Avoid tanning, tanning beds, and significant sun exposure to the treatment area before your appointment.

Do not use self-tanner on the treatment area. Any self-tanning product should be completely faded before treatment.

Recently tanned or sunburned skin may require your appointment to be postponed.

A new tattoo must be completely healed before laser tattoo removal can begin.

Please let your provider know when the tattoo was originally placed and whether you have experienced any previous reactions to the tattoo or its ink.

Before treatment, please disclose:

• Prescription medications
• Over-the-counter medications
• Supplements
• Recent antibiotics
• Medications that may increase sensitivity to light
• Previous or current isotretinoin/Accutane use
• Pregnancy or breastfeeding
• History of seizures
• History of abnormal scarring or keloids
• Autoimmune or immune-system conditions
• Diabetes or problems with wound healing
• Active skin conditions
• Previous reactions to tattoo ink
• Allergies
• Recent illness or infection

Do not discontinue a prescribed medication unless instructed to do so by the healthcare professional who prescribed it.

If there is significant hair over the tattoo, the area may be shaved if instructed by your provider.

Do not wax or use products that leave the skin irritated immediately before treatment.

Avoid aggressive exfoliation, chemical peels, or irritating skincare products over the treatment area before your appointment unless approved by your provider.

Please arrive with the treatment area clean and free from:

• Makeup
• Lotion
• Body oils
• Perfume
• Deodorant over the treatment area
• Self-tanner
• Other topical products unless instructed otherwise

Immediately after treatment, the tattoo may temporarily appear white or frosted.

You may also experience:

• Redness
• Swelling
• Warmth
• Tenderness
• Mild pinpoint bleeding
• Mild bruising
• Small blisters
• Temporary darkening of the tattoo
• Scabbing or crusting as the area heals

These reactions can occur as part of the healing process.

Follow the cleansing and dressing instructions provided by your treatment provider.

Gently cleanse the area as instructed and avoid aggressively rubbing or scrubbing the skin.

Apply any ointment, moisturizer, or dressing only as directed.

Do not:

• Pick at scabs
• Pop blisters
• Peel flaking skin
• Scratch the treatment area
• Attempt to remove loose or damaged skin

Allow the skin to heal naturally.

Picking can increase the risk of infection, scarring, and pigmentation changes.

Small blisters can occur following tattoo removal.

Do not intentionally pop or drain them.

Protect the area from rubbing and friction and follow your provider's wound-care instructions.

Contact us if you develop unusually large blisters, significant drainage, worsening pain, or if you are unsure whether your reaction is normal.

While the area is healing, avoid activities that significantly irritate or heat the treated skin.

This may include:

• Hot tubs
• Saunas
• Steam rooms
• Very hot baths
• Excessive friction from tight clothing
• Intense exercise if the area remains hot, swollen, irritated, or uncomfortable

Avoid pools, lakes, hot tubs, and other bodies of water while the skin is open, blistered, scabbed, or actively healing.

Sun protection is extremely important after laser tattoo removal.

Keep the treated area protected from direct sun exposure while it heals.

Once appropriate for exposed skin, use a broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher and protective clothing.

Continue being diligent about sun protection throughout your tattoo-removal series.

Contact Sage & Silk Skin Studio if you experience:

• Significant or worsening pain
• Extensive blistering
• Increasing redness rather than improvement
• Significant swelling
• Pus or unusual drainage
• Red streaking
• Fever
• Open wounds that are not healing
• Significant changes in skin color
• Signs of infection
• Any reaction that concerns you

Seek immediate medical attention for symptoms of a serious allergic reaction such as difficulty breathing, severe swelling, chest tightness, widespread hives, dizziness, or fainting.

Laser energy is absorbed by tattoo pigment.

The energy breaks larger particles of tattoo ink into smaller particles. Your body's immune system then gradually processes and clears those particles.

The laser begins the process, but your body is responsible for gradually clearing the fragmented ink.

This is why tattoos continue to fade between appointments.

No.

Immediately after treatment, you may notice frosting or whitening of the tattoo, redness, or swelling.

Actual fading develops gradually over the following weeks as your body processes the fragmented ink.

There is no exact number that applies to every tattoo.

Most tattoos require multiple treatments, and some require a significant treatment series.

The number of treatments depends on factors including:

• Tattoo age
• Tattoo size
• Ink colors
• Amount and density of ink
• Depth of the pigment
• Professional vs. amateur tattoo
• Location on the body
• Skin type
• Scarring within the tattoo
• Previous removal treatments
• Individual immune response

Complete removal cannot be guaranteed.

Your skin and your body need time between treatments.

Appointments are generally spaced several weeks apart, and your provider will determine when the area has healed enough for another treatment.

Treating the tattoo too frequently does not necessarily make the ink disappear faster and may increase the risk of skin injury.

Tattoo removal can be uncomfortable.

Clients often describe the sensation as a series of very quick snaps against the skin.

The level of discomfort varies depending on the tattoo's location, size, ink density, and individual pain tolerance.

Cooling and other comfort measures may be used during treatment when appropriate.

Some blistering can occur following laser tattoo removal.

Blisters should be protected and allowed to heal naturally.

Do not intentionally pop them.

If blistering is extensive, extremely painful, appears infected, or you are concerned about how the area is healing, contact us.

Temporary darkening can sometimes occur after laser treatment.

The tattoo may also look different while redness, swelling, crusting, or healing is present.

True fading occurs gradually between treatments.

Generally, black and dark blue inks tend to respond well because they absorb laser energy effectively.

Other colors can be more challenging and may require different wavelengths or treatment approaches.

Green, yellow, red, turquoise, and other colors can respond differently depending on the pigment composition and laser being used.

Not necessarily.

Different tattoo pigments absorb different wavelengths of laser energy.

A laser that effectively treats one color may not effectively treat another.

Multicolored tattoos may therefore require different wavelengths or treatment approaches.

White, flesh-toned, and some cosmetic tattoo pigments require special consideration.

Certain pigments can darken or oxidize when exposed to laser energy, sometimes turning gray or black.

A test spot or alternative treatment plan may be recommended.

Always tell your provider if the tattoo contains white ink, flesh-colored ink, or permanent makeup pigment.

Some permanent makeup can be treated, but cosmetic pigments require special evaluation.

Certain pigments used in brows, eyeliner, lip color, or camouflage tattoos can change color or darken after laser exposure.

Permanent makeup should be evaluated individually before treatment.

Sometimes significant clearance can be achieved, but complete tattoo removal cannot be guaranteed.

Some tattoos leave behind:

• Residual pigment
• A faint shadow or “ghost” image
• Skin texture changes
• Hypopigmentation or hyperpigmentation
• Pre-existing tattoo scarring

The goal and expected outcome will be discussed during your consultation.

Tattoo ink is rarely deposited at exactly the same depth or density throughout a tattoo.

Some portions may contain:

• More ink
• Deeper ink
• Different colors
• Scar tissue
• Multiple layers from touch-ups or cover-ups

As a result, one section may fade faster than another.

Uneven fading during a treatment series is normal.

Professional tattoos often contain more pigment placed deeply and consistently into the skin.

Amateur tattoos may contain less ink or have pigment placed at varying depths.

However, every tattoo is different, and professional versus amateur placement is only one factor affecting treatment.

Yes.

Many clients choose laser tattoo removal specifically to fade an existing tattoo before getting a cover-up.

The number of treatments needed for fading may be considerably less than what would be required for maximum removal.

Let your provider know if your goal is a cover-up rather than complete removal.

Scarring is possible, although appropriate laser selection, treatment settings, healing time, and aftercare are used to minimize this risk.

It is also important to understand that some tattoos already contain scar tissue from the original tattooing process.

Once the pigment fades, pre-existing scarring may become more noticeable.

Yes.

Temporary or, less commonly, persistent changes in pigmentation can occur.

These may include:

Hyperpigmentation: skin becoming darker

Hypopigmentation: skin becoming lighter

The risk can vary according to skin type, sun exposure, treatment parameters, and individual healing response.

Proper sun protection is extremely important.

Tanning is strongly discouraged.

Recently tanned skin can increase the risk of burns and pigmentation changes and may require your treatment to be postponed.

Avoid tanning beds and intentional tanning throughout your treatment series.

If the treatment area is still hot, swollen, irritated, or blistered, avoid activities that create significant heat, sweating, or friction until the area has calmed.

Your provider may give you specific instructions based on the size and location of your treatment.

Generally, gentle cleansing is appropriate, but avoid excessively hot water, scrubbing, or prolonged soaking of the treatment area while it heals.

Follow the specific wound-care instructions provided after your treatment.

The treated skin should be completely healed before tattooing over it.

If additional removal sessions are planned, it is generally best to complete your desired fading or removal first.

Discuss your cover-up plans with both your laser provider and tattoo artist so appropriate healing time can be allowed.

Elective laser tattoo removal is generally postponed during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Please notify your provider if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or think you may be pregnant.

We do not recommend attempting to accelerate treatment with tattoo-removal creams, acids, chemical peels, or DIY removal products.

These products do not reach tattoo pigment in the same controlled manner as laser treatment and can cause burns, irritation, discoloration, or scarring.

Visible skin healing is only part of the process.

After the laser fragments the tattoo pigment, your immune system gradually processes the particles over time.

Allowing adequate time between treatments gives both your skin and your body time to recover and continue clearing pigment.