Laser tattoo removal aftercare
Everything you need to care for your skin throughout your tattoo removal journey. Curated by expert consultants and dermatologists.
Why is aftercare so important? It’s simple. While our laser technology breaks down the tattoo into small molecules, it's actually within your lymphatic system that the magic of the removal happens.
Read more about how tattoo removal works here.
We break down the ink. Your body does the rest
Aftercare instructions as easy as 1, 2, 3
Aftercare starts as soon as treatment is done and is a great way to supercharge your results. Your consultant will put together a post-treatment protocol for you to follow so your skin recovers and heals as quickly as possible.
Here’s how to take care of your skin before and after tattoo removal.
Day of treatment
After treatment
Between treatments
Come as you are and we’ll take care of the rest. Our consultants are here to answer all your questions—without the added jargon. They’ll advise a plan that suits your goals and lifestyle.
Please ensure the area is clean and ready for treatment. If the area is prone to excess hair (like arms or lower legs) we recommend shaving beforehand. Eyebrow or lip areas don’t need to be shaved.
To get the best results from your treatment, we strongly suggest you do not apply fake tan before or during your treatment journey. When you use fake tan to darken your complexion, you change the tone of your natural skin. Our treatments are best done on your natural skin.
Keep dressings on for 72 hours. It will naturally fall off when the skin is healed.
If it comes off sooner, please do not wrap the treated area in clingfilm. Instead, dry the area and apply our NAAMA Protect cream, or pop into the studio and we'll apply a new dressing.
We ask that you wait 72 hours before applying makeup to the treated area.
Yes! Our science-backed tattoo removal aftercare creams are packed with plant botanicals and active ingredients to protect the skin, increase blood flow and improve healthy cell function between treatments.
Practice safe suncare. Keep the area covered and out of the sun for up to a week after treatment, and always apply high SPF and UVA 4*+ sunscreen between treatments.
Yes, you can take a shower after your tattoo removal. Your dressing is medical-grade quality and water-resistant, so it'll keep your tattoo dry if some water splatters on it but avoid direct water pressure while the dressing is still on and keep hot water to a minimum - no scalding showers, baths or hot tubs while your skin heals!
Please wait up to 72 hours or until the area is healed before swimming.
We recommend avoiding excessive heat on the skin (saunas, baths, spas) for at least 48 hours after treatment.
We don’t recommend any high-intensity exercise for 48 hours. Take this time to relax!
Tattoos can be treated as often as every 2-3 weeks in some cases at NAAMA.* Our LightSense™ laser system uses controlled, lower energy levels to effectively clear ink while remaining kind to the skin. Less time healing means more frequent treatments! Your consultant will recommend how long to wait until your next treatment.
*Your specific amount of downtime will be assessed during your initial consultation and may change during the course of treatment. We can only treat as often as every 2-3 weeks for Fitzpatrick 1-3 skin types.
We exclusively use the LightSense™ laser at NAAMA. It's tough on your tattoos, but kind to your skin. Some redness and itching can be normal to experience after treatment, but should subside within a week.
Yes! We recommend using our science-backed tattoo removal aftercare creams. They're packed with plant botanicals and active ingredients to protect the skin, increase blood flow and improve healthy cell function between treatments.
Please let us know of any changes to your health before your next treatment.
Changes can be (but aren't limited to) taking new medication, becoming pregnant, lifestyle adjustments, a new condition, etc. Your health is our number one priority and we can easily adjust your protocol to ensure your treatment is as effective as possible.
Yes. Due to safety reasons, we can’t treat anyone who is pregnant and will need to pause your removal journey for the time being. We can safely restart protocol once you’re a new parent, even if you’re breastfeeding.
To see the best results, we recommend avoiding alcohol consumption while having tattoo removal. Drinking can affect the liver and kidneys, impacting the lymphatic system and slowing down the body’s ability to successfully clear out ink molecules.
We recommend avoiding smoking while having tattoo removal. Smoking limits the body’s ability to absorb oxygen in the bloodstream, reducing its capability to flush out pigment and impacting your chance of seeing the best results.
In the week following your treatment, we recommend keeping the area covered and not exposing it to direct sunlight until the area is healed. Be sun-safe by regularly applying sunscreen with high SPF and UVA 4*+ rating throughout your removal journey, between your treatments and for a month after. We will need to postpone your treatment if your skin is tanned or burned, so keep an eye on your sun exposure.
You can, but if you're travelling somewhere warm there are a few things to note.
In the week following your treatment we recommend keeping the area covered and not exposing it to direct sunlight until the area is healed. Practise sun-safe skincare by regularly applying sunscreen with high SPF and UVA 4*+ rating throughout your removal journey, between your treatments and for a month after.
We are unable to treat tanned or burned skin, so please monitor your sun exposure in order to avoid postponing treatment.
We ask that you avoid sun tanning and tanning beds up to 4-6 weeks before treatment. Unfortunately, we can ’t treat skin that’s burned, peeling, recovering from UV exposure or inflamed from tanning of any kind.
Tattoo removal side effects and what to do
Side effects after tattoo removal are uncommon, but sometimes things come up. Here’s our expert advice.
It’s natural for the skin to feel a bit itchy after treatment, but avoid scratching or rubbing the treated and surrounding area. Keep the dressing on and let the skin naturally heal.
The body can naturally create scabs as part of the healing process. While rare, they tend to go away on their own within a few days.
Some redness and raising of the skin can be quite normal after treatment if you have sensitive skin, and should subside within a day or two.
If you have a laser tattoo removal blister, don’t pop it. Blisters are an extremely rare occurrence with LightSense™, but tend to go away on their own in a few days. Don’t pop or pick and keep the dressing on. If the dressing comes off, dry the area and apply our NAAMA aftercare cream. Do not wrap the skin in clingfilm as this will suffocate the area.
And we’re here to help if anything comes up
Send our team of experts an email and attach a photo. Our dermatologist is available to advise further if needed.
Supercharge your removal results
Health is wealth. Invest in it to see quicker and more effective removal results.
Drinking plenty of water can help to flush out the broken-down ink particles, support the body's natural healing processes, and promote cell turnover.
Exercising helps to speed up tattoo removal by increasing blood flow and circulation, encouraging ink pigments to flush out of the body.
Having a healthy diet ensures the body is getting the nutrients and minerals it needs to maintain a healthy lymphatic system; the essential component in clearing out the ink particles from the body.
We recommend 8 hours of sleep a night to keep your immune system healthy and running in tip-top shape.
Our science-backed tattoo removal aftercare creams are packed with plant botanicals and active ingredients to protect the skin, increase blood flow and improve healthy cell function between treatments.
The lymphatic system is a network of vessels and lymph nodes that helps to remove waste products and toxins from the body. Gentle massages can help to stimulate the flow and increase drainage of ink particles. If ever you needed an excuse for a massage, this is it.
Plant-powered aftercare developed by us
Step 1 - PROTECT
Step 2 - RESTORE
Aftercare set
