May 19, 2025 • 12 mins
Busting the Frosting Myth: What Tattoo Removal Clients Really Need to Know
Episode Description:
If you think “frosting” means a tattoo is disappearing—this episode is for you. In this myth-busting edition of Laser Secrets, Jamie breaks down what frosting actually is during laser tattoo removal, why it looks impressive on social media, and what it really means in terms of results.
From gas bubbles and thermodynamics to misleading videos and client expectations, this episode gives you the knowledge (and language) to educate your clients like a pro. It’s time to stop chasing the frosting—and start focusing on what really matters.
🎧 You’ll Learn:
-
What frosting is and why it happens during laser tattoo removal
-
How temperature, ink chemistry, and gas formation all play a role
-
Why viral videos are misleading—and how to respond professionally
-
Factors that actually affect removal time (hint: not frosting)
-
Clear, client-ready language for consultations that builds trust
Stay Connected & Explore:
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All Links & Resources: https://linktr.ee/lasersecrets
-
Follow Jamie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laser_secrets_consulting
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Find Esthetician-Approved Products Jamie Recommends:
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Email for Show-Related Inquiries and Sponsorships: lasersecrets@yahoo.com
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:01):
Hello, my laser loving friends.
Welcome back to another episodeof Laser Secrets Your No Fluff
podcast for aesthetic pros, lasertexts, and curious minds who want
to master the art of results.
I'm Jamie.
I'm a med spa owner, medicalaesthetics educator, a consultant
and laser obsessed go-to personfor all things med spa with laser.
(00:25):
And today we're diving intosomething I get asked about.
Constantly lately, and we canthank social media for this.
I'm talking about frosting, so not oncupcakes, but I'm talking about that
cloudy white layer that shows up rightafter you fire a laser on a tattoo.
So let's talk about what is it?
(00:46):
What does it mean?
Is it a good thing?
Should every treatment have it?
We're going to bust somemyths and break it down.
So let's start with whatfrosting actually is.
So when you fire a laserduring tattoo removal.
we're either using a Qswitch laser or pico laser.
The energy hits the particlesand causes rapid heating.
(01:09):
This creates an effect calledphotoacoustic fragmentation.
This is the breaking of the pigmentinto tiny particles so your body can
clear them through the lymphatic system.
But here's the fun biophysics part.
The rapid heat causes the formationof gas bubbles, specifically steam and
carbon dioxide under the skin That gasexpands, lifts into the upper layers
(01:34):
of the skin, reflects light, creatingthat familiar white frosted appearance.
And here's where it gets even cooler.
Literally, my Med SpaGlow Laser Aesthetics.
we pre chill the skin using icepacks and our Zimmer cryo chiller.
This is, in my opinion, the mosthumane way to do laser tattoo removal.
(01:57):
This keeps clients comfortable andreduces unwanted thermal damage as well.
That chilling process actuallymakes the upper skin layer
cooler than the tissue beneath.
So when your body creates thosehot gas bubbles, they interact
with the cold surface and creating.
Even more of a visual effect of frosting.
(02:19):
It is a real life displayof thermodynamics.
And seriously, how cool is that?
So what does frosting tell usand what it doesn't tell us?
it can be really, really satisfying tosee frosting and clients love to see it.
but it's not really your end goal, and weshouldn't be chasing frosting every time.
(02:39):
it just tells you the laser isinteracting with something in the
skin, which is ink in this case, butit doesn't mean the tattoo is gone.
It doesn't tell you how much inkwas broken up or how effectively
the body will clear it.
So it does tell you thatenergy was absorbed.
Pigment was disrupted and the tissue washeated to the point of gas formation.
(03:02):
That's truly it.
And yes, you can have asuccessful treatment without
visible frosting, especially infaded or lightly inked areas.
So let's also talk about the social mediamyths out there that have people thinking
there is a laser that does one and done.
(03:23):
I'll tell you a quick story.
a friend of mine came into my shopa few weeks ago and we were talking
about removing one of his tattoos,and he said to me super casually,
so will you ever get that laser thatgets rid of tattoos in one treatment?
I saw this video where it was donein one session, and I was like.
(03:46):
this is, this is those videos that justshow frosting without explaining further.
which is totally fine, but a lot oftimes, and I know we have all seen
this, it can be very misleadingbecause these places are showing these
videos and kind of passing it offlike it was removed in one session.
you know, and, and I, I get thisquestion all the time during.
(04:06):
Laser tattoo removal consultations.
you know, we all know the truth.
There is no laser in the worldthat removes an entire tattoo
and one treatment period.
The end.
That would, be amazing if it was created,but we all know that it takes time.
And unless they want a very nasty scar,which none of us, who are responsible,
(04:27):
would do that to someone, it's notgoing to be removed in one session.
you know tattoo removal takes time.
And it's not one size fits all.
So really just to recap, like what toexpect or what kind of expectations to
set with clients on laser tattoo removal?
most need eight to 12 treatments,and I like to space our treatments
(04:48):
10 to 12 weeks apart, sometimes more.
other factors that go intohow many sessions it will take
is for one saturation of theink, a solid black tattoo.
You know, that's deep and dark.
And even some of those more vividinks, they can take a little
longer depth of ink placement.
(05:09):
So once the ink goes deeper intothe dermis, that's more layers
that we need to smash the ink.
I've literally had ring tattoos takelonger than full sleeves because
we're talking about silos of inkinto the skin, not surface area.
So that's where the depth ofink really comes into play.
(05:29):
Which really, when we're lookingat a tattoo during a consultation,
it's oftentimes hard to determinethis, if someone does have raised
areas, that means they have alittle bit of scar tissue as well.
If the tattoo artist went a little deepinto the, hypodermis, which will cause
you to create scar tissue when you have.
Scarring in a tattoo or thoseraised areas you may even notice.
(05:52):
It may take a few sessions longereven with that, because that scar
will create a back scatter of inkand reduce the energy that's actually
hitting the ink fragments as well.
Next, the chemical makeup of the ink.
this is huge.
So a fun fact about the tattooing industryis that there is no standardization
(06:13):
or regulation on tattoo ink.
So this means it can contain some metals,it can be, carbon based, some include
plastic polymers, especially these.
Newer, more vibrant inks.
So when you apply laser energy to thesedifferent chemical compounds, which are a
mystery because even the best shops that.
buy the best inks.
(06:34):
they still don't know what's in itbecause it doesn't need to be disclosed.
So when you apply that laser energy,sometimes interesting things can happen.
inks can change color.
Some are a little more resistant.
But in my, over five years, almostsix years of doing laser tattoo
removal, I still have never meta tattoo that I couldn't remove.
I do have an awesome device.
(06:55):
I use the Quanta, Evo Q plusC, Q switch, and I love it.
Love it, love it, love it.
So, moving on to other factors,the body's lymphatic response,
is a big factor as well.
So your body is actually what'sclearing those shattered particles.
The laser is the catalyst.
So, thinking about how someone's lymphaticsystem is running, if they move, get a
(07:19):
little exercise, they eat fairly clean,they drink plenty of water, live a cleaner
lifestyle, typically their lymphaticsystem's running a little smoother.
if you smoke, have poor circulation, maybesome liver function issues, your detox
system may be, a little more sluggish.
That can take a little longer too.
I do love to recommend they addthings like, and not the week of the
(07:42):
actual treatment, but afterward, youcan do, saunas for detoxification.
You can add things like, Dandelion tea,lemon to your water, things like that.
And I also recommend they drink plentyof water and I give them a goal of half
their body weight and ounces of water.
This seems to be that sweet spot where,they're staying nice and hydrated,
(08:03):
but they're helping their lymphaticsystem as well and more is better.
And staying consistent withtheir treatment protocol.
I love that like 10 to 12 weeksapart longer is fine too because
really time is our friend whenit comes to tattoo removal.
And I've had clients that discontinuedfor a little while, for whatever reason,
and I see them six months to a year laterand it looks like they've had another
(08:26):
session or two because their body isstill picking at that last treatment.
Really, I explain itlike it's a Rubik's cube.
every tattoo is unique,every person is unique.
even tattoos on the same person canmove differently depending on what's
in that ink, how deep that tattoowas implanted, was the artist, like
heavier handed, different colors,All that really makes a difference.
(08:48):
And where it's located on their body too.
So think like closer to the lymphatic,concentrations of lymph nodes.
You know, like essentially in ourcreases, you know, axillary lymph
nodes under the arms, anguinal fold, soright at the hip through their abdomen.
higher concentrations there.
So the closer we are to those areas,the faster it'll clear as well.
(09:10):
now this is where yourconsultation game matters.
When a client sees these frostingvideos, we wanna manage their
expectations, and this really doeshelp to build trust through education.
So here's, how I would explain it.
In a nutshell, I would say what you'reseeing is a temporary frosting effect.
It's your skin reacting to gas bubblesforming after the laser hits the ink.
(09:33):
It's not the ink coming out of the tattooor the tattoo disappearing instantly.
The real results happen slowly overthe next few weeks as your body
flushes out the shattered pigment.
Boom, clear, professionaland trust building.
You might wanna add.
Not every session will frost,and that's totally normal.
It doesn't mean it didn't work.
(09:55):
It just depends on how much ink is stillpresent closer to the surface where
we see that steam effect happening.
and that's the pigmentthat we're targeting.
Okay, so let's do a quick frosting recap.
So frosting is a visual reactionto steam and gas bubbles caused by
rapid laser heating of ink particleschilling the skin beforehand.
(10:19):
Like with ice packs or a Zimmerchiller, we'll enhance the frosting
appearance due to temperature contrast.
So think about, steam hits cold,it creates frost like on a window.
it's not a sign that the tattoo's gone.
It's a short term effect.
And it's a very surface level effect,and it will go away in a few minutes.
(10:41):
Tattoo removal typically takes eight to12 sessions, give or take, due to ink
chemistry, saturation placement, and theindividual's response to the treatment.
There is no laser that removesa tattoo in one treatment.
I wish there was, and if there was.
Trust me, I would be trying to get it.
So next time you see frosting, orclients asking about it, take a moment
(11:05):
to appreciate the physics behind it, howcool it is, no pun intended, but don't
let it become the star of the show.
educate clients.
This means they'll, trust you.
It builds loyalty and it positionsyou as that more confident,
knowledgeable, provider as well.
So if this episode gave you somepoints to use during consult or
(11:28):
helped you ditch a few frostymyths, I'd love to hear about it.
Please tag me.
I'm on Instagram Laser Secrets consulting.
I'd love to get a dm. I love hearingfrom you guys and don't forget if you
want to feel even more confident withtattoo removal, RF microneedling, and.
Laser body contouring.
(11:48):
Those are my specialties.
I do offer one-on-one coaching sessionsand, you can get with me on Laser
Secrets Consulting on Instagram, DM meor email me at laser secrets@yahoo.com.
And if you love this episode, pleasesubscribe, leave a review, and share
it with your fellow aesthetic pros.
(12:09):
If you have questions, suggestions,I would love to hear from you.
Until next time, stay confident,stay curious, and here's to having
the best laser results ever.
Have a beautiful day.
Hello, my laser loving friends.
Welcome back to another episodeof Laser Secrets Your No Fluff
podcast for aesthetic pros, lasertexts, and curious minds who want
to master the art of results.
I'm Jamie.
I'm a med spa owner, medicalaesthetics educator, a consultant
and laser obsessed go-to personfor all things med spa with laser.
(00:25):
And today we're diving intosomething I get asked about.
Constantly lately, and we canthank social media for this.
I'm talking about frosting, so not oncupcakes, but I'm talking about that
cloudy white layer that shows up rightafter you fire a laser on a tattoo.
So let's talk about what is it?
(00:46):
What does it mean?
Is it a good thing?
Should every treatment have it?
We're going to bust somemyths and break it down.
So let's start with whatfrosting actually is.
So when you fire a laserduring tattoo removal.
we're either using a Qswitch laser or pico laser.
The energy hits the particlesand causes rapid heating.
(01:09):
This creates an effect calledphotoacoustic fragmentation.
This is the breaking of the pigmentinto tiny particles so your body can
clear them through the lymphatic system.
But here's the fun biophysics part.
The rapid heat causes the formationof gas bubbles, specifically steam and
carbon dioxide under the skin That gasexpands, lifts into the upper layers
(01:34):
of the skin, reflects light, creatingthat familiar white frosted appearance.
And here's where it gets even cooler.
Literally, my Med SpaGlow Laser Aesthetics.
we pre chill the skin using icepacks and our Zimmer cryo chiller.
This is, in my opinion, the mosthumane way to do laser tattoo removal.
(01:57):
This keeps clients comfortable andreduces unwanted thermal damage as well.
That chilling process actuallymakes the upper skin layer
cooler than the tissue beneath.
So when your body creates thosehot gas bubbles, they interact
with the cold surface and creating.
Even more of a visual effect of frosting.
(02:19):
It is a real life displayof thermodynamics.
And seriously, how cool is that?
So what does frosting tell usand what it doesn't tell us?
it can be really, really satisfying tosee frosting and clients love to see it.
but it's not really your end goal, and weshouldn't be chasing frosting every time.
(02:39):
it just tells you the laser isinteracting with something in the
skin, which is ink in this case, butit doesn't mean the tattoo is gone.
It doesn't tell you how much inkwas broken up or how effectively
the body will clear it.
So it does tell you thatenergy was absorbed.
Pigment was disrupted and the tissue washeated to the point of gas formation.
(03:02):
That's truly it.
And yes, you can have asuccessful treatment without
visible frosting, especially infaded or lightly inked areas.
So let's also talk about the social mediamyths out there that have people thinking
there is a laser that does one and done.
(03:23):
I'll tell you a quick story.
a friend of mine came into my shopa few weeks ago and we were talking
about removing one of his tattoos,and he said to me super casually,
so will you ever get that laser thatgets rid of tattoos in one treatment?
I saw this video where it was donein one session, and I was like.
(03:46):
this is, this is those videos that justshow frosting without explaining further.
which is totally fine, but a lot oftimes, and I know we have all seen
this, it can be very misleadingbecause these places are showing these
videos and kind of passing it offlike it was removed in one session.
you know, and, and I, I get thisquestion all the time during.
(04:06):
Laser tattoo removal consultations.
you know, we all know the truth.
There is no laser in the worldthat removes an entire tattoo
and one treatment period.
The end.
That would, be amazing if it was created,but we all know that it takes time.
And unless they want a very nasty scar,which none of us, who are responsible,
(04:27):
would do that to someone, it's notgoing to be removed in one session.
you know tattoo removal takes time.
And it's not one size fits all.
So really just to recap, like what toexpect or what kind of expectations to
set with clients on laser tattoo removal?
most need eight to 12 treatments,and I like to space our treatments
(04:48):
10 to 12 weeks apart, sometimes more.
other factors that go intohow many sessions it will take
is for one saturation of theink, a solid black tattoo.
You know, that's deep and dark.
And even some of those more vividinks, they can take a little
longer depth of ink placement.
(05:09):
So once the ink goes deeper intothe dermis, that's more layers
that we need to smash the ink.
I've literally had ring tattoos takelonger than full sleeves because
we're talking about silos of inkinto the skin, not surface area.
So that's where the depth ofink really comes into play.
(05:29):
Which really, when we're lookingat a tattoo during a consultation,
it's oftentimes hard to determinethis, if someone does have raised
areas, that means they have alittle bit of scar tissue as well.
If the tattoo artist went a little deepinto the, hypodermis, which will cause
you to create scar tissue when you have.
Scarring in a tattoo or thoseraised areas you may even notice.
(05:52):
It may take a few sessions longereven with that, because that scar
will create a back scatter of inkand reduce the energy that's actually
hitting the ink fragments as well.
Next, the chemical makeup of the ink.
this is huge.
So a fun fact about the tattooing industryis that there is no standardization
(06:13):
or regulation on tattoo ink.
So this means it can contain some metals,it can be, carbon based, some include
plastic polymers, especially these.
Newer, more vibrant inks.
So when you apply laser energy to thesedifferent chemical compounds, which are a
mystery because even the best shops that.
buy the best inks.
(06:34):
they still don't know what's in itbecause it doesn't need to be disclosed.
So when you apply that laser energy,sometimes interesting things can happen.
inks can change color.
Some are a little more resistant.
But in my, over five years, almostsix years of doing laser tattoo
removal, I still have never meta tattoo that I couldn't remove.
I do have an awesome device.
(06:55):
I use the Quanta, Evo Q plusC, Q switch, and I love it.
Love it, love it, love it.
So, moving on to other factors,the body's lymphatic response,
is a big factor as well.
So your body is actually what'sclearing those shattered particles.
The laser is the catalyst.
So, thinking about how someone's lymphaticsystem is running, if they move, get a
(07:19):
little exercise, they eat fairly clean,they drink plenty of water, live a cleaner
lifestyle, typically their lymphaticsystem's running a little smoother.
if you smoke, have poor circulation, maybesome liver function issues, your detox
system may be, a little more sluggish.
That can take a little longer too.
I do love to recommend they addthings like, and not the week of the
(07:42):
actual treatment, but afterward, youcan do, saunas for detoxification.
You can add things like, Dandelion tea,lemon to your water, things like that.
And I also recommend they drink plentyof water and I give them a goal of half
their body weight and ounces of water.
This seems to be that sweet spot where,they're staying nice and hydrated,
(08:03):
but they're helping their lymphaticsystem as well and more is better.
And staying consistent withtheir treatment protocol.
I love that like 10 to 12 weeksapart longer is fine too because
really time is our friend whenit comes to tattoo removal.
And I've had clients that discontinuedfor a little while, for whatever reason,
and I see them six months to a year laterand it looks like they've had another
(08:26):
session or two because their body isstill picking at that last treatment.
Really, I explain itlike it's a Rubik's cube.
every tattoo is unique,every person is unique.
even tattoos on the same person canmove differently depending on what's
in that ink, how deep that tattoowas implanted, was the artist, like
heavier handed, different colors,All that really makes a difference.
(08:48):
And where it's located on their body too.
So think like closer to the lymphatic,concentrations of lymph nodes.
You know, like essentially in ourcreases, you know, axillary lymph
nodes under the arms, anguinal fold, soright at the hip through their abdomen.
higher concentrations there.
So the closer we are to those areas,the faster it'll clear as well.
(09:10):
now this is where yourconsultation game matters.
When a client sees these frostingvideos, we wanna manage their
expectations, and this really doeshelp to build trust through education.
So here's, how I would explain it.
In a nutshell, I would say what you'reseeing is a temporary frosting effect.
It's your skin reacting to gas bubblesforming after the laser hits the ink.
(09:33):
It's not the ink coming out of the tattooor the tattoo disappearing instantly.
The real results happen slowly overthe next few weeks as your body
flushes out the shattered pigment.
Boom, clear, professionaland trust building.
You might wanna add.
Not every session will frost,and that's totally normal.
It doesn't mean it didn't work.
(09:55):
It just depends on how much ink is stillpresent closer to the surface where
we see that steam effect happening.
and that's the pigmentthat we're targeting.
Okay, so let's do a quick frosting recap.
So frosting is a visual reactionto steam and gas bubbles caused by
rapid laser heating of ink particleschilling the skin beforehand.
(10:19):
Like with ice packs or a Zimmerchiller, we'll enhance the frosting
appearance due to temperature contrast.
So think about, steam hits cold,it creates frost like on a window.
it's not a sign that the tattoo's gone.
It's a short term effect.
And it's a very surface level effect,and it will go away in a few minutes.
(10:41):
Tattoo removal typically takes eight to12 sessions, give or take, due to ink
chemistry, saturation placement, and theindividual's response to the treatment.
There is no laser that removesa tattoo in one treatment.
I wish there was, and if there was.
Trust me, I would be trying to get it.
So next time you see frosting, orclients asking about it, take a moment
(11:05):
to appreciate the physics behind it, howcool it is, no pun intended, but don't
let it become the star of the show.
educate clients.
This means they'll, trust you.
It builds loyalty and it positionsyou as that more confident,
knowledgeable, provider as well.
So if this episode gave you somepoints to use during consult or
(11:28):
helped you ditch a few frostymyths, I'd love to hear about it.
Please tag me.
I'm on Instagram Laser Secrets consulting.
I'd love to get a dm. I love hearingfrom you guys and don't forget if you
want to feel even more confident withtattoo removal, RF microneedling, and.
Laser body contouring.
(11:48):
Those are my specialties.
I do offer one-on-one coaching sessionsand, you can get with me on Laser
Secrets Consulting on Instagram, DM meor email me at laser secrets@yahoo.com.
And if you love this episode, pleasesubscribe, leave a review, and share
it with your fellow aesthetic pros.
(12:09):
If you have questions, suggestions,I would love to hear from you.
Until next time, stay confident,stay curious, and here's to having
the best laser results ever.
Have a beautiful day.
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