo, the last thing you want is an incomplete job, or worse, a truly permanent scar in the place of the tattoo. So, we’ve created this quick guide to questions you’d want to ask a tattoo removal shop, to make sure they’ll be able to do the job right.
1 – What method does your tattoo removal shop use?
There are many different techniques for removing a tattoo, some much more effective than others. Older techniques such as dermabrasion and cryotherapy are still sometimes found in a tattoo removal shop, but are much more painful and more likely to leave scarring. They also can fail to remove certain pigments, especially bright blues and greens. Other “do it yourself” methods such as mail-order creams may lighten the tattoo, but they rarely remove it entirely.
There is a newer technique coming into use, called Intense Pulsed Light therapy. However it remains relatively unproven in the long term and has significant risks of permanently altering skin pigmentation, especially in darker-skinned individuals and those whose skin is sensitive to burns.
For these reasons, we still recommend laser tattoo removal as the most overall safe and effective option for a tattoo removal shop. While not painless, most individuals need no anesthetic, and with proper aftercare, there is virtually no risk of scarring.
2 – What laser does your laser tattoo removal shop use?
Just as not all tattoo removal techniques are created equal, neither are all tattoo removal lasers. The two most common are the nD:Yag (neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet) laser and the standard ruby laser. However, neither of these are able to entirely remove all colors of pigmentation alone, and overuse of a ruby laser alone risks damaging the skin.
The best choice in lasers for a quality laser tattoo removal shop is one which incorporates multiple lasers, such as the Astanza Trinity, which we feel is the best machine on the market. This ensures all pigments are able to be removed, and helps minimize the number of sessions required.
3 – What sort of results does your tattoo removal shop get?
Any good tattoo removal shop should have a range of patient testimonials available, demonstrating the effectiveness of their techniques. Beware any shop that cannot produce a good range of before-and-after photos proving that they can do the work well. Seeing really is believing in this case.
4 – What kind of aftercare does your tattoo removal shop provide?
As mentioned above, the erasing process doesn’t end when you leave the clinic. Any effective tattoo removal method currently in use still requires a significant amount of aftercare. A good tattoo removal shop knows that this sort of aftercare is, in fact, vital to the entire process. Modern tattoo removal techniques break down the ink so that your immune system can dispose of it, so it’s a necessity that you stay healthy during the process. Make sure to pick a shop which can guide you through this.
As you can see, picking a tattoo removal shop isn’t a simple decision to make. Hopefully, this guide will be able to help guide you in your decision and ensure that you have the best and safest tattoo removal you possibly can. In the meantime, if you have any other questions, this tattoo removal shop would be happy to answer them!
