Perhaps you got a regrettable tramp stamp in the 1990s, or your friends convinced you to get Yosemite Sam inked on your back one crazy night. Whatever the case, tattoo dissatisfaction is all too common. Now, as you look into tattoo removal, you wonder if you may be putting yourself in more harm than is necessary. However, laser tattoo removal is a generally safe procedure with limited risks.
Scarring
The Better Health Channel, in cooperation with the Australasian College of Dermatologists, reports that anytime you alter the skin with lasers or through other medical procedures, you run the risk of scarring. While each type of laser has a different rate of scarring, the Better Health Channel estimates that no more than 5 percent of all patients utilizing laser tattoo removal services experience any scarring.
Skin Pigmentation
A variety of skin pigmentation problems may occur during the removal process. It is common to experience a slight darkening or lightening of the skin on or around the treated area. While skin pigmentation changes can be permanent, they often fade with the tattoo. Rarely, obscure pigmentation changes, like blue bumps, can occur. Dr. Christopher Arpey, of the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, states that this is rare and may be associated with the color of the tattoo changing after a couple of treatments before the tattoo is completely gone.
Infection
After a laser treatment, you may experience some blistering and even slight bleeding. This can lead to scabbing. If you frequently pick the scabs, leaving sores exposed, you may be at risk of developing an infection. Most infections will respond positively to antibiotic treatment, but a more serious infection, such as staph, is possible anytime you expose a sore in this manner.
Failure
No laser tattoo removal facility can boast perfect results. Occasionally, treatments fail to completely remove the tattoo, leaving you with an extremely faded tattoo. Success rates are highest in light-skinned patients, according to Tattoo Health. Success is also dependent on the age and colors of the tattoo. Whether a professional or an amateur inked the tattoo also plays a role as amateur tattoos are removed much more easily than professionally done ones.
Breaking the Bank
Laser tattoo removal can be full of unforeseen costs, leaving you open to financial risks like credit card debt. You will need multiple treatments lasting anywhere from a couple of weeks to several months. The number of sessions needed will be unknown at the onset of the process. The clinic will charge a fee based on the size of your tattoo at each treatment. This can result in a single tattoo costing thousands of dollars to remove. You may incur additional costs if a problem like an infection does arise.
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