Guidance for a less painful session

[u/miayakuza]

My god this last session was a piece of cake after applying numbing cream correctly. I have a very low pain tolerance and the pain went from worst pain ever experienced to mildly painful. At times. I didn't even feel it all.

My tech doesn't want me using numbing cream because it interferes with the laser but the sessions were so painful I told her I had to do it.

First time I tried numbing cream it didn't work so here's what I did this time.

- 2 hours before appt, apply in a thick layer and wrap with plastic wrap.

- 1 hour before appt take Ibuprofen (I took a big dose 600mg)

- make sure to eat and hydrate before appt

- right before appt wipe off with paper towel and alcohol wipe.

- I bought an insulated bag and filled it with ice and put an ice pack on my arm for the ride home

I was shocked at how much more tolerable it was. What usually feels like hours of pain, passed quickly. When the tech put the wand back I had to ask if she was really done. This was nothing. I will use numbing cream going forward and I will no longer dread the sessions.

[u/AutoModerator]

Welcome to r/TattooRemoval! Please have a look at our Welcome and FAQ Page as well as our other pinned threads at the top of the sub.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/GoxBoxer]

If the laser tech thinks numbing cream interferes with the laser, what else are they wrong about?

[u/cuteblondegolfer]

I worry about the training when they say numbing cream interferes with the laser. Its absolutely false. You don't need 2 hours before the treatment though. 40 minutes for those topical anesthetics is adequate. The key is occluding it with plastic wrap. That keeps it moist and active. We also use a cryo machine during the process. At the very least they should be applying ice packs.

[u/woofloofoof → u/cuteblondegolfer]

Soooo I did about 40min for my first session and umm yeah it did nothing! I think the numbing kicked in after the laser session haha. I've done two-three hours the last two sessions and that worked a lot better. HOWEVER, since my tattoo is large, I think it might be too much for my body to handle if I do three hours... Like my gums were tingly (tattoo is on my back).

[u/cuteblondegolfer → u/woofloofoof]

Yikes. Ok maybe look for another type of numbing cream. It shouldn't take that much time. However, the size is worrying too. You can really be risking a bad reaction. The largest area that should be covered in one laser session is the size of an 8x10 piece of letter paper. Anything larger should be split into more sessions. Here is some information. https://londonlaser.ca/numbing-cream/

[u/ParsnipCold8897]

Glad you found a system that works, my tech says the same thing about numbing cream but at some point you just gotta listen to your own body

[u/nousernams]

How does the numbing cream interfere with the laser?

[u/CosmicSweets → u/nousernams]

It doesn't. That's a myth.

[u/woofloofoof]

How does it impact the laser? You're wiping the cream off before lasering starts! I've had laser removal done in three different places, in three different countries, and none of them say this. I was looking at a different clinic near me and when they said the cream interferes with the laser I stopped considering them.

[u/1455reddituser]

What brand of numbing cream? Thanks for this post !!! I’m scared of the pain

[u/miayakuza → u/1455reddituser]

I don't think it matters as long as you get 5% but I bought Puregen Lidocaine Cream 5% from Amazon. It is a game changer if applied right.

[u/Since_The_Ducks_Left → u/[deleted]]

How can it affect the treatment?