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What If I Want My Tattoo Removed? page 2

What Does It Involve?

Before you attend a treatment session, you should avoid using aspirin-based products as they can encourage bruising. You may be told to use an anesthetic cream on the tattoo a few hours before the treatment or you may receive an anesthetic injection when you arrive.

Each session will only take a few minutes but you will require a number of sessions even for a small tattoo. Large tattoos may take some time as there will be a three week gap between each session. This break between treatments is required to allow the body to absorb the fragmented pigment from the previous session.

Just as getting inked can be painful so can getting the tattoo removed. Laser treatment can cause a burning sensation as the light penetrates the top layers of skin.

After each session the dermatologist will apply an ointment and dress the area to protect the skin from infection. S/he'll give you instructions -- much as your tattooist did -- to keep the area clean. As with getting a tattoo, don't scratch or scrub at the skin.

Side Effects

After each treatment session you may feel like you have sunburn. This is normal and should subside quickly. There is the risk of infection in the treated area but following the dermatologists' instructions should reduce this risk a great deal.

Longer term, there is a 5% chance of permanent scarring or of the skin developing too much or too little colour (hyperpigmentation and hypopigmentation respectively).

The Financial Side Effect

Tattoo removal is expensive as well as time consuming. It can cost from hundreds up in to the thousands and, generally, it isn't covered by health plans or insurance.

Finding A Specialist

You'll need to go to your own doctor and ask for a referral to a dermatologist who may then refer you to a dermatological surgeon. Alternatively, your tattooist may be able to recommend a tattoo removal specialist. Some may even provide removal services themselves. If they do, make sure that the actual removal is carried out by a medical

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