Archive for Laser Tattoo Removal
Butterfly Tatoo Patterns & Symbolism
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Classical mythology associates butterflies with the soul. Psyche is often represented as a butterfly. Sylphs, invisible female spirits of the air whose voices are heard in the wind, are named from the Greek word silphe, which means “butterfly” or “moth”.
The Aztecs associated butterflies with women who died in childbirth and warriors who died in battle. In some Chinese stories butterflies represent dead women’s souls, but they more often symbolize Summer, Joy, and Longevity!
For many Native American tribes butterflies symbolize the souls of the dead but also Transformation, because the insects emerge from the chrysalis. They also associate the butterfly with Beauty.
The butterfly signifies Fire to the Aztecs while in Celtic solar festivals the firebrand that rekindled the hearth fire after it had been extinguished was called the “Butterfly.”
From the bland caterpillar to the fantastic winged creature of astonishing beauty, the butterfly has become a symbol for transformation and hope, rebirth and resurrection, the triumph of the spirit and the freeing of the soul over the material world.
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How Much Does Laser Tattoo Removal Cost?
Posted by: | CommentsLaser tattoo removal can be very costly, but the good news is that the price is decreasing as the demand for tattoo removal increases and the technology becomes less expensive. Each laser removal center will have its own way of pricing tattoo removal. Most places base their cost on the size of the tattoo and the number of colors used in the tattoo. As you can imagine, larger tattoos with lots of colors cost the most to remove.
Some doctors charge a flat fee for tattoo removal which includes all of the follow-up sessions. However, it’s more common practice for doctors to charge for each office visit. They do that because the length of each session could vary; some sessions could take much longer to complete whereas others (especially the later sessions) may only take a few minutes. Ideally you want to only pay for the doctor or technician’s time.
There are pros and cons to paying a flat fee vs. paying per session. If a doctor charges a flat fee this may save you money in the long term if it takes many sessions to remove the design. For example, let’s say the doctor usually charges $200 per session but tells you that he can remove the tattoo for a flat fee of $1,000. If it takes more than 5 treatments to remove your tattoo you’ve actually saved money.
However, there’s a downside to paying a flat fee. If you decide you want to stop the treatments (because you want to change doctors or because you’re moving) you may be required to pay the remaining balance for the work. As a matter of fact, many of the flat fee clinics require you to pay the fee up front. This may cause a problem if you decide early on to switch doctors. If the clinic requires that you pay a flat fee up front you should ask them what your options are if you decide to stop the treatments before the tattoo has been successfully removed. Ask them if they’d be willing to refund the remaining balance to you, even if they have to charge something like a processing fee, or only refund a certain percentage of the balance.
Although rare, there have been instances when the doctor himself decides to change locations, move into a new practice, retire, or go out of business. In those instances reputable doctors will usually refund all of the balance or refer you to another physician that can complete the work. These events are uncommon but could occur if you’re trying to remove a very large tattoo because they can take many months and sometimes years to remove.
Most doctors however charge a “per session” fee for removing tattoos. This entails the patient paying either a set fee or a fee based on the duration of each session. This type of pricing gives the patient the ability to change doctors if they’re displeased with the service they’re receiving. For example, since technological advances in medicine occur rather frequently you may discover that your physician doesn’t have the latest lasers for tattoo removal. If you’re paying per session you can easily switch to a doctor that’s using more advanced laser technology. This pricing structure also lends itself well to someone that may relocate during the course of the sessions.
Each individual tattoo removal session can cost as low as $100 and go up to $1,000, depending on the size of the tattoo, the number of colors used, and the location of the design on your body. The number of sessions required vary according to the patient’s skin tone, the ink colors used, the size of the tattoo, and how fast the patient’s skin heals. If the tattoo is small or performed by an amateur it may take 2-5 sessions for the design to be completely removed. However, larger tattoos administered by professionals may require more than 10 treatments.
It’s important to shop around before deciding on one particular doctor. Set up consultative appointments with at least 2 different doctors, show them the tattoo(s) you want removed and let them estimate how many sessions will be needed. They can also give you an idea of how much each session (or their flat fee) will cost. Once you decide on a doctor it’s important to do some research on him/her if you’ve never received services from them before. Go online and see if there are any outstanding lawsuits against the doctor. There are physician referral sites online that will give you that information. Ask friends and family members if they know anything about the doctor. This is easier to accomplish in small rural areas and more difficult in large urban areas but it doesn’t hurt to ask nonetheless.
Once you engage a physician and begin treatment you should commit to completing the process. There will be times when the tattoo area looks worse than it did before the treatments began however you must be willing to continue the treatments until the tattoo is completely removed.
For more information see: Laser Tattoo Removals
Laser Tattoo Removals
Posted by: | CommentsBecause of medical and technological advances more and more people are using laser tattoo removal procedures to eradicate unwanted tattoos. During the removal process a high-intensity laser beam is used that specifically targets tattoo ink. The process is not terribly painful and reduces the chances of scarring, compared to other tattoo removal procedures, like surgical removal or dermabrasion. Additionally, the laser tattoo removal process does not cause the patient to bleed thereby reducing the chances of infection. The process also has minimal side effects.
The Lasers
The doctor or laser technician can very the wavelength and intensity of the laser depending on the color of the pigment used in the tattoo ink. They can direct the laser so it only goes after the ink and doesn’t affect the natural pigment in the skin. If the laser process becomes painful for the patient the doctor can adjust the strength of the laser accordingly.
How Does It Work?
During the tattoo removal process the tattoo absorbs the light from the laser and the ink pigments in the tattoo are broken down into very small particles. The body then absorbs these tattoo ink particles into the bloodstream and expels them naturally. The color usually begins fading over the course of several weeks. The colors used in the tattoo directly affect the laser’s ability to break down the ink particles. The easiest tattoo color to remove is black. Green and red are harder to remove.
Does It Cause Scarring?
The use of Q-switched lasers makes tattoo removal one of the safest ways to get rid of tattoos. Setting the laser on lower settings helps minimize the risk of scarring or de-pigmentation. Lower settings also reduce the amount of pain experienced during the tattoo removal process. People that bruise easily should have the doctor conduct a skin patch test in a place on the body that doesn’t show to make sure the tattoo removal process doesn’t leave permanent scars. People with darker skin should get skin patch tests. People who are prone to getting keloids should definitely get a skin patch test because if keloids develop as the result of a laser session they can be unsightly, dark in color, and sometimes painful because they contain nerve endings.
What Happens During the Tattoo Removal Process?
At the start of the process the doctor, nurse, or laser technician usually cleans the area to be treated and applies a numbing gel or cream. Depending on the location of the tattoo a local anesthetic may also be applied. The doctor or laser technician then puts on safety glasses and turns on the laser. They will then begin move the laser over the tattoo design in order to break up the ink pigments. They’ll usually ask you if you feel pain when the process begins; be sure to tell them if they don’t ask so they can adjust the pulse of the laser.
After the procedure the doctor or technician may apply an antibiotic cream or sunscreen. They may also apply an ice pack. It’s important that the treated area be kept clean and that sun exposure to the affected area is minimized. Don’t use any exfoliants that may further irritate the treated area. You want to treat the area with care and give your body time to absorb the ink particles.
How Many Sessions Are Required?
The number of session required depends on the size of the tattoo, the colors used, and the age of the tattoo. Tattoos that have faded over time have less pigment and therefore require less laser sessions. Also, black is easier to remove than other colors like red and green. With each treatment the tattoo becomes lighter and fades even more. More than one session is usually required however the duration of each session should decrease once the tattoo ink begins being absorbed by the body. Since it takes a few weeks for absorption to occur the sessions will be spaced out over the course of several weeks.
Laser tattoo removals are a safe and efficient way to remove tattoos. As with most medical procedures, do your research so you can find a qualified doctor or laser technician. Calling a local reputable dermatologist or plastic surgeon is a good place to start. Most of them will be able to perform the procedure themselves; if not they can point you in the right direction.
See also:
How Much Does it Cost to Remove Tattoos?
Think Before Getting Those Tattoos