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What If I Want My Tattoo Removed?

It is estimated that 50% of people who have a tattoo regret it. That's probably because so many people get inked on a bet or a dare or after a drunken night of bonding. Given that figure, this section includes a thorough description of tattoo removal. I believe it's important to know what tattoo removal involves before you get inked; if only to make you think even more clearly about what you really want.

The Bad News

Most dermatologists will tell you that complete tattoo removal just isn't possible. Modern technologies can make a remarkable job of removing most of the evidence but there will always be some marks, blemishes or variation in skin colour.

The degree of removal depends on individual factors like skin type and how well you heal as well as tattoo-specific factors like the size and placement. The doctors can't give an accurate prediction of their success because there are so many different tattoo inks used around the world and each one affects how well the removal will work. Black ink is easiest to remove with modern treatments but colours can be harder to deal with and may leave greater discolouration even after the treatment is completed.

Types Of Tattoo Removal

In the past there were three types of tattoo removal, none of them for the squeamish.

Dermabrasion
Using an abrasive to "sand off" the layers of skin.

Excision
Surgically removing the tattoo and stitching up the area. In the case of large tattoos that would require a skin graft.

Cryosurgery
Freezing the area before removing the tattoo surgically.

Modern Techniques

Fortunately, modern laser technology offers a more effective, less drastic solution to the problem of tattoo removal.

Lasers emit short pulses of light. When used for tattoo removal, this light passes through the top layers of skin and in to the pigment of the ink in the dermis. The energy from the laser's light causes the pigment to break down in to smaller particles that can be removed by the body's immune system. This treatment avoids damaging the surrounding skin because the laser's wavelength is targeted specifically at the tattoo ink pigments.

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