Tattoos are a very popular form of self-expression. Often, people get tattoos as a reminder of someone special, an achievement in life, their heritage or simply as a form of individual expression. Don’t worry – I’m not here to tell you that tattoos are unsafe. In fact, they are generally very safe if done by a professional. But what if you change your mind after the fact?
Thankfully, tattoos can
be removed. However, it‘s not a quick trip to the doctor’s office, and your
skin won’t look the same as it did before. It takes time, money, discomfort and
a lot of Neosporin. Even then, your tattoo is not guaranteed to fade away. After
going through the tattoo removal process, it is important to consider taking
further steps to help with the scarring.
What is laser tattoo
removal?
The most popular and effective method
for removing tattoos is with laser tattoo removal. Most doctors use a
quality-switched (or Q-switched) laser that uses light and energy to create
high-power pulsing, which goes into the skin and breaks up the ink into smaller
particles. The body can then dissipate the particles. The procedure is not
guaranteed, but it is the best available option for removing a tattoo.
Are
there any other procedures to consider?
Before laser removal was a common
practice, doctors performed dermabrasion, salabrasion, surgery and cryosurgery
to get rid of unwanted body art. None of these procedures are recommended
today, and all of them are unpleasant, potentially skin-damaging processes. If
you’re trying to remove a tattoo, I’d avoid any of these older methods.
Additionally, there are lots of
over-the-counter fading creams available online that are inexpensive when compared
to laser treatments. The sales pitch is quite tempting, but the FDA does not
recommend this at-home DIY treatment, as the creams are likely to cause skin
reactions from chemical irritants in the products that are used to erode the
skin.
Are
some tattoos are easier to remove than others?
Yes. It is easier to remove tattoos
from parts of the body that have more circulation. For example, tattoos in distal
extremity regions (where there is little body fat) such as hands and ankles,
are more difficult to remove. Tattoos in the proximal extremity regions, such
as upper arms and torso, are easier to remove.
A larger contrast between skin and ink
helps speed up the removal process. Darker colored tattoos like black and grey
are the easiest to treat, while colors like red, green and purple can be a bit
more challenging. For example, black tattoos on fair skin are the easiest to
treat. Just like how sunlight is attracted to darker pigments, lasers can pick
up darker ink colors more easily.
How
long will it take?
Generally, tattoo removal can require
anywhere from four to 12 sessions. The number of sessions required depends on
how old the tattoo is and the size, placement, depth and color of the tattoo.
Patients will need to wait about a
month between each session to give the body a chance to absorb the ink. Expect
the entire process to take from about six months to a year and a half, not
including the healing of the scar.
Are there complications?
It’s possible. Tattoos are meant to be permanent. Although
it’s less abrasive than older procedures, even the state-of the-art laser technology
we have today can be painful and may not result in
complete removal. As with all laser treatments, laser tattoo removal may cause
allergic reactions for some people. Additionally, tattoo composition fluctuates
and the pigment may not respond as expected to the treatment.
How
much will tattoo removal cost?
Treatment sessions do add up, and can
be costly. Each session can cost $350 or more.
Is it possible to
prevent or treat scars?
Pre-and post-laser care is critical for
all laser treatments, including tattoo removal. Immediately following
treatment, the skin may resemble a healing burn for a couple of days. The newly
bare skin should be treated like a burn, too, frequently applying Neosporin and
keeping the skin bandaged.
As with many of my blog posts, I
mention that the sun is a major contributor to skin problems. A good SPF is
even more important for vulnerable skin and should be applied daily around the treated
area to avoid discoloration and infection.
Please refer to my recent blog post
here for more information on the best ways to help with scarring.
Have any questions about getting or removing a tattoo? Leave
them in the comments and I’ll address them there!
