Tattoo Removal

By MC Kelby HERWriter

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Tattoos have become part of American mainstream culture over the past couple of decades. Some estimate that more than ten million Americans have at least one tattoo and there are about 4,000 tattoo studios now in business in the United States.

A lot of people love their tattoos and keep them forever. However, there are others who decide a couple of years down the road that they really don't like that rose on their ankle. Or maybe you broke up with your boyfriend or girlfriend and no longer want his or her initials on your stomach. How do you remove the tattoo?

One busy physician who specializes in tattoo removal estimates that about 50 percent of those who get tattoos later regret them. For years, these people had little recourse and existing removal techniques were invasive (requiring surgery) and painful. But that's changing.

Today, one common method is laser removal. Some tattoo shops also offer tattoo removal but it's a better idea to make sure the person doing the removal is a medical doctor. Before you go just anywhere to get your tattoo removed, check with your doctor or contact the American Dermatological Association to find a reputable laser removal specialist in your area.

Although it's called tattoo removal, completely removing a tattoo can be difficult depending on how old the tattoo is, how big the tattoo is and the type/color of inks used. Removal of the entire tattoo is not always guaranteed. It's best to consult with a dermatologist who specializes in tattoo removal to get your questions answered (such as whether anesthesia is used.) The dermatologist can also give you a good idea of how much (if not all) of the tattoo can be removed.

Tattoo removal can be pretty expensive. Depending on factors like the size and design of the tattoo, removal can cost significantly more than the actual tattoo.

Laser tattoo removal usually requires a number of visits with each procedure lasting only a few minutes. Anesthesia may or may not be used. What happens is the laser sends short zaps of light through the top layers of your skin with the laser's energy aimed at specific pigments in the tattoo.

Removing a tattoo by laser can be uncomfortable and can feel a lot like getting a tattoo. The entire process usually takes several months. Three-week intervals between sessions are required to allow pigment residue to be absorbed by the body.

Following treatment, the doctor will apply an antibacterial ointment and dressing to the area (which should be kept clean with continued application of ointment as directed by your doctor).

Just like when you get a tattoo, you must look after the wound area after a tattoo is removed. The area should be kept clean but it shouldn't be scrubbed. Also, it might turn red for a few days and a scab might form. Don't rub or scrub the area or pick at the scab. Let it heal on its own.

Laser tattoo removal is usually effective for the most part but there can be some side effects. The area can become infected or scarred and it can also be susceptible to hyper-pigmentation which causes the area where your tattoo used to be to become darker than your normal skin which causes the area where your tattoo used to be to become lighter (hypo-pigmentation) than your normal skin color.

Is getting a tattoo worth the money and hassle? It's up to you. Some people really enjoy their tattoos and keep them for life, whereas others might regret that they acted on impulse and didn't think enough about it before they got one. Getting a tattoo is a big deal, especially because they're designed to be permanent.

Sources:
https://health.google.com/health
http://health.howstuffworks.com
http://www.webmd.com/
http://kidshealth.org/

MC Ortega is the former publicist for the late Walter Payton, Coca-Cola and Dunkin’ Donuts. Ortega is a senior communications and messaging executive specializing in media relations, social media, program development and crisis communications. Also, Ortega is an avid traveler and international shopper. Ortega resides with her partner, Craig, dog, Fionne and extensive shoe collection. Ortega also enjoys jewelry design/production and flamenco dancing.

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We value and respect our HERWriters' experiences, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice, although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.