Sometimes, life changes necessitate the removal of a tattoo, which can be an expensive, painful, and lengthy process. If you have a tattoo which you regret, there are a number of tattoo removal options to consider. As is the case with most medical procedures, you should consult a specialist who can help you pick out the method that is right for you. Patients should be aware that no tattoo removal technique will restore your skin to its former state, and that it is therefore crucial to think before you ink!.
One of the most common tattoo removal techniques is laser surgery. Laser tattoo removal removes a tattoo by targeting the ink with bursts of light which will break it up. Once broken up under the skin, the ink will be expressed by the immune system. Laser surgery does not remove tattoos in one sitting, however: large full color work may take over ten treatments to remove. The long term effects of repeated laser treatments can include serious scarring, which makes this tattoo removal option most effective for small tattoos in dark ink. Laser surgery for tattoos in light inks can be very expensive and require many sittings.
Another option is surgical excision. Surgical excision involves physically cutting out the tattoo and suturing the wound shut. Larger tattoos will require a skin graft from another area of your body. While surgical excision will remove all trace of the ink, it will also leave a scar. Usually a local anesthetic is used for this tattoo removal technique, and bleeding is controlled with an electrocautery tool.
Tattoo removal can also be accomplished by dermabrasion, a technique in which the skin is frozen and then abraded or sanded. Dermabrasion removes the top layer of skin along with the layer in which the ink has settled, and healing times will vary depending on how big the tattoo was. Dermabrasion also requires the use of specialized dressings until the skin has grown back over the site.
After a tattoo removal procedure, patients are instructed to avoid sunlight and excessive water. In most cases, sunscreen should be worn at the site of the tattoo removal as well, as the skin there will be more delicate and therefore susceptible to sunburn. Followup visits are also often required to make sure that the wound has healed properly.
For youths who desire tattoo removal, as well as former gang members, there are programs to help pay for the process. Most social service agencies can refer interested parties to a tattoo removal assistance program. For other individuals, be prepared to pay a large price tag for tattoo removal. In some cases, the removal procedure can add up to many times the original cost of the tattoo.
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Tattoo Business
Laser Tattoo Removal
While tattoos were once considered permanent, new technology — including laser tattoo removal — has made it possible to get rid of an unwanted design. Laser removal uses light pulses to break up color pigments. These are then removed by the body’s immune system. It usually takes several laser treatments to completely remove a tattoo.
Laser tattoo removal is generally performed by a dermatologist, or medical doctor specializing in skin care. Each session, or treatment, is usually short in length. Most tattoos need several sessions to ensure complete removal. Some preparation is needed before each treatment. During the procedure, the patient is given protective eyewear and, possibly, some pain medication.
The doctor then points the laser at the tattoo. Light pulses go through the top of layer of skin to reach the ink below its surface. These pulses break up the ink pigment. Over the next few weeks the patient’s immune system will carry away the ink that has been degraded.
Black ink is the easiest to remove since black absorbs all of the colors that make up light. Different ink colors, such as red or green, need specific colors of laser light pulses to ensure complete tattoo removal. The tattoo will not be removed during one treatment. Instead, the tattoo will get lighter and lighter after each session, until it is gone.
Side effects include pain, reported to feel like stinging or scratching, during each treatment. Redness, swelling, and mild pain after treatments are also possible. Issues that are rare but can still occur include scarring, and either a lightening or darkening of the skin compared to the patient’s natural skin color.
Patients with skin color that is in strong contrast the colors of the tattoo ink make the best candidates for laser removal of a tattoo. This is because higher contrast makes it easier for the laser to target the tattoo ink. Patients with skin color that is close to the color of the ink may need more treatments to completely remove a tattoo.
Laser tattoo removal is costly compared to other methods of tattoo removal. Although it is a medical procedure, it is considered an elective cosmetic treatment. These are generally not covered by health insurance. Patients can discuss with their doctors the time and cost needed to remove a tattoo prior to beginning treatment.
Alternatives to laser tattoo removal once included dermabrasion, or sanding off layers of skin, and simply cutting out a tattoo. Creams are available that can remove layers of skin to lighten a tattoo. Since tattoo ink is beneath the top layer of skin, this method is generally less successful than using a laser. Laser treatments are currently the most common method of laser tattoo removal.
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