Tired
of staring at that weird-looking skull tattoo you got with
your best friend as a teen rebel years ago? Want to get
rid of your ex’s name on your arm? Regardless of the
reason, tattoo removal is a common way of getting rid of
unwanted tattoos. Unfortunately, tattoo removal doesn’t
work miracles and can leave scars or other skin issues.
With research and the guidance of a physician, you can
find a tattoo removal method that is best for you and your
skin.
The
method of tattoo removal used will depend on various
factors: location of the tattoo, the period of time the
tattoo has been on the skin, the skin’s ability to heal,
the size of the tattoo, and how it was applied. Tattoos
done by a very experienced tattoo artist are the easiest
to remove because the pigment has been evenly injected
into the skin. Sloppy or inexperienced tattoo artists tend
to apply the tattoo in a way that isn’t uniform, making it
harder to remove the pigments. Tattoos that have been on
the skin for years are harder to remove than new ones.
Just
like getting a tattoo, removing them can be an
uncomfortable process. There are several methods used
today for tattoo removal. In many cases, the physician
chosen to perform the tattoo removal will decide which
method is best.
Laser
surgery is considered by many doctors and patients to be
the best way to remove a tattoo. A numbing cream is
usually applied to the area before the treatment. Once the
skin is ready, the laser is placed over the tattoo, as
pulses of light shoot out of the laser and onto the skin.
Each blast of light from the laser breaks up the tattoo
pigment. The laser is moved across the tattoo in quick,
swift movements until the entire area has been treated.
Sometimes more than one laser session is needed to
completely remove the tattoo. After the treatment, the
skin’s scavenger cells do the rest of the work in removing
the pigment. While this option is one of the most popular,
it can leave scarring or discoloration.
Dermabrasion is another method of tattoo removal that
involves sanding down the tattooed area, causing the skin
to peel off. The tattoo is removed in small portions by
using a solution that freezes the area. After the
designated area has been sanded down with an abrasive
rotary tool, the layers of skin containing the pigment
will peel off. Bleeding of the area is common and may need
to be bandaged to prevent infection. This process can be
uncomfortable and can also result in skin discoloration or
scarring.
Excision is a more surgical method of removing a tattoo.
This option works best for small tattoos. After a local
anesthetic is applied to numb the skin, the entire tattoo
is surgically removed. The edges of the skin are then
pulled together and sutured shut in order to heal.
Excising a tattoo gets rid of it completely but in some
cases, a skin graft may be needed. Scarring and bleeding
are common.
