Getting a Second Chance with Laser Tattoo Removal

Laser tattoo removal is able to give you a second chance. Tattoos can be great but they can also get in the way of opportunities and even get in the way of having self-confidence. A tattoo can get in the way of living a new life; leaving behind a previous self that made poor decisions.

People have walked into our tattoo removal studio in Chicagoland wanting to remove a tattoo so they could move on with their lives. Tattoos marking events they experienced that they wanted to be able to forget via the tattoo removal. Some describe them as signs of their once "crazy lives" because they once ran with the gangs, had relationships that fell apart, etc. Some men or even women have tattoos received in prison and want to remove them so they can become a contributing member of society without anything pulling them back.

While a tattoo is just some ink in the dermis layer of skin, it can be a huge barrier when someone is looking to gain ground in their corporate life or even their social life.

According to recent studies, one was done in 2010, we find that people ages 18-29 in the United States have a fair amount of tattoos; 38 percent of people in that age range in 2010 reported having at least one tattoo. A study from 2012 stated that the 38 percent went up as well. It also reported that 14 percent of those people had tattoo regret. What is tattoo regret? To put it simply, it is when someone has disappointment or sorrow for having a tattoo; ultimately, they want the tattoo gone.

The relationship between tattoos and tattoo removal is reflective, not inversive; when the popularity of tattoos goes up, so does the popularity of tattoo removal.

The reasons for wanting to remove a tattoo vary widely. The bottom line is that the reasons for doing so are powerful and becoming more and more common. A misspelled word, a former life, a former lover, a whim, a change of heart, etc. are all reasons for wanting tattoos removed.

The technology for removing tattoos has increased in quality and can do so much more now. For example, the Asclepion TattooStar Effect Laser and the R20 procedure are huge hits; this Chicago tattoo removal studio is proud to mention we use both!

Pregnancy and Laser Tattoo Removal

So, you have a tattoo on your body that you once enjoyed but now you want to get laser tattoo removal; however, you find out before you start your tattoo removal procedure that you are pregnant. What does this mean for your chances of getting your tattoo removal?

Overall, it means that you will have to postpone your tattoo removal sessions until about 3 months after the pregnancy. If you have already started your procedure, then you will have to wait on finishing it until after the birth of your child.

Why does it matter that you should wait to get tattoo removal or finish it until after the birth of your baby? Well, for a pretty good reason.

The main reason you should wait until giving birth to get tattoo removal is because of how the ink is removed from your skin. When you get laser tattoo removal, the laser hits the ink that is in the dermis layer of your skin (this is the 2nd layer of skin under the top layer, or, epidermis) and breaks it up. The ink is then removed from your skin via your immune system. The immune system takes the dead ink and transports it.

So how does this have to do with being pregnant? Well, your child is connected to you via an umbilical cord and it takes in nutrients from the food you eat and the liquids you drink as well as anything that is in your bloodstream. With the ink traveling through your system, it can reach your child and affect them.

In addition to that, being pregnant is sometimes hard enough on its own, dealing with a tattoo removal procedure on top of it can be rough. Wait until after the birth to progress with the removal.

What is a Tattoo?

We see tattoos everywhere; some look cool and some look real bad. But what are they? How do they work?

In basic terms, a tattoo is ink in the skin. When someone gets a tattoo, the tattoo needle punctures the skin and injects ink in to the dermis layer of skin. The dermis layer of the skin is the second layer, it is underneath the epidermis layer of skin. Why do they place the ink in the dermis layer? Well, because the skin cells in that area are much more stable; since the skin cells in the area are much more stable, the ink remains in place better and is less likely to spread and ruin any tattoo designs. If it was injected in the epidermis layer, the ink would have an easier time moving and fading would happen much faster since we shed the epidermis layer over time.

Tattoos are done by hand; if you were to walk into a tattoo parlor, you would see the tattoo artist with a needle and their machine full of inks. You tell them what design you want and where you want it. It is run by a motor and electricity and the needle is connected to the machine via a tube and that is where the ink makes its way to the needle. Now, either the tattoo parlor will thoroughly sterilize all their equipment or some parlors will use disposable needles where they throw a needle away after each use.

A tattoo can take as little as 20 minutes or a few hours, it depends on what you get. They can also take more than one session. Similar to laser tattoo removal where a removal will take multiple sessions. As a Chicago tattoo removal studio, we can tell you that the smaller or more basic the tattoo, the easier it is to remove it. Also, a tattoo done by an amateur is easier to remove. While tattoos are almost permanent, they can be removed; however, some will not be able to be removed 100 percent.

If you are curious about removal and have questions about the R20 procedure, contact our Chicago tattoo removal studio.

Tattoo Removal and the Economy

Believe it or not, the economy and tattoo removal are related, they are not mutually exclusive. How is this so? Well, due to the slower economy more people with tattoos are choosing to get them removed. So yes, the affect is working one way but there is the connection. So why are people deciding to part ways with their once beloved ink due to the economy?

The big reason for deciding to get rid of tattoos due to the economy is because of employment or job searching. More and more, people are choosing to get their tattoos removed, especially via laser tattoo removal and via the R20 procedure (a faster form of laser tattoo removal) so they have an equal chance of getting a call back or even hired as the competition that never had tattoos. In addition to the job seekers, this idea also applies to those who are trying to switch careers or get a promotion in their current company; some companies may allow some employees such as dock workers to have tattoos but not the people who are actually in front of the clients or customers.

Now, the economy seems to be picking up a bit of steam but the reality is that many companies are still feeling the effects of the recession or are just still in that mindset; consequently, they can be strict on the tattoo policy.

Many companies have policies regarding tattoos that state that employees are not allowed to have tattoos or at least tattoos that show while wearing work appropriate clothing (such as your uniform or suit). In the past, this policy would have been held by just about every company but now companies are starting to relax; however, there are still plenty who hold to their beliefs toward the ink.

Why do they have such policies?

Companies have the policies towards tattoos for sake of professionalism. In some industries, it does not matter if employees have tattoos. However, the more formal the industry, the stricter they are. In an industry where employees wear suits everyday, then they might be the ones that don't allow tattoos at all but most definitely now allow them to show while wearing the suit.

The thing is that companies fear what clients or customers might think or say about a company that has employees that wear tattoos. Despite tattoos becoming more widely accepted in today's society, there are still people who believe that tattoos are for the criminals, soldiers, gangsters, bikers, etc. Due to that belief holding on, companies go with some caution and just avoid that slippery slope altogether.

If you are looking to do laser tattoo removal for any reason, then hire Erase Tattoo Removal - a Chicago tattoo removal studio. As a laser tattoo removal studio in Chicagoland, we are the only one in the area that offers the R20 procedure. We also use the Asclepion TattooStar Effect Laser which gives off a better laser than other lasers used for removal. See our pricing.

Laser Tattoo Removal 101 at Erase

For the most part, laser tattoo removal studios do the same thing; however, some studios have their own twists on things. Naturally, you can't go into every single removal studio and know exactly what will happen. You have questions; you ask questions. This blog should answer some, perhaps all, of your questions about Erase Tattoo Removal.

• Who does the procedure? Here at Erase, we only have medical professionals do the laser tattoo removal procedures. We believe that having a medical professional, such as Dr. Justin Macariola, do the procedures gives the client confidence it will be done right; it is the best solution for the client. Some tattoo removal studios settle for having estheticians perform the procedures but we believe in trying harder. 
• Who is eligible for laser tattoo removal? Any skin tone, age, or gender is able to get a laser tattoo removal procedure; however, there are some cases where we advise against it. 
• Pregnant or nursing women. This broken up ink can make its way into the unborn child via umbilical cord or into the born child via breast milk. When you get this procedure, the ink is broken up and removed from the skin via the immune system.
• Any client with uncontrolled diabetes. 
• Anyone with new tattoos from within the last couple months (2 months). The skin is not ready for a procedure like this so soon after getting a tattoo. 
• Smokers are able to get it but they might require more sessions to get the tattoo removed since their skin is not as healthy; your skin needs to be healthy to endure the procedures at their current length of time. 
• We should note that the procedures are conducted using an Asclepion TattooStar Effect Laser and so this laser can tackle a lot of tattoo cases. 
• How long does it take to remove a tattoo? Depending on the size, location, and color(s) of the tattoo that is to be removed, the removal process can take between 5 & 12 sessions; there are breaks of 6-8 weeks between each removal session. On average, a tattoo takes a year to remove. If you qualify for the R20 procedure then you will take less time since this procedure essentially combines four traditional sessions into one; your amount of sessions is drastically reduced. 
• Does it hurt? Depending on your pain tolerance, it will hurt more for some and less for others; bottom line, it will have discomfort. Although, at Erase, we have cooling tools to reduce the pain and make each client comfortable during the procedure. 

If you are considering laser tattoo removal, then contact Erase - a Chicago laser tattoo removal studio. We give free consultations! 

The R20 Procedure for Laser Tattoo Removal

In laser tattoo removal there are several kinds of lasers that can be used to remove a tattoo; along with all those options for lasers, there are a few different kinds of procedures that can be performed. At Erase Tattoo Removal, we use the traditional laser tattoo removal procedure as well at the R20 procedure for our tattoo removals.

What are these two forms of tattoo removal? Let's find out.

Traditional procedure is when the removal studio uses just one pass of the laser on the inked area of your skin and then that is the end of the procedure. A pass of the laser is when the laser passes over the skin.

R20 procedure is when the removal studio combines four sessions (or four passes of the laser) into one session. This dramatically reduces the amount of sessions one needs to remove a tattoo and gets them on their way sooner. How do studios accomplish this? Well, after each pass of the laser, there is a twenty-minute break that allows the skin recover before the next pass of the laser.

A tattoo often requires between 5 and 12 sessions to completely remove the tattoo; sessions are spaced out 6 to 8 weeks to allow the skin to heal and prepare for the next session. If you have a larger or more complex tattoo, you will most likely require more sessions; tattoos can take a year or so to remove. With people needing their tattoos gone sooner, the R20 procedure becomes quite an attractive option. Here at our Chicago tattoo removal studio, we are the only laser tattoo removal studio in Chicagoland to offer the R20 procedure. Traditional removal takes around 20 to 30 minutes for a session and R20 takes a bit longer.

If you are looking for a laser tattoo removal studio, contact Erase Tattoo Removal - a Chicago tattoo removal studio. They give free consultations. See what they're about!

Why Should You Get Tattoo Removal?

A lot of people have tattoos and for different reasons; however, sometimes, there comes a time in a life of someone who has a tattoo that shows it is time to get that once beloved tattoo removed. There are several reasons why people have to get a tattoo removed; there is relief, though, that a lot of laser tattoo removal studios are helping those people out.

One reason people decide it is time that they have to get a tattoo removed is because they are leaving a former life. A big example of this is when someone leaves a gang. Gangs often require their members to get tattoos as a part of the initiation process and as a marker of who is in the gang and who is not. Unfortunately to gangs, sometimes members decide that they want out of the gang and move on with their lives; this means having a tattoo on your body, maybe in a spot where it can still be easily seen, that will forever remind that person of their former life. So, when the person wants to rid themselves of that ink and completely move on with their life, they have to get the tattoo removed. Some tattoo removal studios are helping these people out by giving them either free laser tattoo removal or at a discount.

Another reason some tattooed individuals find it is time that they get their tattoos removed is because of finding employment, perhaps better employment. Despite making great strides in becoming more accepted by society, even in the workplace, a lot of companies still hold anti-tattoo policies, at least having them in areas that are exposed during the work day. So, before landing a serious job, like a higher position in the company, many people are opting to get the R20 procedure in order to quickly get their tattoo(s) removed and get that job. In the same way that many laser tattoo removal studios are helping people move on from former life decisions and lifestyles, they are doing it for people who are getting laser tattoo removal for sake of employment opportunities.

A third reason some people are opting for removal is because of having gone through breast cancer treatments. As we know, breast cancer is a prevalent disease, even for men, and the treatments often require "tattoos". See, the radiation laser requires that the person is tattooed so the doctor knows where exactly to aim the radiation. However, after the treatment, the tattoos do not magically come off and so if the person wants to move on, they have to get them removed. Fortunately, there are tattoo removal studios that are helping these people out by giving free or at least discounted treatments.

At Erase Tattoo Removal, we love helping people in need of laser tattoo removal. Chicago tattoo removal is becoming more and more popular and so if you are looking for a laser tattoo removal studio in Chicagoland, go ahead and contact us. We give free consultations.