The most common methods to get ride of a tattoo are laser removal, dermabrasion and surgery, according to the Mayo Clinic. Each method causes some undesirable effects. Achieving the best result from a treatment method such as dermabrasion or laser removal often requires several sessions. As a result, the aftereffects will last longer, too.
Surgical Excision
Surgical excision involves the cutting away of tattooed skin, after which the surgeon sutures together the edges of gaps that are left behind. The gaps that removing larger tattoos leave often require skin grafts to fill them in. Surgical removal always causes scarring, which is minimal for small tattoos, but can be quite noticeable for the larger ones that require grafts, according to Cosmetic Health. The treated area will be tender and extremely sensitive to the sun for several weeks after the surgery. Sun exposure during the first four weeks after the surgery will cause pain, easy burning and uneven pigmentation. Regardless of the side effects, surgical excision is the one way to completely get rid of tattoos.
Laser Removal
Laser removal involves the use of a high-powered laser to burn away thin layers of skin in the tattooed area. The effects of laser removal treatment are similar to those of a mild burn, according to a researcher at the State University of New York at Buffalo. The treated area will turn red and be extremely sensitive to touch. Sunlight exposure will cause pain and potentially create pigmentation patterns that interfere with the tattoo removal process. Infections of the treated skin can occur, so you should use a topical antibiotic cream on the area as it heals. Satisfactory results take four to five laser treatments to achieve, so you should be prepared to deal with these effects for a while.
Demabrasion
Dermabrasion involves the use of a rotating disc to essentially sand off layers of tattooed skin. Like laser removal, dermabrasion usually requires several treatment sessions to be effective. The procedure causes skin injuries similar to those that removal surgery causes. Dermabrasion will likely cause scarring. The process also is associated with fever blister outbreaks in those infected with the herpes simplex virus, according to the University of Virginia Health Services. Also, pigmentation changes and thickened skin are likely to develop in the treated area, and they can be permanent.
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