Whether you got your tattoo because of an old girlfriend, a wild night in New Orleans or even after careful consideration, you may no longer like it and want it removed. The fashion and beauty world offers plenty of advertising for tattoo-removal creams, but according to the Mayo Clinic, the creams may lighten the tattoo but will not remove it. Instead, it’s recommended that you schedule a consultation with a dermatologist to review your options for removal. Almost all tattoo removals will cause skin discoloration and/or scarring.
Chemical Peeling
Chemical peeling is one of the least expensive choices in tattoo removal but may result in permanent scarring to the skin. It also can be painful. When performing a chemical peel, the dermatologist applies acid directly to the tattoo to dissolve the layers of skin containing the tattoo ink.
Salabrasion
During a salabrasion tattoo removal, salt water is applied to the tattoo and rubbed until the tattooed skin is effectively “sanded” off, often resulting in bleeding. Even with local anesthetic, salabrasion can be painful and several sessions may be needed to remove the tattoo. Salabrasion may not remove ink deposited deep in the skin.
Dermabrasion
Dermabrasion is performed by using a rotary tool with a pad to sand the tattooed skin from the body, similar to salabrasion. A local anesthetic usually is administered for pain and several days of healing are needed following the procedure. Like salabrasion, dermabrasion may not remove tattoo ink deep in the tissue.
Laser Removal
During laser removal, the dermatologist directs a tool emitting infrared or color-specific lasers onto the tattoo, dissolving the ink in the skin. Certain colors, such as black, react with any type or color of laser, making it one of the easiest colors of ink to remove, while other colors of ink react only with certain color or types of lasers, making them more difficult to remove. Several laser removal sessions are necessary to completely remove the tattoo. The resulting effect on the skin is a burn which will take several days to heal.
Surgical Removal
Surgical removal of the skin is the most extreme method of removing a tattoo; however, some old tattoos may be impossible to completely remove by more modern methods. Since surgical removal will leave a scar, careful consideration should be given to the appearance of the remnants of the tattoo versus the anticipated surgical scar.
