Tattoo Removal

Tattoo removal is accomplished using medical lasers. These medical lasers direct an intense beam of light onto the tattoo, which causes it to lighten considerably. Almost always the tattoo can be lightened to the extent that the tattoo can be removed completely. However what plastic surgeons don’t tell you is that the more of the tattoo that is removed, the more white the area of skin that is being treated will appear. This is called hypopigmentation or whitening of the skin. On fairer individuals normal skin tone may return within two years. However on darker skinned individuals this may not happen. Some people end up with only partial clearing of the pigments in the tattoo no matter how many times they are treated with a laser.

The lasers work by imparting different wavelengths of light to treat different colors of ink. The ink particles absorb the light from the laser and are then broken up into tiny fragments that are disposed through your body’s natural elimination systems. It usually takes a couple of weeks at least for a tattoo to completely disintegrate. Almost all tattoos need several treatments with a laser to be removed permanently. Usually it takes about five or six treatments over as many weeks to accomplish complete tattoo removal. The number of treatments required for maximum improvement depends on the size, location, depth and color of your tattoo. Treatment sessions usually take from 10 to 30 minutes.

Tattoo removal treatment with lasers if usually not painful. Most people experience the laser as feeling like the snapping of an elastic band. Afterwards the treated area of your skin might feel like it is experiencing sunburn for a couple of days.

Immediately after treatment, your skin may have a white discoloration, and the area around the tattoo may be reddish. Swelling is also common. Pus and bleeding is not and if you experience this after a tattoo removal session then you need to return to the doctor as quickly as possible. . This is normal and will disappear slowly over time. Maximum treatment results take about 5 - 6 weeks. Following infrared treatment, an anti-bacterial ointment and gauze will be applied to the treated area to minimize infection.

Your other treatment options for tattoo removal include surgical excision, dermabrasion (sanding of the skin’s surface) and chemical peels. These methods are more invasive and painful, and can often result in scarring. Laser and infrared tattoo removal are safer. They are non-invasive and only target the ink used in the tattoo process.  No matter what tattoo removal treatment that you choose keep in mind that the darker black and deep blue pigments are more difficult to remove as are tattoo pigments that contain metallic elements.