Tattoos are permanent body alterations that involve injecting ink into the surface of the skin, but there are several methods that can be used to remove tattoos. In addition, recent improvements in technology have made tattoo removal safer and more effective. Several factors should be considered when choosing a method for you, including price of treatment and the size of the tattoo.
How Tattoos Work
Tattoos are created by an electrically powered machine, known as a tattoo gun, that rapidly moves a needle up and down to puncture the skin. Each time the needle punctures the skin, it deposits a drop of ink approximately 1mm deep. The ink will remain embedded in the skin unless the individual undergoes a procedure to remove it.
Laser Removal
Laser removal is the most common method to remove a tattoo. This is because lasers are often a low-risk but highly-effective procedure. During laser removal, pulses of light hit the tattoo and are absorbed by the ink. This causes the pigment to break up and destruct. Following the procedure, the body's cells will filter out the pigmented areas. Laser removal usually requires several treatment sessions.
Dermabrasion
Dermabrasion is a technique that involves "sanding" the skin. To do this, a portion of the tattooed area is frozen, then it is sanded with an abrasive rotary instrument. This causes the skin to peel and removes the surface and middle layers of the tattoo.
Excision
Occasionally, tattooed skin will be surgically removed. This method is effective, since it removes the entire tattoo, but it is usually done only on small tattoos. On larger ones, several treatments will be done and a skin graft from another part of the body might be needed.
Salabrasion
Salabrasion is a centuries-old technique that is still sometimes used. During salabrasion, a local anesthetic is used and a saltwater mixture is applied to the area. An instrument similar to the one in dermabrasion is used to abrade the skin. Salabrasion is not commonly used because it is not as effective as other methods and can be very painful.
Results
Results from tattoo removal vary depending on the method. Laser removal and excision are the most common and usually the most effective. However, some methods might require several treatments. Regardless of how the tattoo is removed, scarring and color variation on the skin are common. Properly caring for the skin is important to the healing process. Recovery time varies on several factors, including size of the tattoo, method used and the patient's body's healing process.
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