Nadine Lustre is having some of her tattoos removed. Here's what to know about the process
Nadine Lustre said goodbye to some of her ink!
The actress enlisted the help of Dr. Aivee Teo to begin the process of removing several of her tattoos through laster treatment, as seen in a video posted by the dermatologist on her social media pages.
"I noticed that my tattoos are all spreading na. They're starting to look ugly. The goal really is to erase all of the tattoos that are thick," Nadine explained.
However, there are some tattoos that she would like to keep, such as her lotus flower and dragon tattoo.
When asked if the procedure caused her any discomfort, Nadine shared that it's "actually painful," but that it's basically the same kind of pain as getting the tattoo.
PhilSTAR L!fe spoke with dermatologists to know more about the procedure and what you need to consider before committing to tattoo removal.
How does laser tattoo removal work?
The most common and effective way to remove a tattoo is through laser removal. According to dermatologist Dr. Emmerson Vista, this process uses lasers to break up the ink particles into fragments.
"These fragments will now burst, dissolve into small particles, and therefore, have more chance to be absorbed by your immune system. So it will now be transferred to the lymphatics or blood vessels over time,” he said.
Despite being an effective way to remove tattoos, there are some kinds of ink that are difficult to get rid of, which may lead you to require more sessions.
“The black or dark blue inks are easier to remove because they absorb light very well. The other colors are more difficult to remove such as red, yellow, orange because they tend to absorb laser energy less effectively. And sometimes, if you have a tattoo that is multicolored, you need different laser settings to remove them in more sessions,” Vista explained.
Another factor that determines whether a tattoo can be easily removed is its age, as older ones tend to fade more naturally. Newer tattoos, on the other hand, need more sessions for it to be removed. This goes the same for inks that are large in size and have been embedded into your skin more deeply.
The skin tone of the patient should also be considered, as dark-skinned individuals might need specific lasers to avoid any pigment changes.
Vista said that the number of sessions depends on the tattoo, but it typically ranges from six to 10 with intervals from four to six weeks, as you need the laser to heal properly between treatments.
At the very least, the sessions normally last for three minutes.
Are there any risks to getting your tattoo removed?
Just like getting a tattoo, removing one also comes with its own set of risks and possible side effects.
According to Vista, immediate side effects include pain, redness and swelling of the skin, and it could even lead to blisters and crusting.
"You really need to go to a board-certified dermatologist to do these procedures to give you the correct parameters and proper care before, during, and after the procedure," he underscored.
If the procedures give you too much discomfort, you can opt to be put on anesthesia to manage your reaction.
Other side effects include pigmentary changes such as hypopigmentation, or lightening of the skin, and hyperpigmentation, or the darkening of the skin.
"What we want to avoid is the scarring because scarring can really happen if you use a higher setting of laser fluids or energy. That's why you really need to go to a board certified dermatologist to explain you all the possible side effects," Vista said.
There's also the likelihood of allergic reactions, and in worst case scenarios, an infection. These can be dealt with through oral or topical treatment.
What happens after your tattoo is removed?
Once your tattoo is removed, the treatment doesn't stop there as you still need to do some after-care.
"Keep the area clean and dry. So, when you're going to wash the laser-treated area, gently cleanse it with mild soap and water," Vista advised. "You need to apply the prescribed antibiotic as needed or you can also add some healing creams to prevent infection and speed up the recovery."
You must also avoid sun exposure and going to swimming pools for long periods of time as it could aggravate or cause more problems to the lesion.
"Use sunscreen to prevent pigmentation changes. Do not pick or scratch because when the skin underwent laser, it might develop some irritation. So, you might scratch it. Try to avoid it and allow them to heal naturally," Vista stressed.
If you're planning to undergo laser removal, the treatment goes as high as P10,000 depending on what kind of machine they use and how many sessions it takes.