Laser hair removal vs tattoo pain | Skin Perfection (2024)

FAQs

Is laser hair removal pain better than tattoo pain? ›

The laser can cause slightly more discomfort on areas with thinner skin, such as the upper lip and temples. To put it into perspective, in terms of pain laser hair removal is a lot less painful than waxing and less painful than tattooing or the dentists, so there is really nothing to worry about.

Does Tattoo Removal Hurt More Than Getting Tattooed? People have different levels of pain tolerance—and anxiety about pain—but laser tattoo removal feels less painful than getting tattooed. Many people compare the pain of tattoo removal to the discomfort caused by a sunburn.

Alternately, some practitioners purchase two separate devices to accomplish the task. Wavelengths meant for tattoo removal are entirely different from the wavelengths used for hair removal.

The underarms are among the most painful areas of the body to undergo laser hair removal because the skin is so thin. This isn't necessarily the case for the rest of your arms, though, where the pain is much milder.

Some people may feel it more than others and this will largely depend on hair colours and the density of the body hair in the treatment area. Other factors like skin type and sensitivity to heat also play a part. The sensation of laser will be felt more at the start of a course of treatment when hair is thick.

Numbing cream for Laser Hair Removal can temporarily desensitize the area, so clients do not feel any pain. One of our lasers for treatment, the Alexandrite laser, has been statistically proven to be less painful than other laser types, with or without numbing cream.

PicoWay's ability to isolate the tattoo ensures that the ink of the tattoo is being broken down while little energy is transferred to the skin. This results in fewer risks. Because the pulses from the PicoWay are short and exact to where the energy is needed, it is far less painful than the traditional tattoo laser.

Generally, amateur or homemade tattoo may be removed within 3 to 7 sessions, while professional tattoos done with harder inks can require anywhere from 8 to 20 treatments. It is possible for some tattoos to require more than 20 laser treatments.

During the removal process, the ink in the tattoo will be broken up by lasers, and then flushed from the body by white blood cells. So the more white blood cells that are active around the tattoo, the more quickly it will fade from sight.

Type of Ink

Ink pigments are all made up of different ingredients, this largely effects the tattoo removal process. Black ink is the easiest to remove completely, followed by green and blue which can be a little more difficult. Pigments such as purple, yellow and white are the most difficult to remove completely.

What happens if laser hair removal goes over a tattoo? ›

If the laser is used over an area that is tattooed, the pigment in the ink will be targeted, resulting in burning, pain, and severe skin damage. While laser hair removal in the vicinity of a tattoo is still possible and safe, the tattoo will be covered by the technician during treatment.

If you have been thinking about getting a tattoo, we recommend that you complete any laser hair removal treatment before getting inked. This will produce a relatively clean slate for your art. If you are considering a tattoo in an area of skin that has unwanted hair– absolutely plan to get rid of the hair first!

Getting a tattoo is painful to the point where a lot people scream and cry during their session. Luckily it is not the case with laser hair removal.

Regret usually stems from choosing the wrong provider. While laser hair removal itself is rarely regrettable, what can lead to regret is choosing the wrong provider. A cheap, inexperienced clinic may use outdated equipment or incorrect techniques, leading to less effective treatment or even unwanted side-effects.

Generally speaking, laser hair removal is not considered a painful procedure and many patients claim that it feels like a slight pinch or rubber band snapping on the skin. On a scale of 1-10, many individuals report the pain factor to be around a 3-5, with some experiencing a slightly higher level of discomfort.

Another factor in the level of discomfort is when the area being treated has thick hair growth or multiple hairs in each follicle. These factors will increase the sensation. People with dark hair and light skin will experience more pain than people with lighter hair and darker skin.

By far, the tattoo removal is the worst pain I've experienced in my entire life. The hair removal is a cake walk. A temporarily uncomfortable cake walk, but significantly less painful nonetheless.

Many clients say electrolysis feels similar to getting a tattoo. Compared to a tattoo, the pain from electrolysis is often more intense and short-lived – until the slower-paced, sharper discomfort that comes along with getting inked.