Laser House TLV · The tattoo removal process
You’ve had one or two sessions, and the tattoo looks almost the same? Frustrating, we know. But in most cases this is exactly what should happen at this stage.
In this article we explain simply why it happens, with real photos from our clinic. For the full picture of the process, see our tattoo removal guide.
It’s different for everyone
Some people see a difference after the very first session. Others barely see a change even after two or three. Both are normal.
What makes the difference? Whether the tattoo is new or old, how deep the ink went in, what kind of ink it is and, of course, your body.
Old tattoo vs new tattoo: with an old tattoo, there is often a clear difference after the first session, because over the years the body has already broken down some of the ink. In a new tattoo the ink is still dense and fresh, so the change at first is usually smaller.
→ The full tattoo removal guide
The laser works fast, the body slowly
The laser (which lasers we use) breaks the ink into tiny particles. Then your body clears them by itself, slowly, over weeks (Inserm, 2018).
That’s why the tattoo keeps fading after you leave the clinic, and why we wait at least 8 weeks between sessions.
Examples from our clinic
It’s easiest to see in photos. All the photos here are from our clinic, and each one shows how many sessions were done. Tap a photo to enlarge it.
Colour tattoos
In colour tattoos, every shade reacts to the laser differently, so progress is uneven. On the colour flowers on the arm, the change after one session is still very small. On the butterfly and the fairy you can see fading after two sessions, and on the colour rose after three.
When you see a change from the start
The tree on the arm faded clearly after just one session. On the horse, the large flowers on the thigh and the large body tattoo there is a nice difference after two sessions, and on the sun and moon on the fingers, the wolf and the tribal on the shoulder after three. The lotuses fade after one and two sessions, and the flowers on the head step by step, up to five sessions.
→ More before and after results in our gallery
When at first you barely see a change
Look at the crown and the skull with the crown on the arm: between the photo after the first session and the photo after the second there is almost no difference. The mermaid after one session also shows only a small change, and so do the girl with the heart after two sessions and the dense sleeve. That doesn’t mean the treatment isn’t working: the ink is deeper and denser, and the body needs more time.
And look at the tiger: even after seven sessions the difference is still very small. Some tattoos simply need much more time, and that is exactly where patience and careful work matter most.
→ Why tattoo removal can stall
Tattoos with scars
When a tattoo has scars, it’s a completely different story. Don’t expect fast results: the scar covers the ink underneath, and the laser reaches it less well.
So first we work on the scar with a fractional handpiece, on the 8DF or the Erbium (Er:YAG) laser, chosen after examining and diagnosing the tattoo, to improve the skin texture. Only then do we continue breaking down the ink. The photos show how small the result is even after several sessions: the bows and the spider after two, the triangles after three, the sun after five and the large tiger on the leg after seven.
→ Fractional laser for scars and difficult tattoos
→ Burns or scars after tattoo removal: Er:YAG
→ Types of scars and what can help
→ Why a tattoo won’t fade even after many sessions
Why you see less at first
- There’s a lot of ink. In the first sessions the laser works on the top layers, and there is still ink underneath.
- Every tattoo is different. In a study of 100 people, removal took about 10 sessions on average, from 3 up to 20 (Kirby et al., 2009).
- The change adds up. Between session 1 and 2 the difference is small. Between 1 and 5 you can see it.
→ How many sessions tattoo removal takes
Your skin matters more than fast results
The laser can be turned up to show results faster, but that can leave burns or scars. And those are much harder to fix than the ink. At Laser House TLV we protect your skin first, and we work with professional Quanta System laser systems.
→ Who we are and the equipment in our clinic
Many sessions elsewhere and no result?
If after 4-5 sessions nothing really changed, it’s worth checking which laser was used and with what settings. Read about compact devices vs professional systems and why removal sometimes stalls.
→ Compact devices vs professional systems
What helps
- Take a photo before every session, in the same light and from the same angle. That way you see the real progress.
- Wait at least 8 weeks between sessions.
- Look after your skin: sun protection and aftercare, here.
- Fractional add-on. On request, a fractional handpiece can be added to your session. In our experience it helps speed up the process and lowers the risk of changes in skin texture. It’s a paid add-on, your choice.*
→ Caring for your skin after tattoo removal
→ How much does laser tattoo removal cost
* The number of sessions and the final price are set only after an in-clinic assessment.
Sources
- Kirby W. et al. The Kirby-Desai Scale. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol, 2009
- Inserm. Tattoos: are they really indelible? 2018 (Journal of Experimental Medicine)
Want to know what’s happening with your tattoo?
Send us a photo on WhatsApp and tell us how many sessions you’ve had, and whether you had removal sessions elsewhere. We’ll take a look, explain where you are in the process and book an assessment.
