People don’t get a tattoo thinking they’ll get it removed, but suddenly one day you might turn around and regret your ex’s initials on your wedding finger, a tribal tattoo around your arm, or a heart on your chest.
That is why beauty salons that also provide tattoo removal are always in demand, as many of us don’t want to keep our tattoos forever, after all.
The way this is done is through a series of laser sessions, which breaks down the ink over time. Eventually, this ink is absorbed back into the bloodstream.
Before booking in for a tattoo removal though, it is important to realise that not all tattoos can be fully removed or they might require a number of lengthy sessions to completely get rid of them.
This will depend on the size of the tattoo, the colour of the ink, and where it is. That is why it may be worth considering covering the tattoo up with a new design instead of trying to remove it.
It can also take a long time to remove and you might require more sessions than you think. Although it might not have taken long to ink, you may have to spend over a year getting rid of it.
Laser treatments have to be spaced out as this gives the body enough time to break down the ink and heal again before the next session.
Tattoo removal is not available on the NHS, so make sure you are aware how much each session will cost and how many you are likely to need so you can budget for your removal.
Obviously, the bigger the tattoo, the more expensive it will be, while age and colour of the tattoo also makes a difference as to the effectiveness of the laser treatment.
You should also know that laser removal can be uncomfortable at times, though if you’re used to getting ink, you might have a high pain threshold.
