Houston Tattoo Removal - How Long Does A Tattoo Removal Session Take

Tattoo removal is a laser procedure that is growing in popularity as more and more patients learn about how safe and effective the treatments are in removing unwanted tattoos. One of the key questions a prospective tattoo removal patient in Houston will ask is how long the treatments will take. There are actually two elements to this question - the duration of each session in minutes, and the number of treatments over a series of months. This article will address the first portion of that question - the duration of an individual tattoo removal session.

First, a Houston patient should understand how long each tattoo removal session will take. Patients that are familiar with other aesthetic laser procedures anticipate 30 to 60 minutes given their experience with laser hair removal, facial resurfacing, and other treatments. For tattoo removal patients, the duration of each treatment depends on the size of the tattoo being removed. Of course, the larger the tattoo, the longer the treatment will take.

Small tattoos - small letters, peace signs, tear drops, and many other designs may only take 2-3 minutes of actual laser use. The physician or nurse practitioner performing the tattoo removal in Houston will guide the laser hand piece over the small area to be treated and direct pulses of energy at the pigment in the tattoo.

Medium tattoos - cursive written names, small flowers and animals, thin barbed wire tattoos may take 10-20 minutes of laser use. To trace the letters of a cursive written name tattoo takes skill to move slowly along the curvature of the ink. Removing a rose tattoo may involve using different wavelengths as the certified laser technician removes a range of colors. Tattoo removal of a barbed wire tattoo may take a little bit longer than tattoos on the back or leg due to the sensitivity of the back side of the upper arm.

Large tattoos - full sleeves, entire back tattoos, large tribal tattoos covering the entire forearm or calf may be broken into several visits for each session. To remove a half sleeve (elbow to wrist or shoulder to elbow) will often take at least 40 to 50 minutes to go over the entire tattoo and give a good treatment. A full sleeve may take an hour to an hour and a half, not including a break during the session so the patient and medical provider can maintain their focus.

Houston tattoo removal clinics are happy to remove large and small tattoos from patients who no longer find that a tattoo meets their new lifestyle or circumstances. For most tattoos, patients can expect that each session will take less than 30 minutes and will include an evaluation of skin condition before and after the treatment, as well as the application of bandages and antibacterial ointment.

By Ryan Lambert