This is the second of a two-part series detailing a laser tattoo removal process in KL. In this second part, we dive into the actual experience of the removal process. Read the first part here.
If I got a dollar for every time someone took a look at my semi-faded tattoo and asked if the laser tattoo removal process hurt, I’d have enough to get another tattoo. The short answer is: yes, it is painful. As of press time, I have done 11 sessions with Dr. Hew from M∙A∙C∙ Clinic in the Bangsar Shopping Centre outlet, and it never gets easier. Below, I chart my experience so you’ll know what to expect when you’re getting your tattoo removed.
How does the process begin?
A consultation, naturally. This is the part where you’ll grill your doctor—in my case, Dr. Hew from M∙A∙C∙ Clinic—about everything you need to do before, during, and after your laser session. This is also where the doctor estimates the number of sessions you’ll need to remove your tattoo, although this is highly dependent on the size, thickness, and colour of your tattoo. For the two-banded tattoo around my wrist, Dr. Hew estimated eight to ten sessions would do the trick.
Typically, PicoSure Laser is used to remove tattoos, although the doctors at M∙A∙C∙ Clinic will advise which is better for your specific tattoo. Unlike what most videos on social media will show you, the tattoo isn’t immediately erased. Those whitish spots that appear as the laser hits your tattoo will fade within five minutes. After all, tattoo removal isn’t a surface-level project—the laser actually breaks down the ink particles, which will then be absorbed into your body and naturally flushed out. This is why you should ideally have six weeks between each laser session for optimal pigment breakdown.
What’s the pain level like?
Before any of my laser sessions, Dr. Hew slathers on some numbing cream around the tattoo area. This will need 30 minutes to set in, and then the lasering begins. You would think that the numbing cream helps, but rest assured, the lasering is just as painful—I would not want to imagine how it would feel without the numbing cream. I rate the pain level on a scale of 8 out of 10, but it’s also because my tattoo is an entire ring around my wrist—the pain is similar to getting bitten ferociously by fire ants, and I am inclined to say that getting a tattoo itself is less painful than having it removed.
After every laser appointment, my skin tends to swell, with the first three days bearing the brunt of the swelling. If you, like me, feel pain from the swelling on the first day, take some anti-inflammatory pain killers such as ibuprofen. By the second day, I’ll begin developing blisters around the tattoo area. It’s important that you ice the swelling to calm it. Dr. Hew doesn’t recommend getting the lasered area wet, but if it does happen, immediately pat it dry. Needless to say, you shouldn’t burst the blisters intentionally as it may cause scarring.
How long does it take to completely remove the tattoo?
Unfortunately, there is no hard and fast rule as to how long it will take to remove a tattoo. Generally, fine-lined tattoos are the easiest to remove, while coloured tattoos will be more challenging to remove compared to black ones. While Dr. Hew estimated my tattoo to be gone by eight to ten sessions, we discovered five sessions in that it would take much longer. I have been seeing Dr. Hew for over a year and a half with 11 sessions on my belt now, and while the fade is significant, I am nowhere close to being done. The laser tattoo removal process is a marathon, not a sprint. It takes a strong heart and mind—with a healthy level of pain tolerance!—to undergo this journey.
How much does it cost?
This is a tough question to answer, as every clinic will have different rates, and every case (or tattoo) will have different requirements. It’s best to establish with your doctor from the consultation process the cost you’ll both be looking at. As M∙A∙C∙ Clinic in the Bangsar Shopping Centre is one of the more premier aesthetic clinics in the Klang Valley, Dr. Hew estimates that a case like mine would cost approximately RM800 per session.
With all this knowledge in your hands, it’s time to go forth and make your tattoo removal decisions. Book your consultation at M∙A∙C∙ Clinic here.
Address: S117A, 2nd Floor, Bangsar Shopping Centre, 285, Jalan Maarof, Bangsar, 59000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur.
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