Before and After Photos and Instructions
Come Prepared
• Come in wearing loose clothing over the tattoo.
• Remove all makeup, oils, and lotions prior to arrival.
• Arrive hydrated and having eaten, although drinks and snacks are provided.
• Discontinue anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) at least 3 days prior to treatment.
• Do not come to an appointment if you have a tan or if your tattoo has an open wound on it.
• Avoid other cosmetic or medical procedures for at least 2 weeks before treatment.
• Do not smoke for at least 24 hours before and after treatment.
• Be aware that your tattoo may not look presentable for up to 2 weeks, so plan your treatment day accordingly with any special events.
• Medical intake questions will be asked at your appointment.
Numbing cream is available for use prior to the start of treatment at an additional $30 cost.
Rapid Repair Balm is an all natural, antimicrobial, nourishing aftercare balm. It assists in a speedy recovery and can be used instead of Aquaphor, lotion, or Bacitracin. It also works great on new tattoos and it smells like chocolate!
Aftercare
• Elevate the treated area as often as possible to reduce swelling. You may need to do this for a few days.
• Use ice for 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off until the pain and swelling subside. You may need to do this for a few days. Be sure there is a barrier between the ice and your skin.
• If a dressing is applied at your appointment, it is okay to remove it later that day when you get home. You should remove it before showering. Do not sweat with it on. If you want to continue using dressing for comfort purposes over the coming days, clean the area before placing a new dressing and continue using the Aquaphor as you normally would throughout the day.
• Use scent-free, sensitive soap to gently cleanse the treated area twice a day. Dove soap works well.
• Keep a thin layer of Aquaphor or Rapid Repair Balm on the tattoo for 3-7 days or until any scabs are fully healed.
• Should blistering or bubbling occur, do not panic, this can happen. If the blister/bubble gets bigger than a dime, pop it with a sterile Lancet or small sterile needle and use gauze to gently press out any fluid until the blister is flat. You may need to do this multiple times as blisters can refill. Apply antibiotic ointment, such as Bacitracin or the Rapid Repair Balm, twice per day and loosely cover the area with gauze until the skin is closed. This may take a couple of days to resolve.
• Do not scratch or pick at the tattoo. Allow all scabs to fall off naturally. If scabs are forcibly removed, even if you think it's about to come off, scarring will most likely occur.​
• Avoid direct sun exposure for 7 days or until any scabs are fully healed. Use mineral sunscreen sold in most drug stores (Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide) should sun exposure be unavoidable, and reapply as instructed on the bottle.
• You may resume your normal skin care products on the treated area after 7 days or until any scabs are fully healed.
• No soaking, hot tubs, pools, oceans, or anywhere that you could get an infection for 7 days or until scabs are fully healed.
• Reduce weight lifting on the treated area for 5 days or until swelling has significantly lessened, otherwise you may experience lymphatic drainage interruption.
• Do not undergo any other cosmetic or medical treatments on or around the treated tattoo.
• Be patient and give your body a chance to process and expel the ink.