FAQ
Can you fade my tattoo for a coverup?
Blackout Tattoo Removal specializes in fading tattoos for a cover-up. Cover-ups are much easier to apply after the existing tattoo has been faded. Laser tattoo removal creates a cleaner canvas for tattoo artists to apply a cover-up and also gives you more creativity with your cover-up piece. In addition to fading, Blackout can completely remove your tattoo or selectively remove a part of your tattoo (i.e. a name) without damaging the surrounding ink.
How much does laser tattoo removal cost?
Laser tattoo removal pricing is based on size. The most common size we see is between 3”x3” and 4”x4” which is priced between $200-$250/session.
How long will it take to remove my tattoo?
It is impossible to say exactly how long it will take to remove a tattoo. Variables include location on body, application of ink, layering of ink (already a cover-up), skin type, overall health, ink colours, and pre-existing scarring.
Full removal can take anywhere from 5-10+ sessions.
Sessions are spaced a minimum of 6 weeks apart and are spread further apart the more sessions you have. Although your skin may appear healed on the surface within a week, your body is still processing the shattered particles in the background and can continue to do so long after your last session.
Does tattoo removal hurt?
Laser tattoo removal typically does involve some level of pain. The sensation of removal is comparable to having a tattoo applied. Common descriptions include the sensation of a rubber band snapping against the skin or bacon grease – basically, it’s uncomfortable but bearable.
It hurts, but it’s bearable.
We utilize the Zimmer Cryo 6 cooling equipment to effectively numb your skin and provide maximum comfort before, during, and after each treatment. This device helps mitigate any pain and discomfort and also reduces the risk of thermal injury.
Topical anesthetics can also assist in pain reduction. A 5% lidocaine ointment will not interfere with the tattoo removal process.
Is laser tattoo removal dangerous? Are there any side effects?
Laser tattoo removal is the safest method for removing tattoos. Our equipment is FDA-approved and is trusted by leading laser tattoo removal practitioners worldwide. Our laser technicians are expertly trained by the world’s leading laser tattoo removal training programs and use custom protocols for your unique tattoo and skin type to ensure each patient receives the best skin care and optimal results.
After your treatment, you may experience temporary redness, itchiness, swelling, blistering, scabbing, and/or pigmentation changes. All of these side effects are indications that your immune system is removing the shattered ink and will heal over the weeks following each treatment. All of these side effects are temporary. Redness, tenderness, and swelling typically subside within a day or two following treatment. Blisters usually appear within 24 hours of treatment; sometimes the blisters are very large and may look alarming – this is completely normal. Scabs, bruising, and blistering may take up to a week or longer to heal.
Scarring as a result of laser tattoo removal is highly unusual.
If the tattoo already features scarring, expect that to remain once the ink has been removed.
Improper aftercare with scabs and blisters can also result in scarring. Please follow the aftercare instructions given.
How does laser tattoo removal work?
Each pulse of the laser sends light energy into your skin. We use different wavelengths of laser light to treat different colors of ink in your tattoo. As the light energy is directed into your skin, it is selectively absorbed by the tattoo ink particles trapped in the dermis of your skin. When the ink particles absorb this energy, they instantly shatter into tiny fragments. Once the laser has broken the ink into smaller pieces, your body’s immune system works to remove the ink over the following weeks, flushing it away from the tattooed area. We see the result of this as the tattoo lightening in appearance. Each additional laser treatment breaks down more and more ink until the tattoo can no longer be seen.
Although tattoos are permanent, your body’s immune system immediately works to remove your tattoo the moment ink is inserted into your skin. This innate immune process is why tattoos naturally fade and lose colour over time.
However, a tattoo is inserted very strategically in order to achieve its permanent design. When a tattoo is applied, ink particles are inserted beneath the epidermis of the skin within the dermis, your skin's deepest layer. Your body’s immune system cannot clear out ink particles as they are too large for the lymphatic system to absorb and flush away. Instead, bacteria-eating cells continuously scrape away tiny fragments of ink over a lifetime, causing your tattoo to fade ever so slowly but also allowing the ink to stay permanently trapped in your skin.
Laser tattoo removal acts as an aid to your immune system by shattering the large ink particles into smaller nanoparticles that are easier for your body to flush away. Our Duality laser uses photoselective thermolysis to break up the large ink particles in your skin’s dermis. Each pulse of the laser sends a targeted wavelength of light to a selected colour of ink, heating the particles and shattering them into significantly smaller nanoparticles without affecting or damaging surrounding tissue. The nanoparticles can then be flushed out naturally through the lymphatic system, speeding up the natural fading process.
Effectively fading and removing tattoos requires an understanding of tattoo application. Types of needles (shaders or liners) used will determine the depth and density of ink particles, the direction of needle penetration (cross-hatching, circular) will determine how the ink is layered, and types of ink will determine the pigment colour for the appropriate wavelength. All of these factors play a role in determining the number of treatments your unique tattoo will need to achieve your desired results (fading for a cover-up or complete laser tattoo removal).
What Type of Equipment do you use?
We use a Duality Q-switched laser and Zimmer Cryo6.
For our business, we chose the Astanza Duality Q-switched laser. This laser is known for high performance, reliability and results. Choosing equipment best suited to our local area and our clients was a long process with a great deal of preliminary research.
Blackbird Studio Sudbury provides services for people with tattoos. The most important factor in researching laser tattoo removal services is finding a certified laser operator who understands tattoos and their application. We understand tattoo application and that you may not necessarily dislike your other tattoos… you may already be planning your next one. The person you were when you received your tattoo is most likely a little bit different than the person you are now.
Do you offer laser hair removal? Will your equipment damage hair growth?
We do not offer laser hair removal. Hair removal requires a pulsed laser while tattoo ink requires a Q-switched laser. The difference is the laser emission pulse length. Pulsed lasers emit power over time (thousandths of a second), but have a lower peak power while Q-switched lasers emit a very high peak power in a much shorter amount of time (billionths of a second). The key to shattering tattoo ink particles without harming surrounding tissue is the speed at which the particle is heated. Using a pulsed laser on a tattoo can result in the particles attracting large amounts of heat at a slow rate not causing it to shatter but to heat enough to burn surrounding tissue.
What should I do BEFORE a laser tattoo removal treatment?
Have a full night's sleep and drink plenty of water. Arriving well rested and well hydrated (as you would prepare for a tattoo) is the best way to walk into a laser tattoo removal appointment. Taking care of your body through exercise and good eating habits sets you up for optimum healing and results.
AVOID:
- sun exposure and tanning (use SPF 30+/10% zinc content)
- heavy alcohol and caffeine consumption on the day of treatment
What should I do AFTER a laser tattoo removal treatment?
Keep the area covered, hydrated and clean for the first three days, then leave it alone. Aftercare is a large component in the success of your fading/removal process. Improper aftercare can lead to scarring, reduced effectiveness of treatments and possibly even infections.
Verbal instructions and printed instructions will be given following each treatment, please follow them.
AVOID:
- sun exposure and tanning (use SPF 30+/10% zinc content)
- soaking area in water (hot tubs, baths, lakes etc)
- heavy exercise for 24hrs
- restrictive clothing that may rub or scratch at the area
How long are treatments?
Laser tattoo removal is an extremely quick procedure. Timing will depend on the size of tattoo being treated. Sessions can last anywhere from a few seconds for smaller tattoos to 30 minutes for larger ones.
How do I book an appointment?
Can you cover up my old tattoo?
Blackbird Studio Sudbury specializes in fading tattoos for a cover-up. Cover-ups are much easier to apply after the existing tattoo has been faded. While many of our artists are willing and capable of creating cover-up tattoos, it is ultimately a case-by-case basis. Our artists will always give you their honest opinion, which in many cases may be laser removal sessions to lighten the existing tattoo to a point that it’s possible to work over.It is a general rule of thumb that a cover-up design must be twice as large and twice as dark to successfully cover the previous tattoo. It is also likely that the previous tattoo may still be visible to some degree.
How much does a tattoo cost?
Pricing will vary depending on your artist and the complexity of your tattoo.
Do tattoos hurt?
Depending on the area, some tattoos can be tender, but tolerable.
How do tattoos work?
The procedure of tattooing consists of the puncturing of the skin with a minuscule needle, wherein the motion carries ink from the capsule in the machine into your dermal layer. It’s important to make sure that the procedure is placed neither too shallow nor deep. If it’s too shallow, the ink will only be placed in the cellular layers of the epidermis. Over time, your body’s natural shedding of cellular layers would result in the eventual washing out/shedding of ink. If it’s too deep, it can lead to ink bleeding out and blurring under your epidermal layers. The ink placed in the dermal layer is permanently durable and stored between cells (called fibroblasts).
The reason tattoo ink stays in the skin forever has to do with the immune system. When you get a tattoo, the ink flows down the tattooing needle into the middle layer of your skin, called the dermis. That creates a wound, which your body tries to heal by sending macrophages (a type of white blood cell) to the area. The macrophages swallow the ink in an effort to take the foreign particle away from the wound, but the pigment in the ink is too large for the macrophages to remove, so the macrophages (with the ink inside) end up suspended in the dermis.
Are tattoos dangerous? Are there any side effects?
Below are the important concerns to address before getting a tattoo, however unlikely:
Infection: Unsterile tattoo equipment and needles can transmit infectious diseases, such as HIV, hepatitis, and skin infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus ("staph") and other bacteria. Tattoos received at facilities not regulated by your state or at facilities that use unsterile equipment (or re-use ink) may prevent you from being accepted as a blood or plasma donor for twelve months. Infections also have resulted from contaminated tattoo inks, even when the tattoo artist has followed hygienic procedures. These infections can require prolonged treatment with antibiotics.
Allergic Reactions: Although uncommon, reports of allergic reactions to tattoo pigments have been known to occur. When they do occur, the reaction may be particularly troublesome because the pigments can be hard to remove. Occasionally, people may develop an allergic reaction to tattoos they have had for years. It’s strongly recommended to consult with a dermatologist before an appointment.
Can you tattoo over scars?
It is possible but subject to the condition of the scar and the surrounding skin. It’s important that the scar is healed, has minimal variances in pigmentation and is generally flush or level with the rest of your skin. As scars are generally a tougher surface, there is no guarantee that the tattoo will completely obscure the scar (the difference in skin texture may still be visible/not hold ink as well). We strongly recommend consulting with a dermatologist beforehand, as certain skin conditions can worsen through the tattooing process (for example, keloids).
What should I do BEFORE a tattoo session?
Have a full night's sleep and drink plenty of water. Arriving well rested and well hydrated (as you would prepare for a tattoo) is the best way to walk into a laser tattoo removal appointment. Taking care of your body through exercise and good eating habits sets you up for optimum healing and results.
AVOID:
- sun exposure and tanning (use SPF 30+/10% zinc content)
- heavy alcohol and caffeine consumption on the day of treatment
What should I do AFTER a tattoo session?
Keep the area covered, hydrated and clean for the first three days, then leave it alone. Aftercare is a large component in the success of your fading/removal process. Improper aftercare can lead to scarring, reduced effectiveness of treatments and possibly even infections.
Verbal instructions and printed instructions will be given following each treatment, please follow them.
AVOID:
- sun exposure and tanning (use SPF 30+/10% zinc content)
- soaking area in water (hot tubs, baths, lakes etc)
- heavy exercise for 24hrs
- restrictive clothing that may rub or scratch at the area
