Popular Ways To Remove Tattoos And The Positives And Negatives Of Each
When tattoos are created, they are considered to be permanent markings on the skin of an individual. So it shouldn’t be a surprise that removing them is not an easy process. Below are some of the most common methods of tattoo removal and the positives and negatives of each procedure.
- Dermabrasion – a very painful method of sanding away the tattooed skin.
- Cryosurgery – where the tattooed skin is frozen and then removed.
- Excision – a procedure where the doctor removes the area of tattooed skin with a scalpel and then stitches together the skin that remains. This is not a good option on very large tattoos.
- Laser Tattoo Removal- A laser goes through the surface of the skin and breaks down the tattoo ink that is deeper in the skin. When the ink breaks down the body’s immune system naturally removes the tattoo dye because it is seen as an impurity in the body. Tattoos naturally fade over time because of this same process, the laser just greatly speeds up the process.
Laser tattoo removal is the most common and is less painful than all the other methods. It also has the advantage that it can be done on an outpatient basis, which makes it more convenient than some of the other methods.
Laser tattoo removal has far less detrimental side effects than other methods mainly because the laser method is less invasive than the other removal measures. However keep in mind that it may take several laser removal sessions to get the tattoo totally removed from your skin. In general, most amateur tattoos require 1 – 6 treatments. While professional tattoos usually require 3-15 treatments, all spaced approximately 6 – 8 weeks apart. The number of treatments depends on a variety of factors: How well the broken down ink gets eliminated by the body’s immune system. The age, how deep the ink is in the skin, the type of ink used and how it was applied are all important factors. Since there are a multitude of inks used in tattooing, it is difficult to gauge an exact amount of treatments required to remove a tattoo. While possible, it is very rare for a tattoo to require more than 10 treatments. Laser treatments are also very effective if a person wants to lighten a tattoo so they can put a new one in its place.
A few things that a patient can do to lessen the pain and improve the healing process after a laser tattoo removal are:
- Take a mild pain reliever (like aspirin) before and after the procedure.
- For the first full day after the procedure, every so often ice the treated area and elevate it if possible. It is also recommended to limiting physical activities and avoid saunas, and swimming.
-After 24 hours use Aloe-Cort cream twice a day to moisturize the area.
- It is important NOT to break blisters or pick at scabs, because this will increase the chances of scarring and infection.
- Avoid sun exposure and tanning beds during the healing process.
- Be gentle when washing the treated area so you do not increase irritation and inhibit the healing process.
Laser tattoo removal is considered the most effective tattoo removal procedure at this time. Because it works in conjuncture with a person’s immune system it may take more time than other methods. However, this also accounts for the fact it is more effective, less painful, and it doesn’t have side effects of the other procedures.
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