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Laser Tattoo Removal in Charleston, SC

Tattoos are permanent reminders of temporary craziness for those who make a hasty decision and end up with something they long to have removed. At Port City Plastic Surgery, Dr. Brian G. Widenhouse uses laser tattoo removal on people living in Charleston, Daniel Island, Summerville and Mount Pleasant, SC, and the surrounding communities who have unwanted tattoos.

What is Tattoo Removal?

It is estimated that nearly half of people between 18 and 40 have tattoos with about half of those wanting to have them removed. Tattoos are permanent. Fortunately, laser tattoo removal offers a way to get rid of your tattoo, without leaving a scar behind.

How Much Does Laser Tattoo Removal Cost in Charleston?

The cost of laser tattoo removal is based on the size of the tattoo as well as details, ink colors used and how many treatments are necessary. Dr. Widenhouse can review costs along with payment options including financing during the consultation.

What to Expect After Laser Tattoo Removal

The recovery from laser tattoo removal is easy and comes with little to no discomfort. Immediately following the treatment, petroleum jelly is applied to the area to keep it moist as well as to provide a barrier to protect the new skin. The dressing is also placed over the treated area to protect it. It is best to wait 24 hours to shower and stay away from swimming pools and hot tubs until the area has completely healed. Additionally, avoid strenuous exercise immediately following tattoo removal to give the body time to heal the area.

When Will I See the Results?

With laser tattoo removal, the results take some time to reveal themselves. With many tattoos, several treatments may be needed to remove the tattoo or at least make it as faded as possible. Following each session, the tattoo fades a little more until it has disappeared or is barely noticeable.

How Long Will the Results of Laser Tattoo Removal Last?

The results of laser tattoo removal are long lasting. It is not always possible to remove every trace of a tattoo, but for most people, the tattoo may become nothing more than a memory.

Benefits of Tattoo Removal

Whether people regret getting a tattoo because it infringes on employment opportunities or even a bad break-up, laser tattoo removal is growing more and more popular. Some of the benefits of laser tattoo removal include:

  • Effective at greatly diminishing or erasing darker ink colors
  • Much faster recovery than other methods
  • Less pain or discomfort
  • More opportunity to remove the tattoo in its entirety

Who is the Ideal Candidate for Tattoo Removal?

Anyone with a tattoo that they no longer want on their body is a candidate for laser tattoo removal. Many times, the issue is having a tattoo rather the tattoo itself. If someone had a significant other’s name tattooed on their arm, for example, and subsequently broke up, it is probably not a good idea to have that person’s name prominently displayed. Some people may decide their tattoos are not appropriate for the type of job they want. There are many reasons for tattoo removal making most anyone with a tattoo the ideal candidate if that is what they want.

To make sure your tattoo can be removed or at least greatly diminished in its appearance, we recommend you schedule a consultation. Many times, we can schedule the laser tattoo removal treatment immediately following the consultation.

What Do I Need to Do Before Tattoo Removal?

Prior to laser tattoo removal, you may need to avoid any medications or supplements such as aspirin, ibuprofen or Vitamin D as they tend to thin the blood making healing more difficult. We provide patients with detailed instructions during a consultation on preparing and recovering from laser tattoo removal.

What Should I Expect on the Day of Laser Tattoo Removal?

Laser tattoo removal uses a principle like other laser procedures in which tattoo ink that is darker than the skin around it absorbs more light energy. When a laser shines on the tattoo, the particles of ink are destroyed, while the skin around it experiences only mild heating. Each color of ink requires a different color of light to destroy it. Additionally, it typically requires several treatment sessions to remove a tattoo because not all the ink particles can be destroyed at once.

At Port City Plastic Surgery, we use the VersaPulse® laser. With the VersaPulse®, tattoos are removed using wavelengths of light energy. Each color of ink attracts and absorbs a different wavelength. When the light is absorbed, the ink heats up and is crumbled into tiny microscopic particles that are removed from the skin by the immune system.

Q&A with a Patient: Jason Clark, Laser Tattoo Removal*

Like many of our laser tattoo removal patients in the greater Charleston SC area, Jason wanted a non-invasive way to remove his tattoos with little… Continue reading Q&A with a Patient: Jason Clark, Laser Tattoo Removal*

How Long Does It Take to Perform Laser Tattoo Removal?

At Port City Plastic Surgery, we use the VersaPulse® laser that can emit several different colors of light. This facilitates the treatment of multicolored tattoos and may reduce the number of visits necessary to remove your tattoo. However, even a single-color tattoo generally requires at least two sessions to remove.

Dr. Brian G. Widenhouse performs laser tattoo removal using the latest and most advanced laser treatments to remove or greatly diminish the appearance of tattoos on people living in Charleston, Daniel Island, Mount Pleasant, Summerville and the surrounding communities in South Carolina. Contact Port City Plastic Surgery today!

LOCATION:

2683 Lake Park Drive
Charleston, SC 29406

LOCATION:

125 River Landing Drive
Suite 101
Daniel Island, SC 29492