Elliott Booth, owner of Lazco Tattoo Removal, has created a thriving tattoo removing business in Brisbane. He tells Professional Beauty why tattoo removal is proving a booming business.
How did you get into the area of tattoo removal?
I got into tattoo removal because I started to see a growing trend in people wishing they had not got certain tattoos. I am in the “tattoo generation” with quiet a few myself. I have been in the tattoo removal industry for two years now and love it.
Why is tattoo removal such a booming business right now?
Tattoo removal is such a booming business because of how popular tattoos are. It was always going to happen. People get tattoos at certain stages of their lives and life changes – even if you don’t want it to! So sometimes in just a matter of, after couple of years, people aren’t the same person they were, or they have a different outlook on life.
What is different about your clinic’s offering?
What separates my clinic from any other clinic in Brisbane is that I specialise in tattoo removal and only tattoo removal. This makes Lazco tattoo removal the experts in tattoo removal. I quiet often pick up new clients that have previously been to [other clinics] but weren’t happy as they felt like they were being pushed through as “another number”; [according to my clients, they didn’t feel that] their personal tattoo removal was made a high priority. I thoroughly explore and go into detail about how tattoo removal works with every client and the likelihood of some colours removing fantastically and others taking a lot longer. Nobody is left in the dark or left uncomfortable at Lazco Tattoo Removal. I take as much time as I need with every single client of mine to make sure they aren’t too nervous – and that they are completely comfortable before starting the treatments. The effort I put in to make my clients happy shows extensively on reviews about my business and the thanks I get personally.
How far has the technology advanced in laser tattoo removal?
Tattoo removal has come an extremely long way in the last 5-10 years! Laser tattoo removal used to be very risky. The chance of scarring was high, the effectiveness of removing the tattoo wasn’t there, and it used to hurt a hell of a lot. Don’t get me wrong, getting your tattoo removed now isn’t the most pleasant thing you will do, however it has become a whole lot less painful.
What are most of your clients are asking for?
Most of my clients are wanting one of two things. About half of my clients are wanting complete removals when it comes to their unwanted tattoos. You may be surprised but the other half of my clients are getting their tattoos lasered and lightened to a point where they can re-tattoo the same area with a better tattoo!
How many treatments and how long can most clients expect to see results?
My clients see undeniable results after the first session. Many of my clients whose goal is to lighten the tattoo to make way for a cover up, after 2-4 sessions they have completely all the laser they require. Clients wanting complete removals are generally looking at anywhere between 6-10 sessions for a complete removal. In tattoo removal, there are major varying factors that influence how fast a tattoo will remove. How deep the ink is, how dark the ink is, and the colours of the tattoo are all factors, which influence how fast the tattoo will fade. I make sure every one of my clients have a really good understanding of this.
Is it ever a challenge to manage client expectations?
Occasionally it can be a challenge to manage clients expectations. However the results are strongly influenced by their tattoo. If they have a dark tattoo, they will require more sessions to see the same results somebody with a lighter tattoo will see. All of my clients to understand that simple reasoning behind tattoo removal, which does help!
On your website you say that light blue/green and teal are the hardest colours to treat. Why is this? What do you need to do to treat these colours?
Blues and greens are a difficult colour to remove. If you have a blue or green tattoo you want completely removed, you need to start your laser treatments with a Q switch laser with the 1064nm wavelength. This will target all the dark pigmentation in the blue and green. Once the blue and green have been lightened by taking the dark pigment out, you have to continue your treatments with a ruby laser which uses a 696nm wavelength. The ruby laser is older technology compared to a picture laser however it works for completely removing blue and green.
Have your say: Do you have a tattoo removal business in another part of the country? Tell us about it!