Out of 500 individuals polled by the American Academy of Dermatology, 24 percent had tattoos, and 17 percent of those with tattoos had considered removal at some time. Laser tattoo removal is by far the most effective and safe way to remove an unwanted tattoo, but that's not to say it isn't without complications. Long-term effects of laser tattoo removal are something to consider if you are considering going through the treatment to get rid of your ink.
Hyper- and Hypopigmentation
The process by which tattoos are removed via laser begins with a laser emitting highly concentrated light beams into the skin. The tattoo ink absorbs the light, which breaks the ink particles into smaller, more manageable chunks that are effectively removed by your body's immune system. In the process, occasionally the laser will affect the epidermis by lightening or darkening the color of the skin, according to Tattoo Health. This could leave you with noticeably light or dark patches on your skin, where the tattoo was, in the same general shape as the tattoo. This is a permanent condition.
Scarring
When you have a tattoo removed via laser, you may endure bleeding and blistering as a result of the intensive procedure. The blisters can pop and secrete liquid, and remain open, leaving you susceptible to infection, which in some cases can eventually lead to scarring. Scars result when a wound doesn't heal well or heals too slowly, so you may notice signs of scarring around the area where the tattoos used to be. To ensure that scarring doesn't happen, obey the warnings that your dermatologist gives you, including keeping the area covered after the procedures, and keeping the area clean and dry for faster, neater healing.
Partial Ink
Some colors of the spectrum don't absorb light very well, resulting in partial tattoos or ink that cannot be removed. The easiest colors to remove are black and gray, since both readily absorb the white light from the laser. Unfortunately, lighter colors don't absorb as well, which means some people with colored tattoos will still have partial ink left, even after extensive laser treatment. The general outline or some of the colors in the tattoo might be left behind and deemed permanent by your dermatologist. Your options would be to remove only parts of the tattoo, leaving the lighter portions intact; cover the tattoo with a new tattoo; or leave the tattoo as-is.
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