The art of tattooing dates back millennia, and in recent years the practice has grown in popularity, fueled by athletes, musicians and celebrities. But not everyone will stay in love with his tattoo forever because of changes in employment or relationship status or even because of allergic reactions. If you suffer from tattoo remorse, you can remove the design, though that can be both painful and expensive.
Removal Procedure Count
Although no firm statistics exist on how many people seek tattoo removal, the March 2009 issue of "Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology" reported that up to 50 percent of adults older than 40 seek tattoo removal. The demand has become so great that some dermatologists now specialize in tattoo removal, and clinics like the Dr. Tattoff chain in California have opened specifically for that purpose. James Morel, chief executive officer of Dr. Tattoff, reported that his clinics provided more than 13,000 tattoo laser treatments in the period from 2004 to 2007.
Removal Techniques
The most common tattoo removal techniques include laser surgery, although the type of laser used generally depends upon the tattoo colors; dermabrasion, which uses a sanding technique in combination with surgical and dressing techniques to raise and absorb the tattoo inks; and surgical excision, in which a doctor cuts off the tattooed skin and sews it back together with stitches. Physicians usually perform tattoo removal techniques on an outpatient basis with local anesthesia.
Number of Treatments Required
A grading system known as the Kirby-Desai Scale, published in the March 2009 "Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology," proposes to accurately estimate the number of laser treatments required to remove each tattoo using skin type, location of tattoo, color, amount of ink, scarring and layering information. Simple tattoos may only require one session. Some tattoos require 15 to 20 treatments for complete removal, although intricately colored ones may require even more sessions.
Procedure Costs
The cost of removing your tattoo will be a lot higher than getting the tattoo. According to the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, as of 2010, treatment varies from $100 for a small, single-color tattoo removed in one to two sessions to $500 per treatment to remove larger, multicolored tattoos. The most complicated tattoos requiring up to 20 sessions or more could run as high as $10,000, says plastic surgeon Jean Loftus of the Loftus Plastic Surgery Center in northern Kentucky.
Worries About Pain
Homemade tattoos and any tattoo with deep blue and black ink colors are among the most difficult to remove. The procedure is not painless---people often describe the laser procedure as similar to that of hot oil on the skin or a slap from a rubber band. Some anecdotal reports indicate that patients who received anesthesia by local injection required additional treatments, because the injection causes swelling. This spreads the tattoo ink, and makes it more difficult for lasers to act on ink particles.
Other Concerns
Side effects are usually minor, but can include skin discoloration, infection or scarring. A raised or thickened scar may appear three months to six months after tattoo removal. Some researchers are trying to determine if tattoo removal treatments affect the lymph nodes, with scientists in Europe reporting that lasers used on certain pigments had created toxic or carcinogenic byproducts, according to the "The New York Times."
References
- American Society for Dermatologic Surgery: Tattoo Removal
- "The New York Times": Erasing Tattoos, Out of Regret or for a New Canvas
- "Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology": The Kirby-Desai Scale: A Proposed Scale to Assess Tattoo-removal Treatments
- Cosmetic Surgery: Tattoo Removal
- InfoPlasticSurvery.com: Tattoo Removal
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