Faded

Billy DeCola

You’ve found a podcast about laser tattoo removal. Maybe you’re here because you’ve got some ink you’re second guessing, or maybe you’re just curious about how the whole process works. There’s a lot of misinformation out there about tattoo removal. A quick Google search will turn up everything from lemon juice “remedies” (please don’t) to unrealistic promises about timelines and results. I kept seeing the same confusion walk into my studio, people who were told their tattoo would disappear in three sessions or that certain colors couldn’t be removed. That’s why I started Faded. The goal is to cut through the noise and share the real story. We talk about how different skin tones respond to treatment, why some lasers perform better than others, and what’s happening in your body when ink particles are broken down. Your immune system does the heavy lifting while the laser gives it support. But this podcast isn’t only about the science. It’s also about the people. Real clients share their experiences, why they got their tattoos, what made them change their minds, and what the removal journey has been like for them. The emotional side of tattoo removal is just as important as the technical side.

  1. 2d ago

    How Many Tattoo Removal Sessions Do You Really Need?

    How many laser tattoo removal sessions does it take to remove a tattoo completely, and why does it take so long? Billy DeCola, founder of Studio Kiku, walks through laser tattoo removal session by session: how many sessions to expect, how far apart they are, and what makes one tattoo fade faster than another. A tattoo could come off in one session with the laser turned all the way up, but it would leave a scar in the exact same shape as the tattoo. For a dark, saturated tattoo, the honest answer is somewhere between 9 and 12 sessions for complete removal, spaced at least two months apart. That is a year and a half to two years, and sometimes longer. Some tattoos need fewer than nine sessions and some need more. The laser is fast, but the body is slow. The laser finds the pigment in the skin and shatters it into tiny particles, and the lymphatic system picks those particles up slowly. Studio Kiku waits a minimum of two months between sessions to give the body that time, so coming in more often does not make a tattoo fade quicker. A new tattoo needs at least 12 weeks before removal starts. After an assessment, the first three or four sessions are two months apart. Somewhere between sessions three and six the pigment really starts to break up, and tattoos normally do not fade evenly: light shading goes first, and deep, saturated lines take longer. Once the pigment is breaking down, Studio Kiku recommends waiting at least three to four months between sessions. Lightening a tattoo for a cover-up normally takes fewer sessions, and the new design and the artist decide how many. What makes removal faster or slower: how saturated the tattoo is, how deep the pigment sits, where it is on the body, scar tissue, the pigment itself and the age of the tattoo. A small tattoo does not always mean fewer sessions. Probably the most important factor is health. Once the pigment is broken up, it is up to the body to remove it, and a healthy, active person will most likely see better results. Staying hydrated, eating healthy, exercising and getting good sleep all help. For a quote, send a photo at https://studiokiku.com/faded for honest feedback. Anyone not near a Studio Kiku location can take these questions to their consultation: how far apart the sessions are spaced, and whether they start gently and work up as the pigment fades. This video is not medical advice. 0:00 Can a Tattoo Come Off in One Session?0:25 How Many Sessions Does It Take?0:54 The Laser Is Fast, Your Body Is Slow1:34 Session by Session2:50 What Makes It Faster or Slower5:30 Your Health6:15 Get a Real Number for Your Tattoo More from the FADED Podcast and Studio Kiku: https://studiokiku.com/faded #lasertattooremoval #tattooremoval #tattooremovaljourney

  2. 2d ago

    Numbing Cream for Tattoo Removal: What to Use and Avoid

    Does numbing cream help with laser tattoo removal, and can the wrong one affect your results? Billy DeCola, founder of Studio Kiku, answers the three questions clients ask all the time about numbing cream: which one to use, how to apply it, and whether it affects how well the laser works. Studio Kiku recommends Zensa, a 5% topical lidocaine cream sold over the counter. It numbs the area locally and takes the edge off, though it will not take the pain away completely. Billy recommends avoiding imported creams from countries with no regulations around them, and strong pharmacy compounds such as BLT (benzocaine, lidocaine, tetracaine). Timing matters. Put the cream on generously about 30 minutes before the appointment: 15 minutes is not enough, and an hour and a half is too long. On a large tattoo, be careful with how much cream goes on the skin. A plain topical numbing cream has no impact on the laser, which still reaches the pigment and shatters it. Creams with a vasoconstrictor such as epinephrine are different. They reduce blood flow and can interfere with the inflammatory response after a session. This video is not medical advice. Check with your doctor before using any numbing cream. 0:00 Does Laser Tattoo Removal Hurt?0:56 Three Questions About Numbing Cream1:10 Which Numbing Cream to Use1:42 Numbing Creams to Avoid2:52 How to Apply Numbing Cream3:35 Eyebrows and How Much to Use4:00 Large Tattoos and a Disclaimer4:29 Does Numbing Cream Affect Your Results?6:21 Final Thoughts More from the FADED Podcast and Studio Kiku: https://studiokiku.com/faded #lasertattooremoval #numbingcream #tattooremoval

About

You’ve found a podcast about laser tattoo removal. Maybe you’re here because you’ve got some ink you’re second guessing, or maybe you’re just curious about how the whole process works. There’s a lot of misinformation out there about tattoo removal. A quick Google search will turn up everything from lemon juice “remedies” (please don’t) to unrealistic promises about timelines and results. I kept seeing the same confusion walk into my studio, people who were told their tattoo would disappear in three sessions or that certain colors couldn’t be removed. That’s why I started Faded. The goal is to cut through the noise and share the real story. We talk about how different skin tones respond to treatment, why some lasers perform better than others, and what’s happening in your body when ink particles are broken down. Your immune system does the heavy lifting while the laser gives it support. But this podcast isn’t only about the science. It’s also about the people. Real clients share their experiences, why they got their tattoos, what made them change their minds, and what the removal journey has been like for them. The emotional side of tattoo removal is just as important as the technical side.