When you watch our videos, you probably noticed an immediate reaction where the tattoo turns white-ish after the laser hits it. The appearance and hue may vary based on the skin tone being treated.
That dramatic, striking visual effect may seem like the tattoo is fading immediately. However, this is a temporary thermal effect in the laser tattoo removal process known as ‘frosting’ that disappears shortly after the treatment..
As tattoos fade during the removal process, the frosting effect becomes less dramatic.
What is Frosting?
Frosting is an immediate effect that happens especially in the beginning stages of the laser tattoo removal process. It’s a natural reaction that happens when the laser hits the ink particles in your skin, releasing carbon dioxide.
How Frosting Changes Over the Removal Process
As you progress through the laser tattoo removal process the frosting becomes less noticeable.
Frosting has four stages, each with a slight difference in appearance. As we move towards the mid to late stages of removal, we are not looking for a heavy frost anymore, but a light frost and residual redness.
Late-stage removal treatments are much less satisfying to watch, but that does not mean the laser is not doing its work!
The Experience Factor
It’s important to look for the right frost at the right time to yield the best removal outcomes. The ability to recognize the slight visual and auditory cues in the laser removal process is a skill that comes with experience.
Most service providers show first treatments because the frosting is its absolute sharpest while 80-100% of the tattoo exists. The frosting changes in appearance and gets less intense as you progress through your tattoo removal experience. The frosting on a first treatment, and on a fifth treatment will not look identical.
Side Effects
Too heavy of a frosting is not ideal and can be a sign that a client may experience adverse outcomes such as: hypopigmentation, hyperpigmentation, scarring or even permanent textural changes. Always seek out an expert in the field to ensure your skin is properly cared for at every stage of your removal process.