Today having a body tattoo is normal. It’s cool and in vogue. Some have their loved ones’ names or sometimes have a message on them. But what happens when that loved one is no longer in your life or you no longer believe in the message imprinted on your skin? Bad situation? But rest assured that today’s technology gives you solutions for this problem!
There are many tattoo removal techniques available today. Some are
Laser Tattoo Removal
This is one of the most commonly used methods. Highly concentrated pulses of light are sent which penetrates through the upper layers of skin, and breaks the tattoo ink into tiny fragments. The scavenger cells in our body (immune system) then clear out these tiny fragments, over the next few days. A cream may have to be applied before prior the process.
The more the number of treatments the more the laser is able to penetrate through the skin. But more treatments also mean more harm to your skin. Laser treatments cause painful tiny blisters and scabs which can lead to scarring. Laser treatments can be also expensive and need more than one session for effectiveness. What stands against these treatments is that there is no guarantee of the level of effectiveness even after the treatments. It is painful, but not as painful as the process of getting a tattoo made.
Intense Pulsed Light Therapy (IPL)
It works pretty much in the same manner as laser therapy, except that it uses intense light instead of laser light. It is said to be less painful and more effective than laser treatments, but also more expensive.
Excision For Tatoo Removal
Mostly effective for small tattoos excision also is used for big tattoos. The tattooed area is first numbed with injected anesthesia, and then the tattoo is removed surgically with a scalpel. The edges are then brought together and sutured. It involves minimal bleeding and can eliminate the tattoo completely.
Dermabration and Salabrasion
These methods are only recommended if laser treatments cannot be an option, for some reason. Dermabrasion treatment includes a freezing agent which is applied on the tattooed area which is then peeled off with a special device. Salabrasion is almost the same; only here, a solution of table salt and water is used. Though effective, they can be painful and can cause scarring and also damage the skin.
Scarring and discoloration in previously tattooed area is inevitable. The time needed for healing depends on the procedure and depth of the tattoo. Opt for professional surgeons only, as they can inform you about the risks and the results properly.
However, it is an inescapable fact that all tattoo removal methods cause pain and damage. The best way to avoid these problems is to choose carefully the region and type of tattoo to be made, so that a need to remove it does not arise.
Tattoos are a very common today. But since change is the only constant thing, situations might change in the future, leading to the want of the removal of a tattoo. There are many tattoo removal techniques available today. But the fact remains all methods cause pain and damage.