A tattoo is a type of mainstream body art that is permanently embedded into the dermis of your skin through ink distributed by needles. Some tattoos are black, while others are outlined with black and shaded in with a variety of colors. After obtaining a tattoo, you may think of it as a mistake and want to get it removed. There are a variety of forms of tattoo removal, each carrying different risks and costs. In addition, the types of colors and the skill of your original tattoo artists can affect the removal process.
Types
The key to tattoo removal is to release the pigmentation for ink and to remove any skin indentations which may have resulted from shading and outlining needles. According to the Healthy Skin Association, the most common type of treatment is through laser removal. Other medical options include surgery and regenerative skin grafting. At-home options include tattoo removal creams and TCA--Trichloroacetic acid--solutions. Tattoo removal creams do not remove tattoo art, but instead remove some of the color pigments. TCA helps remove skin lines associated with tattoos.
Process
During laser removal, Tattoo Health explains that up to 30 pulses of laser are administered, depending on the tattoo’s size. More than one session is required over a period of one to two months, with each lasting approximately five minutes. The resulting effects are like a sunburn. Surgery requires removal of the skin followed by stitches. The Healthy Skin Association explains that regenerative skin grafting is an additional step after surgery, and is similar to a skin transplant. A person must offer a matching skin cell donation. This requires additional hospitalization. Tattoo removal creams and TCA solutions are applied to the tattoo daily until the art diminishes.
Costs
The cost associated with tattoo removal depends on the size, location and original quality of tattoo application. The Healthy Skin Association reports that regenerative skin grafting is the most expensive form of tattoo removal, followed by surgery and laser treatments. All three methods cost thousands of dollars. Depending upon the amount of TCA solution you need, the cost can vary between $40 and $800. Tattoo removal creams are the least expensive, as they have the least amount of effects on tattoos. The costs range from $30 to $200 a kit.
Side Effects
According to Tattoo Health, laser treatments for tattoo removal carry the risk of permanent skin discoloration as well as scarring. Laser treatments are also painful. The Healthy Skin Association reports that TCA solutions can also carry the risk of scarring if you use too much at once. If you opt for an at-home removal cream, ask a dermatologist for recommendations and do your research. Some creams are falsely advertised as tools to completely remove tattoos.
Considerations
Tattoo removal is more costly than the original cost of a tattoo. Therefore, before you get a tattoo, make sure that you want this type of body art on you for life. It is not as simple as changing your mind on a piercing. Even after some treatments, you may be left with scars or faded tattoo lines. The Healthy Skin Association also points out that a tattoo can sink into your skin’s dermis over decades. Hence, someone with a 30-year-old tattoo will have more difficulties removing it.
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