Does Laser Tattoo Removal Hurt?

 

Laser Tattoo Removal and the Pain Index

Does Laser Tattoo Removal Hurt?

Briefly, laser tattoo removal is virtually painless compared tattoo installation, where you sit for hours awaiting the tattoo artist completion.

Laser treatments lasting 1 to 3 minutes for small tattoos, medium tattoos 5 to 10 minutes tattoos and 15 to 30 or more minutes for a larger tattoos. This all depends on a person’s individual pain tolerance. (Example, a few of our female patients report treat during menstrual cycles hurt a little more on the pain scale than normal)

Laser tattoo removal and the pain index

Tattoo removal is often compared to the sensation of a rubber band snapping against the skin—uncomfortable but manageable for most people. The level of pain varies depending on the tattoo’s location, size, ink color, and individual pain tolerance. Areas with more nerve endings or thinner skin, such as the wrists or ribs, tend to be more sensitive. However, many clinics, including Envision Laser Removal, offer cryogenic cooling devices or numbing agents to minimize discomfort during the procedure. Sessions are typically short, and the sensation subsides quickly afterward. While some mild redness or swelling may occur, patient find the temporary discomfort well worth the long-term results of tattoo removal.

 We use a 10 point scale as a measure of treatment discomfort during our protocoled treatment for patients. The purpose of using the pain scale is to to ensure we balance a protocoled efficacious laser treatment with laser comfort in terms of speed and pace for the patient.

Envision Laser Removals Protocol to remediate laser Treatment Pain

When conducting our laser treatment, we conduct “a singular” test pulse for each treatment. The purpose of the test pulse is to ensure proper skin offense related to laser energy. After the test spot, we ask the patient to report the feeling of the laser pulse on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the strongest. This procedure helps the patient and technician determine pace, frequency and possible pauses during laser treatment.

Following the test spot, we commence full laser treatment. monitoring pain level and providing a pause when needed.

After laser treatment is complete, we continue cryogenic cooling until the patient say they don’t need the cryo any further.

Eric & Susan Wells, Envision Laser Removal