TATTOO REMOVAL AFTERCARE

STEP 1 – EARLY CARE

DAY 1:

One hour after treatment, remove the temporary non-stick bandage placed on by your technician and replace it with dry, loose, weave gauze.

Expect the treated area to feel sore and look red and inflamed for the first few days up to a week. The area will slowly start to form scabs.

The next day after treatment, with clean fingertips, carefully wash the treated area with a mild, fragrance-free antibacterial soap and immediately pat or dab it dry. Do not wipe. Cover with gauze.

Avoid Restrictive or tight clothing over the treated area. Always make sure your clothing does not rub against your scabs or against the delicate skin bridges that lie between the scabs and keep the area lightly covered with dry gauze for protection.

UNTIL ALL THE SCABS FALL OFF NATURALLY:

Do not place ointments or creams on the treated area with the exception of the hydrocortisone ointment applied on Day 2 and 3.  Dry scabs are an essential part of the aftercare procedure.

Do not scratch, pick, or rub the treated area. Correct formation of the scabs is critical to the success of the process. All scabs must be allowed to drop off naturally. 

Do not expose the treated area in water or sweat, including baths, swimming pools, hot tubs, lakes, oceans, saunas, and hot yoga.

Do not allow direct water pressure from the shower nozzle on the treated area. Do not scrub the treated area or use loofahs, harsh cleansing creams or chemicals on the skin.  Blot or air-dry the treated area.

STEP 2: AFTER ALL THE SCABS FALL OFF

Skin Healing and Scabbing After Treatment

It can take up to four weeks for the scabs to fall off after treatment. The new skin underneath is very vulnerable while it rebuilds. It will be bright red as the scabs begin to fall off, slowly fading to pink over the next several months as it heals, returning to its natural skin tone. Following the hydrating and Tegaderm regimen listed below is imperative for optimal results.

Hydration and Tegaderm Application

1. After all scabs come off, hydrate the skin by applying hydrocortisone cream with cocoa butter cream for one week.
2. After the first week of hydration, lightly clean the area with alcohol and allow it to fully evaporate.  Then cover with Tegaderm making sure it extends 1 inch beyond the treatment area in each direction. Leave Tegaderm in place for five days. 
3. Gently, under lukewarm water, remove the Tegaderm and hydrate the new skin for two days, remembering to protect the area with gauze.
4. Go to step 2 and continue alternating steps 2 & 3 until the next treatment. You should expect to alternate steps several times.

Protecting Treated Skin from UV Exposure to Prevent Scarring

Exposure of the treated area to sunlight or any UV light source will cause scarring. Keeping the treated area covered with clothing, KT Tape, or a total sunblock product with a minimum of 50 SPF is essential.

This includes but is not limited to the following: 

• • Exercising outdoors
  • Riding in a car
  • At the beach
  • Tanning Beds
  • Arc Welding

At your four-week follow-up with your Tatt2Away technician, they will assess the healing progress and determine when to schedule your next Tatt2Away treatment.

CAUTION! Failure to follow these post-treatment instructions will likely reduce the effectiveness of the treatment and potentially cause scarring. Final results are not guaranteed and can only be determined once healing is complete. Healing can take several months. If you have any questions or concerns, contact your Tatt2Away technician.

PHOTO SCHEDULE

To monitor your healing progress, periodically take close-up, hi-resolution pictures of the entire treated area and surrounding skin with a smartphone or digital camera of the healing skin and share those pictures with your Tatt2Away technician. Make sure the healing area is in focus and fills the entire screen. By sharing these pictures with your technician, they can identify problems with your recovery early and help you have the best possible outcome.

At a minimum, take and send pictures:

• 2 days post-treatment – Visual check to ensure it’s clean, dry, and without infection.
• 7 days post-treatment – After 1st week, photographs will ensure your treatment area is healing properly.
• Weekly Updates – These updates will help your Tatt2Away technician identify potential problems and remedy them early. As well as check on scab formation and determine if healing is progressing as expected.
• After the Scabs Fall Off –  Your Tatt2Away technician will need monthly, instead of weekly, updates to look for signs of dermal maturation and help in the determination of when the tattoo is ready for another Tatt2Away treatment.

*The required healing time between subsequent treatments is highly dependent on following the aftercare, your body’s natural healing, and the number of treatments you have had. One time frame does not fit all.  When the unexpected occurs – contact your Tatt2Away technician by sharing pictures to help identify problems with the recovery early to achieve the best possible outcome. 

Following the aftercare is crucial for optimal results and must be followed diligently for the skin to heal properly and to expel the tattoo ink. It can take several months for your skin to fully mature and regain its normal color and tolerate being in the sun. During this time, be patient and follow the steps and the advice given by your Tatt2Away technician.