 Laser Tattoo Removal
At the Vein & Skin Care Institute, we believe any time is the right time to begin laser tattoo removal treatment. We hope we can answser some of your questions here, however, please keep in mind each indivdual is unique and it's always best to call us to set up a free consultation to discuss your specific needs.
What is a tattoo?
How many treatments are necessary?
What are the risks of tattoo removal?
What are the benefits of tattoo removal?
Can all tattoos be removed?
Does tattoo removal hurt and what can I expect?
How much does it cost to remove a tatto?
What are other methods of tattoo removal?
What Is a Tattoo?
Let's quickly remind ourselves exactly what a tattoo is: A tattoo is a permanent mark or design made on the body when pigment is inserted into the dermal layer of the skin through ruptures in the skin's top layer. Modern-day tattoos are applied by using an electric tattoo machine with needles that rapidly puncture the skin with an up and down motion not unlike that of a sewing machine.
How many treatments?
The number of treatments depends on several factors. Tattoos vary by the method in which they were applied, the colors, and the age of the tattoo. Professionally done tattoos usually place the pigment at an equal depth between the layers of skin. That allows the laser beam to reach the pigment without much difficulty, and these tattoos are usually easier to treat. Amateur tattoos, usually put on by the person themselves or in an amateur setting, may very well be pigmented at different depths within the skin, thus requiring more treatments or different laser beam wavelengths than usual to reach all of the pigment. Tattoos are treated every one to two months. The reason for the time interval is so that the body can absorb as much of the pigment as possible before proceeding to the next treatment.
What are the risks of tattoo removal?
Tattoo inks are not regulated, and it is impossible for a physician to predict the extent of effort required for the removal of any given tattoo. Risks and benefits of tattoo removal are different for each person. Side effects of laser procedures are generally few but may include hyper-pigmentation, or an abundance of color in the skin at the treatment site, and hypo-pigmentation, where the treated area lacks normal skin color. Other possible side effects include infection of the site, lack of complete pigment removal and a 5 percent chance of permanent scarring.
What are the benefits of tattoo removal?
Among the many benefits of laser tattoo removal is that treatment is usually performed without anesthesia, and the treatment process is relatively painless. Patients describe the sensation as that of a rubber band snapping on the skin. Effectiveness of the removal is, of course, another benefit. Peace of mind, however, may be the most important benefit of all.
Can all tattoos be removed?
Most doctors caution that complete tattoo removal is not possible. Tattoos are meant to be permanent, so removing them is difficult. Few physicians guarantee complete removal. Having said that, there are several methods of tattoo removal, which have proven effective. The degree of remaining color variations or blemishes depends upon several factors, including size, location, the individual's ability to heal, how the tattoo was applied and how long it has been in place. New tattoos may also be more difficult to remove than old ones.
Doctors say they can't predict the exact degree of removal because they generally don't know which of the 100 tattoo inks available today were used. (The U.S. Food and Drug Administration currently list tattoo pigments as "color additives," which are intended only for application to the top layer of the skin.) Consult with a removal specialist -- be sure to take a list of questions along.
Does Tattoo Removal Hurt and What Can I Expect?
The unfortunate thing about tattoos is that both getting them and having them taken off can be uncomfortable. The impact of the energy from the laser's powerful pulse of light has been described as similar to getting hot specks of bacon grease on your skin or being snapped by a thin rubber band. In preparation for a laser procedure, doctors recommend that non-aspirin products, like Tylenol, be used for minor aches and pains prior to the procedure, because aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents such as Ibuprofen can produce pronounced bruising after treatment. Further pre-treatment steps might include the application of a prescription anesthetic cream one to two hours before the laser session. It is wiped off just before laser surgery begins. Pinpoint bleeding is sometimes associated with the procedure. Then pulses of light from the laser are directed onto the tattoo, breaking up the pigment. Over the next few weeks, the body's scavenger cells remove pigment residues. More than one treatment, which takes 15 - 30 minutes, is usually needed to remove an entire tattoo. The amount of time for each procedure depends on the size of the tattoo as well as the patient's pain tolerance. 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. A shower or bath the day after treatment is okay, but the treatment area should not be scrubbed. Your skin might feel slightly sunburned for a couple of days and the treated area may remain red for a few weeks. The site might also form a scab, which should be handled gently. After healing, the site will gradually fade.
How Much Does It Cost to Remove a Tattoo?
Something to think about BEFORE you get that tattoo is the fact that having a tattoo removed is much more expensive than having one put on. Laser tattoo removal can range from several hundred dollars up into the thousands of dollars, depending upon the size, type and location of the tattoo and the number of treatments required. More bad news is that medical insurance generally doesn't pay for tattoo removal, since it is considered aesthetic or cosmetic in nature.
What are other methods of tattoo removal?
Before lasers became popular for tattoo removal starting in the late 1980s, removal involved the use of one or more of these often-painful, often scar-inducing surgeries:
- Dermabrasion, where skin is "sanded" to remove the surface and middle layers;
- Cryosurgery, where the area is frozen prior to its removal;
- Excision, where the physician removes the tattoo with a scalpel and closes the wound with stitches (In some cases involving large tattoos, a skin graft from another part of the body may be necessary.).
Dermabrasion Tattoo Removal
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Cryosurgery Tattoo Removal
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Excision Tattoo Removal |
Laser Tattoo Removal
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