Laser removal is the most effective way to remove a tattoo
Tattoos are fairly easy to get, but not necessarily easy to get rid of. Whether you outgrew it, regret getting it, or simply changed your mind, there are several ways to make a tattoo disappear.
Laser removal is the most effective way to remove a tattoo, but there are also other methods that can help, including surgical removal, dermabrasion, and chemical peels.
4 ways to remove a tattoo
1. Laser removal
Laser removal is the most common way to get rid of a tattoo.
Tattoos are created by inserting hundreds of tiny particles of ink into the skin at various depths. Under normal circ*mstances, your immune system will clear the skin of microscopic foreign particles. However, because the particles that make up the tattoo ink are too large to be removed by the immune system, tattoos are permanent.
Laser removal targets the pigment particles and breaks them into smaller pieces that your immune system can eliminate. In most cases, multiple sessions of laser therapy are needed for best results.
2. Surgical removal
Also known as excision tattoo removal, surgical removal involves cutting away the inked skin and sewing the remaining skin back together.
While this type of tattoo removal causes the greatest discomfort, it is the only procedure that is guaranteed to remove the tattoo entirely. It is also less costly than laser removal.
However, surgical removal often leaves behind a scar, which is why this method is often done on smaller tattoos that are less extensive.
3. Dermabrasion
Dermabrasion or dermaplaning involves removing the top layers of skin in a controlled way to remove the tattoo.
The tattooed area is numbed and the skin is sanded down to deeper depths using a high-speed rotary instrument that has an abrasive wheel or brush. By sanding down the outer layers of skin, it removes the tattoo ink and allows new skin to form. Because of the discomfort that is associated with this procedure, it is often performed under regional, local, or even general anesthetic.
4. Chemical peels
Peels made with trichloroacetic acid (TCA) can be used to remove a tattoo as well. TCA is a mild acid that is put on the skin to take off the top layers of skin with the tattoo ink.
This type of procedure may cause mild pain but typically does not require anesthesia. Like the other tattoo removal methods, a TCA peel will leave an open wound that will need to be taken care of. All that needs to be done is to clean the wound every day with soap and water, apply an antibiotic ointment, and cover it with a bandage. The wound will usually heal in about 5-7 days.
