I've Recently Had my First Tattoo Removal Laser Session Done and I Have Seen VERY Minimal Results, Is that Typical?

Laser tattoo removal will take time for you to see significant results, but rest assured that it is ok to see slow progress rather than going too aggressive and having complications. Best, Dr. Karamanoukian 

Black ink actually absorbs all light wavelengths. Therefore it is the easiest to remove. However the shading involved does make the design slightly more difficult to remove. Besides the factors you mentioned, the number of treatments are also contingent on other factors such as the amount of ink, layering and the presence of any scarring or tissue changes. Practitioners are usually very cautious with darker skin tones to avoid the risk of overheating.

But don't get discouraged after your first treatment

Hello, Thank you for your question. The laser tattoo removal process is a long process. I pretty much tell our patients that it will take at least a year to rid the skin of ink. The laser is shattering the ink into tiny particles that the body can absorb. The body takes time to process and remove these ink particles. At our clinic, we use the Candela PicoWay laser. The PicoWay Laser uses photoacoustic impact/pressure waves rather than photothermal/heat. This process has less heat, therefore it is more comfortable and the chances of hyperpigmentation are less. The Pico-second pulse shatters the ink into even smaller particles, allowing the body to more easily absorb the ink. This type of device can remove unwanted ink in about half as many treatments as the traditional Q-switch devices. Because it takes the body time to scavenge the ink, we only treat our patients once every 8 weeks or longer. Usually, the longer you can wait between treatments, you will need fewer treatments over all.
You can learn more about this device by clicking on the link below.

Good Luck!

Hello, When using an AlexTrivantage your first treatment will show very little results. This is common for q-switched lasers in general. If you can find a PicoWay laser your results will be faster as the laser is smarter about hitting the ink you have due to its advanced technology. The newer laser will be more expensive, but you will usually do less treatments and see results faster.

Thank you for the question. I use the Picosure laser in my practice. Picosure has a short pulse duration that exceeds photo thermal action and results in an intense photomechanical impact. This adds up to faster results and fewer treatments when compared to other tattoo removal methods. It works best on darker inks such as black and blue. The number of sessions required to remove a tattoo can range from 6-10 sessions. The amount of sessions depends on the size, color and placement of the tattoo. The further the tattoo is from the heart the more time it will take to remove. I hope this information helps!

With the right laser, the PicoWay from Candela and the right laser provider, you should certainly see some reduction after just a single treatment. At this moment, no single laser effectively treats every color, so in addition to PIco technology, widely recognized as most effective, we also have a Q-switched laser available to use at no extra charge when certain colors are present that respond best to this technology.  to help  In my practice, we photograph each person prior to each treatment so you can easily monitor your progress. The fading may not take place immediately and because the change is gradual, on occasion people may not realize what a significant difference a single session will make. Prior to your first treatment, you will receive a no-pressure complimentary consultation that will detail the exact price of the treatment and an estimate of how many treatments will be required to deliver the results you want to achieve.

yes even with the Picosure laser, which is the top of the line laser which we use in our clinic, there can be only subtle changes after the first treatment.  Don't fear, it will get better with further treatments.  I will often offer free treatments if there is not complete resolution after 6 treatments

Laser tattoo removal takes time and many sessions are needed — sometimes 5-10 or more — even with black ink, although we hope this works faster in many instances. During your consultation, you should have been informed this and that after the first session, you may not see "tons" of ink removal — this is not uncommon.  Sometimes there is more than you think — and photos can document your process, but don't despair. Keep going, and this will work for you.

Removing a tattoo is a long process with many treatments. You will not begin to see results after one treatment. On some tattoos, it can take between 10-15 treatments to remove a tattoo. It depends on the ink and the settings of the laser. It is important to be patient and give it time. 

Thank you for the question.

Yes, your experience is not unusual. Every patient has a different reaction to the laser tattoo treatment;  sometimes several treatments are necessary before significant results are seen. The degree of change seen will depend on the depth of the ink and the settings of the laser... it is very likely that the energy use will be increased during your next treatment.

Best wishes.