Three Ways To Remove Tattoos

Although tattooing has been used in civilizations around the world for millennia, it only gained popularity in the Western world in the last few hundred years. Getting a tattoo has become a rite of passage for many Westerners--according to Skin Ink Today, 49 percent of Americans aged 18 to 29 have at least one tattoo. Unfortunately, about 12 percent end up regretting their tattoos. For those people, there are three main types of tattoo removal.

Laser Removal

Laser removal is considered one of the most effective means of tattoo removal, according to Erika Finn, author of "Uninked!" This method involves the use of a laser to separate the pigment in the tattoo inks from the cells of the skin's epidermis and dermis layers. Laser pulses break up the inks, allowing the body's scavenger cells to remove the pigment and eliminate it through waste excretion. Laser tattoo removal is a slow process, and typically requires several sessions. Larger tattoos may require as many as a dozen laser sessions.

Dermabrasion

Dermabrasion is a tattoo removal method that is typically quicker than laser removal. According to Finn, this method involves sanding off the epidermis and the layers of the dermis containing the pigment. Large tattoos may still require several sessions, since a dermabrasion technician can only work on a small area at a time. Expect some bleeding with dermabrasion. Scarring is also common after the area has healed.

Excision

The excision method involves surgically cutting out the section of the dermis that contains the tattoo inks, says Finn. Smaller tattoos can be removed all at once, and the surrounding skin can be sutured together. Larger tattoos must be removed in stages, working from the center to the edges. The surgeon may also need to take skin grafts from other areas of the body to cover the surgically removed areas. Excision typically results in significant scarring.