How Bad Does Laser Tattoo Removal Hurt? Care Tips

Tattoo regret is real, whether you have a butterfly on your lower back or an ex’s name on your arm. It is something that many people encounter.

For this reason, an increasing number of people are using laser removal to remove unwanted ink.

But there’s one question that everyone asks:

What is the pain level of laser tattoo removal?

We have answers.

Relax; even though laser tattoo removal can be painful, it probably won’t hurt as much as getting the tattoo did.

The discomfort of tattoo removal is comparable to that of severe sunburn, and the laser pulses are similar to rubber bands snapping against your skin. Absolutely cringe-inducing, but bearable

Here are some reasons why laser tattoo removal is not as painful as you might anticipate.

How Tattoo Removal Works

By penetrating the epidermis, the top layer of skin, with high-intensity laser pulses, the pigment is broken down into smaller particles during laser tattoo removal. The body then absorbs and processes those smaller particles.

Although generally successful, laser tattoo removal isn’t exactly a quick fix.

To be effective, several treatments are necessary. How many depends on the size of your tattoo and the colors (lighter colors are harder to remove than dark ones). The recovery period in between treatments, which is typically a few weeks, is another consideration.

You don’t only have the option of laser tattoo removal. Another option is dermabrasion, which involves sanding away the skin’s top layer. (Ouch, right?)

Another option is surgery, but this is obviously more invasive because it involves removing the tattooed skin and then sewing the remaining skin back together.

Tattoo Removal Pain Factors

The majority of tattoo application sessions are considerably longer than laser tattoo removal sessions. In contrast to tattooing sessions, which can last for hours, they typically last three to five minutes. This means that less time is spent feeling uncomfortable than when getting a tattoo.

In what ways is laser tattoo removal painful? That depends on several factors, such as:

• Size of the tattoo
• The thickness and darkness of the linework
• The colors of the ink
• Age of the tattoo
• The number of sessions you’ve had
• Where the tattoo is located
• Your level of pain tolerance

The size, type of linework, and colors are a few of these factors that have an impact on how long sessions last. A laser tattoo removal session may only last one or two minutes for a very small tattoo. For larger ones, you might spend up to twenty minutes waiting. Even though the discomfort might be the same, it’s comforting to know that a tattoo removal procedure only takes a few seconds.

How many sessions are needed to get a tattoo out? The ink’s color, for example, is one of many variables that affect this.

Many claims that after each laser tattoo removal session, the process becomes simpler. Their worries about tattoo removal are allayed because there will be less ink to remove in the future and because they are aware of what to expect.

How Tattoo Age Affects Laser Tattoo Removal Pain

Are older tattoos more painful to remove? Yes, the age of a tattoo affects how uncomfortable laser removal is for you. For this reason, tattoo removal sessions are less time-consuming and labor-intensive than those for removing a tattoo that is less recent because some of the ink has already faded.

Parts of the Body Where Removal Hurts the Least

In “meatier” places like the thighs, calves, and biceps, laser removal usually causes less pain. Why? Because there is more muscle mass and fat in these areas, which acts as a pain-blocking cushion. Conversely, areas with more nerve endings and a bonier structure are more sensitive. When removing a tattoo with a laser, the shins will feel the pain more so than the calves.

Here are a few other areas that tend to experience less pain:

• The shoulders
• The upper arms
• The front of the thighs

Except for the region around the spine, the majority of the back usually causes less discomfort for women during tattoo removal. Additionally, areas with taut skin, such as the top of the thigh, are less likely to be sensitive than areas with looser skin.

Parts of the Body Where Removal Hurts the Most

Where does tattoo removal hurt the most? Because the skin is closer to the bone in some locations, tattoo removal treatments are more sensitive there. For example, laser tattoo removal on the fingers or ankle may hurt more as a result. Additionally, it’s difficult or impossible to refrain from moving certain body parts (like your ankle) after laser treatment, whereas you can easily allow other parts of your body to rest.

The following are some of the more painful areas for laser tattoo removal:

• The joints. As a result of the skin’s proximity to the bone at the knees, elbows, and ankles, laser tattoo removal is more difficult in these areas. Additionally, you’ll be moving them a lot after your session, which could make the pain you feel after your sessions worse.
• The ribs and sternum. One of the most difficult areas to tattoo or remove a tattoo from is the rib cage. In addition to the skin being so close to the bone, breathing may also make the discomfort brought on by removal worse.
• The fingers and feet. These extremities have numerous nerve endings, which adds to the discomfort of getting a tattoo and having it removed.
• the region under the arm. One of the most delicate areas for laser removal therapy is this spot because of the extremely thin skin there.
• The head. During tattoo removal, there is often a high level of sensitivity anywhere on the head.

Again, the areas where tattoos hurt the most are also the areas where laser removal hurts the most.

This chart of tattoo pain levels illustrates the variations in levels of discomfort felt when getting tattoos on various body parts. Although the pain will be less than when you got the tattoo, these distinctions also apply to laser tattoo removal.

Does Tattoo Removal Hurt More Than Getting Tattooed?

Although everyone’s threshold for pain and level of pain aversion varies, getting a tattoo feels more painful than having one removed with a laser. Many people liken the discomfort of getting a tattoo removed to that of getting a sunburn.

Does it hurt differently depending on where on the body the tattoo is removed? Yes, areas of the body with skin that is closer to the bone are more sensitive to a tattoo needle, which also means they are more sensitive to a laser. According to an expert tattoo removal technician at Remover, depending on where the tattoo is placed, getting inked can feel like being scratched by a cat’s hot claws or licked by its rough tongue.

Compared to laser tattoo removal, how painful are tattoos? However, some areas of the body will hurt more from laser removal than others. Laser removal is typically not as painful as being scratched with hot claws. According to many, it is unpleasant but not agonizing.

Your Aftercare Treatment is Extremely Important

You may feel some pain after the removal, even though the procedure is only mildly uncomfortable. Usually, for 36 to 48 hours following treatment, the skin feels slightly sunburned.

Cabs and blistering are also common occurrences. These are temporary side effects of the healing process and usually go away after a few days. However, they could be uncomfortable in the interim.

You can avoid pain by following a proper aftercare treatment routine, which includes:

• Not picking scabs. It hurts and obstructs proper healing.
• consuming a lot of water hydrates your skin and strengthens your body’s defenses.
• staying out of the sun Sunlight can slow down the recovery process
• by putting on a vitamin E cream. helps repair damaged skin cells.

You run the risk of causing the skin additional, needless pain if you don’t follow the recommended aftercare instructions.

Here’s the Bottom Line

Laser tattoo removal is painful. Minor discomfort is common among most people. But if you could endure the discomfort of getting a tattoo, you shouldn’t experience any discomfort during this procedure.

Additionally, laser removal sessions only take a few minutes, in contrast to the hours it can take to get a tattoo. Each session is less painful than the previous one, but the number of sessions varies depending on the size of your tattoo.

If you follow the proper aftercare plan, you’ll only experience pain during those brief moments when you’re actually under the laser. Just be sure to stay out of the sun. The technician’s ability to see the ink particles is hampered and the process can be prolonged by even minor sunburn.

Don’t let your fear of pain keep you from getting rid of that unsightly tattoo. The feeling of having to look at a tattoo you detest is much worse than spending a short time in our office getting it permanently removed!