Treatment information

Tattoo removal

Well prepared for your appointment

Soon we will welcome you at Fine LaserClinic for your tattoo removal. We guide you carefully through every step, from preparation to skin recovery.

You will receive this information automatically before your appointment. Please read this page calmly and in full beforehand; you will find everything here about preparation, normal skin reactions, wound care, anaesthetic and protection from sunlight.

If your treatment plan differs, other appointments are made or advice is not followed, we will confirm this by email. That way it is clear to everyone what you can expect and what we expect from you.

Safety in brief

Avoid sun and sunbeds before and during the treatment course, cool only indirectly and do not pick at scabs or flakes. Do not burst blisters and keep the skin clean and dry in the first few days. Contact us directly if pain increases, the skin reaction worsens or there are large blisters. Get in touch before your appointment and report any new medication or antibiotics.

For your treatment

To carry out the treatment safely and effectively, please keep the following in mind:

✓Avoid sunlight and sunbeds on the skin for 4 to 6 weeks before the treatment.
✓Do not exfoliate the skin in the days before the treatment.
✓For 1 week before the treatment, do not use products with irritating ingredients or exfoliants on the treatment area.
✓Come to your appointment with clean skin. The treatment area should be free of make-up, self-tanner, body lotion, deodorant and other skincare products.
✓We deliberately carry out the first treatment without numbing cream, so we can properly assess how your skin responds to the treatment.

After your treatment

After the treatment we apply a protective cream and cover the tattoo with a gauze pad. This gauze may stay on for a few hours. After that you may remove it carefully.

After the treatment you may experience some discomfort. Because warmth builds up in the skin during treatment, the treated area may continue to glow for a while. If you feel the need to cool it, always do so in a gentle, indirect way. Never place a cold pack directly on the skin.

Immediately after the treatment a light white discolouration may be visible on the treated area. This is also called laser snow. Redness, swelling and small pinpoint bleeding may also occur. These are normal skin reactions and usually fade within 2 to 48 hours. Crusts, flakes or small blisters may also form. This is part of the skin's healing process.

Important:

✓Do not pick at scabs or flakes. This can disrupt the healing process and cause scarring.
✓Do not burst blisters. Small blisters can be left to dry out on their own.

Contact us directly if the skin reaction becomes worse, if you have a lot of pain, if large blisters form, or if you are unsure whether healing is progressing normally. Preferably send a clear photo, so we can better assess the skin reaction.

✓Keep the skin clean and dry during the first few days after the treatment.
✓Avoid swimming pools, jacuzzis and saunas until the skin has fully healed. We advise waiting at least 2 weeks.
✓Avoid intensive exercise during the first 48 hours.
✓Protect the skin daily with SPF 50+.

Aftercare

After the treatment we advise caring for the skin at least 2 times a day with Alhydran. Do this for at least 1 week after the treatment, or for longer if the skin is still dry, sensitive or healing. Alhydran is a protective and restorative cream that supports the skin barrier. Good aftercare helps the skin heal calmly and reduces the risk of irritation, crusting or disruption of the healing process.

Numbing during the treatment

Do you experience a lot of pain during the treatment? Then lidocaine/prilocaine cream may be an option at a future appointment.

This numbing cream is available from your GP. Are you using numbing cream? Then we ask you to apply a thick layer about 1 hour before the treatment and cover it with cling film. We remove the cream at the clinic before we start the treatment.

We do not use this as a standard approach. Numbing cream can make the skin softer, so the laser sometimes does not reach the ink as well and the result may be less optimal.

Only use numbing cream on closed, intact skin. Always follow the instructions in the leaflet. Do you have an allergy to numbing cream, or are you unsure whether you can use it safely? Then first consult your GP or pharmacist.

Sun & skin safety

Throughout the entire treatment course we advise you to be careful with sun exposure and sunbeds.

Avoid sun and sunbeds for 4 weeks before and after the treatment. Exposure to UV radiation can cause hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation.

A sun-tanned skin cannot be treated safely, because the laser responds to pigment. This increases the risk of pigment shifts, burns or, in exceptional cases, lasting skin damage.

Do you go out in the sun anyway? Then make sure the area where the tattoo is located is well protected and covered with clothing, a plaster, sports tape or other protective dressing. In addition, use SPF 50+ daily. Sunscreen alone is not always sufficient with direct sun exposure.

Before each treatment we assess the condition of your skin. If the skin is too tanned or if we cannot carry out the treatment safely, the practitioner may decide to postpone the treatment. Your safety and skin health always come first.

Important to know

It is important to keep at least 8 weeks between treatments. During this period the body is busy clearing away the ink particles. Scheduling treatments closer together does not produce faster results.

Every skin and every tattoo responds differently to laser treatments. The average number of treatments we mention on the website or during the intake consultation is therefore always an indication.

Factors such as the depth of the ink, colour use, skin type, lifestyle, medication, sun exposure and following advice can affect the final result. In some cases more treatments are needed than expected in advance. Because every skin, tattoo and physical reaction is unique, we cannot guarantee an exact final result or the number of treatments required.

Pregnancy

If you become pregnant during the treatment course, please let us know. During pregnancy we temporarily pause the treatment course.

Questions?

Do you have any questions after reading this information, or are you unsure about anything? Feel free to contact us at info@finelaserclinic.nl. We are happy to help. We look forward to seeing you again at Fine LaserClinic.

Email us Contact details

Prefer to call? Call the clinic nearest you:

Amersfoort · 033 202 26 47 Arnhem · 026 206 21 47 Amsterdam · 020 244 59 27