Tattoo Removal

In 1991, a body was discovered frozen in ice. It dated back to 3300 BC. It also bore dozens of tattoos. In addition to being affixed to bodies, tattoos have been a fixture of human culture since recorded history.

Reasons for Tattoo Removal

And probably just as certain was the fact that some regretted their choice and wanted the tattoos removed. In fact, currently, about 17% of American individuals with tattoos are rethinking them.

Some of the reasons are that the wearers feel they’re marked for life, they don’t like the body art anymore or a life change caused the tattoo to become an embarrassment instead of the distinctive statement it once was.

Abrasion Methods of Tattoo Removal

So, methods for tattoo removal have been around for a long time. They’ve also evolved. For example, a common tattoo removal technique (prior to laser) used to be dermabrasion. Dermabrasion is where the skin is frozen. Then a specialized instrument sands the skin. It eventually removes the tattoo and smoothes the skin while doing so.

Salabrasion can actually be done at home. Plain table salt and tap water is used. An abrasive device like a wooden block wrapped in gauze is used to grind away the tattoo.

Laser Tattoo Removal

Lasers have become the most common method to remove unwanted tattoos. What occurs is that the laser reacts with the tattoo ink. The dissipated ink is then absorbed into the body. This has the same effect, highly accelerated, that the natural sun and time exposure would create on the tattoo.

This method usually takes repeat treatments, usually six weeks apart. The reason for this is because certain tattoo inks including greens and yellow, take more time to break down for body absorption. Darker blues and blacks are broken down and absorb into the body more easily.

At each session, the smallest specks of ink get absorbed first. The result is that over time, the tattoo becomes lightened. Factors that influence the amount of time the process takes include:

Skin type (thin skinned areas are more likely to scar)
Tattoo location (forearm and ankle tattoos take the longest)
Colors and amount of ink used in the tattoo
Tissue alteration

A scale, called the Kirby-Desai Scale, has been developed to predict the number of laser sessions required to remove the tattoo.

Laser tattoo removal can be painful. Topical injected anesthetic or creams can help manage the pain. Treatment prior to the tattoo removal may include anesthetic cream application 45 to 90 minutes prior to the laser session.

Pulsed Light Tattoo Removal Therapy

In this method, a gel is applied to the skin. A wand is then used that emits rather costly (some are up to $10 per pulse!) light pulses. It’s reputed to be less painful and more effective than laser treatment.

Other Tattoo Removal Methods

Do- it-yourself cream treatments are where you rub a cream over the tattoo for the amount of time it takes the tattoo to disappear. It can take several months for this method to work, if it works at all.

Cover-up can be an alternative for tattoo removal if you have a tattoo that you no longer desire but want to replace it with another one. A cover up is placing a new tattoo over an old one. A new design can turn out to be quite effective in covering up an old tattoo for a cost that’s not much more than a new tattoo.

Costs for Tattoo Removal

Laser treatments can cost anywhere from $100 to $800 per treatment. Creams can cost from $30 to $100 per ounce to remove your tattoo.

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