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.