Tattoo Removal Methods
More than 14 million Americans have tattoos and more than 50% of them think about removing them at some
point in their lives.
While tattoo removal is not a simple process, there are tattoo removal methods that provide ways
to actually remove your tattoo without leaving your skin horribly scarred. However it's important to note
that you could be left with some form of scarring.
The method your doctor will choose to remove your tattoo depends on how long you've had the tattoo as well as
the size and location of the tattoo.
Tattoo Removal methods
Excision A popular tattoo removal method is
excision. This is best used if you have a tattoo that is small.
The advantage of this method is that the entire tattoo can be removed at once. With larger tattoos it may be
necessary to excise in phases or stages, starting with the center of the tattoo and removing other areas at a later
time.
Excision requires a local anesthetic injection to numb the area so the tattoo can be removed surgically. The
edges are then joined and sutured. If you have a large tattoo it may require grafting skin form another part of
your body.
This staged Excision does not work well on "home-made" tattoos that normally inject the ink deeper into the
skin, unlike professional tattoos that don't typically go as deep.
Laser removal of tattoo Laser tattoo removal is safe
and effective and can be used on all body areas such as the legs, pubic areas, breasts, face, buttocks and neck.
Depending on the color and type of ink used to create your tattoo will depend on the type of laser used. For
example, a green light laser would be used to remove red or orange ink. Your skin color also makes a difference.
Blue-black and red tattoos fade faster; green tattoos will take more treatments.
A topical anesthetic is generally used; however several treatments will be needed. This treatment costs at least
$200 a treatment however there is typically less scarring.
Fade away creams This involves using a series of creams
which work by breaking down the tattoo ink. The tattoo then becomes lighter and fades away in time. This is one of
the newest methods and it's also the cheapest as creams cost about $100. This is the least painful method and you
won't suffer skin damage or scarring.
Dermabrasion This should not be confused with Microdermabrasion. Dermabrasion involves abrasion of the
top layers of skin until the middle layer, which contains the actual tattoo pigment, is reached and exfoliated,
removing the unwanted tattoo with it.
Dermabrasion is limited in its effectiveness because tattoo ink is generally too deep in the skin layers to be
removed completely with this method. The down side to Dermabrasion is that it often causes serious, permanent
unsightly scarring. Dermabrasion is done through the use of chemical agents such as caustic acids, actual sandpaper
or salt.
Tissue Expansion This involves placing a balloon under
the patient's skin. The skin is stretched slowing by inflating the balloon. The tattoo is then cut away and the
newly stretched skin is used to cover over the area. This method leaves only a linear scar.
Keep in mind that Tattoo removal is safe only when performed by a professional, experienced laser
technician who uses state-of-the-art equipment and is recognized as Certified Laser Specialist or
CLS.
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