Why is there a long wait between treatments?

In most cases, people wait 10 to 12 weeks between treatments, but depending on the placement and the amount of ink, it may sometimes be necessary to wait up to 14 weeks. For tattoos located far from the heart, such as on the hands and feet, waiting at least 12 weeks improves the effectiveness and reduces the risks.

Why is this the case?

When the laser breaks down the ink particles, the body’s white blood cells, along with the lymphatic system, will work to break down the ink in the tattooed area. After about eight weeks, approximately 70% of the fragmented ink is estimated to be gone. After that, it takes another four months for the majority of the remaining ink to be completely eliminated.

Thus, it takes increasingly longer to remove the last remnants of ink. The reason for waiting more than eight weeks is to reduce the risk that the new treatment targets already fragmented ink instead of the ink that is deeper in the skin. Therefore, experts generally recommend waiting 12 weeks unless the tattoo is very small or consists of high-quality ink.

For some individuals, it takes even longer to break down the ink.

This is often the case for:

• Individuals whose immune systems typically require longer to break down cells
• Those with tattoo ink from unreliable tattoo artists.
• People who are significantly sunburned from vacation.
• Smokers.
• Individuals with extra pigmentation in their skin that is more sensitive.
  

The best rule of thumb is to wait unless the tattoo has sufficiently faded since the last session. As a customer at Rethink, you can always reach out or send pictures to understand how far along you are in the process.