1. Skin type

During the consultation process we determine your skin type based on the Fitzpatrick Skin Type classification system[2]. Lighter skin tones generally require less treatments than darker skin tones because of the need to use lower laser settings on darker skin tones to minimise the risk of adverse effects (in particular hypopigmentation – a lightening of the skin).

2. Tattoo location

It’s the body’s lymphatic system that disposes of the broken up pieces of ink from laser treatments (see our Blog: We don’t remove your tattoos – you do!) therefore tattoos located in an area of the body with a large lymphatic supply will tend to fade quicker than those located in areas with a lesser lymphatic supply. So, tattoos located on the head and neck have a large lymphatic supply, followed by upper trunk, lower trunk, proximal extremities (upper arms and upper legs) and lastly distal extremities (forearms, hands, lower legs and feet) being in an area with a low lymphatic supply.

3. Colour of tattoo

Tattoos that are black (or grey, or grey wash) usually require the least amount of treatments which is a good thing as a very large majority of tattoos treated at Geelong Laser Tattoo Removal are just black. Following black comes red, and then finally blue and green. The ink’s chemical composition and the size of its pigment granules are among the reasons for an ink’s ease or difficulty to be removed.

4. Amount of ink

Tattoos that are very simple designs with fine lines tend to fade quicker than more complex designs that are heavily inked. Amateur tattoos tend to fade the quickest due to them often not being placed very deeply in the skin and with very little ink.

5.  Scarring

Scarring in a tattoo can increase the number of treatments required regardless of whether the scarring has resulted from the application of the tattoo, prior to the tattoo being applied or since application of the tattoo. The dense scar tissue can make it difficult for the lymphatic system to get in there and remove the broken up pieces of ink.

6. Layering

If your tattoo is a cover-up then we are obviously dealing with at least two layers of tattoo ink and that will therefore take more treatments to remove.

The estimate that we provide to our clients is just that – an estimate. It is unfortunately impossible to say with certainty how many treatments will be required. As well as the above six factors, there are several unknown factors that can also influence how many treatments a tattoo will require – including: the materials used to create the tattoo ink; how deep the ink has been placed in the skin; and how well a client’s lymphatic system functions to name a few. But generally speaking, we find the above factors to be fairly accurate in determining the number of treatments required.

At Geelong Laser Tattoo Removal we offer a free consultation and we can assess your individual tattoo to provide an estimate of treatments required. If you’re curious to know how many treatments your unwanted tattoo may require, why not contact us to book your free consultation?

[1] Kirby W, Desai A, Desai T, Kartono F, Geeta P. The Kirby-Desai Scale: A Proposed Scale to Assess Tattoo-removal Treatments. The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology. 2009;2(3):32-37.
[2] Fitzpatrick, T.B. (1988) The validity and practicality of sun reactive skin types I through VI, Arch Dermatol 124; 869-871.

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So, let’s pretend that you have a small, black tattoo and we’ve quoted you $90 per treatment. If we space your treatments out to 8 weeks apart, then it will cost you $11.25 each week, or $1.60 a day. Remember that we can extend the amount of time in between treatments too, as tattoos can continue to fade for many months after a treatment. If we spaced your treatments out to 12 weeks apart then your $90 per treatment tattoo will cost you only $7.50 a week – that’s less than 2 cups of coffee!

Here at Geelong Laser Tattoo Removal we offer our clients the option to pay by direct debit, so you could just have that $11.25 debited from your account each week. An easy option for those who find it challenging to save up money.

On the other hand, if you do have some spare money at the moment and would like to pay upfront for four treatments, then you’ll receive the fifth treatment free. So instead of paying $450 for five treatments on your $90 per treatment tattoo, you’ll only pay $360.

We also offer a discount to our clients for referring friends to us. If you refer a friend to Geelong Laser Tattoo Removal and they go ahead and have a treatment with us, we’ll give you 25% off your next treatment. Refer two friends and receive 25% off your next two treatments. An easy way for you to reduce your treatment prices!

Additionally we offer special promotions throughout the year so keep an eye on our Facebook and Instagram pages for further chances to save money on your treatments. (Check out our current Valentine’s Day promotion – 50% off the first treatment of a name tattoo for February 2016.)

So don’t put up with that unwanted tattoo any longer! Call us today on 0478 616 905 or contact us via our website and we can discuss your payment options and make tattoo removal affordable for you.

The post Think you can’t afford tattoo removal? Think again… appeared first on Geelong Laser Tattoo Removal.

For the most part, these tattoos aren’t necessarily badly done but they are designs chosen in the spur of the moment by an inebriated mind and probably not ones you would choose in the sober light of day. Many people choose to live with these tattoos (maybe as a reminder to not do it again), some choose to cover them up (with a more carefully thought out tattoo), and some choose to remove them.

The thing that is concerning these days is the number of people who have tattoo machines at home. I’ve just Googled ‘tattoo machines for sale’ and I’m gobsmacked at how cheap and readily available they are. You can buy a wide variety of machines for under $20! It’s astounding. So what is happening now, is that people are getting tattoos in the spur of the moment whilst drunk – not in late-night tattoo studios – but in their mate’s kitchen. By their mate. Who has no training whatsoever in tattooing. The mind boggles. Not only are these people risking infection and other medical complications but they are going to wake up with a scorching hangover and most probably a really, really bad tattoo that they instantly regret. For an example, just see the recent post on our Facebook page which showed a British man who woke up after a mate’s stag night with a pair of Ray Bans tattooed on his face.

If you, or someone you know, ends up in this situation there is some good news. Tattoos applied by amateurs are usually much easier to remove than professionally applied ones, requiring less treatments. Depending on how deep the tattoo has been placed in the skin and how much ink has been used, it could take just a few laser treatments to remove it. Feel free to contact us for a free consultation and we can give you an idea of how many treatments you may need to remove your amateur tattoo. And don’t worry, we’ve seen plenty of amateur tattoos that are probably worse than yours!

So, don’t believe that a tattoo done by your mate in his kitchen will give you an ‘amazing long-lasting artwork for years to come’ (as one website claimed their machines would!?!) – only a tattoo artist can do that. And let’s face it, we are spoilt for choice in Geelong for amazing tattoo artists.

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A recent post on our Facebook page  told the story of a young woman in the UK who purchased a tattoo removal kit online for £15. The solution contained banned acids that would be “highly likely to cause severe burns” and would “quite possibly result in permanent scarring” according to a dermatologist. The young woman was left with a “hole” in her arm and loss of feeling (as well as most of the tattoo still being visible).

Another recent post on our Facebook page reported on tattoo removal creams and concluded that they were ineffective at best, and dangerous at worst.

Tattoos are supposed to be permanent. The needles of a tattoo machine puncture the skin and deposit large particles of ink into the dermis layer of the skin. The body’s immune system detects this damage to the skin but the cells sent to remove the foreign particles of ink are unable to do so as the ink particles are just too big. So, it makes sense that something designed to be permanent will be quite difficult to remove and will take some time. There are no safe, quick fixes. As my Dad used to say to me, “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”

Laser tattoo removal can be a lengthy process. With treatments spaced at least 6 weeks apart, and multiple treatments required for removal, it’s no quick fix. But it’s the safest and most effective way to remove a tattoo. If you’re thinking of removing a tattoo, why not contact us to arrange a free, no obligation consultation. At the consultation we can explain how the process works, give you a price per treatment and an estimate of treatments required.

Of course the other safe and effective option is to cover up your tattoo with another tattoo. But be warned – be sure to choose a tattoo that you want for life this time, as laser tattoo removal of a layered tattoo will take extra treatments to remove!

Whatever you decide to do about your unwanted tattoo, don’t be fooled into trying a potentially dangerous quick fix, and remember – if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

The post No quick fixes to remove tattoos appeared first on Geelong Laser Tattoo Removal.

“The lymphatic system is a series of vessels throughout the body that drain fluid from tissues. Bacteria and other microbes are picked up in the lymphatic fluid and trapped inside lymph nodes, where they can be attacked and destroyed by white blood cells.” (Better Health Channel). So, after laser tattoo removal treatment, your lymphatic system picks up the small, shattered pieces of tattoo ink pigment and moves them out of the area.

Ensuring that your lymphatic system is functioning optimally may assist in the process of removing your tattoo. There are various things that you can do to promote the health of your lymphatic system. Unlike the vascular system, the lymphatic system doesn’t have a muscle to pump the fluid through its vessels – it relies on muscular movement or external stimulation to get the lymph fluid moving. Exercise of any kind (but in particular bouncing up and down on a trampoline), massage and dry body brushing are all ways to get the lymphatic fluids flowing. In addition to stimulating the movement of the lymphatic fluids, the health of your lymphatic system is greatly assisted when you drink lots of water, breathe deeply and eat a clean diet which includes lots of fruit, vegetables, nuts and seeds.

There are other factors that influence the removal of your tattoo that you have no control over – such as the type of ink used and how deeply the ink has been placed in your skin. But the health of your lymphatic system is in your hands – you are in complete control of this factor – and if it might help with the removal of your tattoo, why not get it working at its best? And anyway, all of the things that help your lymphatic system have an abundance of other benefits to your general health too.

In the coming months we will be exploring in more detail ways to get your lymphatic system working at its best in order to assist the removal of your tattoo but if you have any questions in the meantime, feel free to contact us.

The post We don’t remove your tattoos – you do! appeared first on Geelong Laser Tattoo Removal.

Tattoo regret is a very personal thing. People would say to me, “Why does it bother you – you can’t even see it?” And it’s true, after all the tattoo is on my back and I rarely see it, but I know it is there. Although it isn’t actually the name of my ex, it may as well be – so strong is the association. It is just a constant reminder, and one I want gone.

This started a thought process about setting up the business, as I figured there must be plenty of other people in the same boat as me. So I completed the recommended study, got the best laser for the job and in June 2013 opened up Geelong Laser Tattoo Removal.

We wanted Geelong Laser Tattoo Removal to have a relaxed, non-clinical feel whilst at the same time maintaining the highest standards of hygiene and professionalism. Feedback from our clients suggests that we’ve achieved this and each day it’s great to be able to help people work towards their tattoo removal goals. I feel as though our clients appreciate that I’m going through the process as well and I have experienced what they’re going through. I know what it feels like to regret a tattoo and I know what it feels like to receive laser tattoo removal treatment.

My own tattoo removal treatment is ongoing and I’m happy knowing that soon it will be a distant memory.

The post My Tattoo Removal Story – a reminder of something I’d rather forget… appeared first on Geelong Laser Tattoo Removal.