We recommend our clients to take some Tylenol a couple of hours before the procedure is started to help with the mild discomfort that this procedure can produce if there are no contraindications such as allergies. At the time of the procedure, we will hand you a pair of glasses to protect your eyes from the laser beam.
About 20 minutes before the procedure is started a topical anesthetic will be applied to the tattoo area and at times ice is applied before, during, and after the procedure to help with discomfort. We will test your skin response to the laser to determine the most efficient settings for your skin, then intense laser pulses are sent from the Q-switched laser to your skin to break down the tattoo ink as explained above.
Depending on the surface area of the tattoo most sessions last about 5-10 minutes and after each session, the area is iced for 15-30 minutes. Administration of topical antibiotics and bandage to the area will conclude the visit. We recommend applying an antibiotic ointment for 2 days after the procedure and to otherwise keep the area dry and clean. This area will feel like you had a sunburn and the sensation will resolve on its own usually within 24 hours.