The Various Means of Tattoo Removal

There are many reasons why people may want tattoo removal. Perhaps you've had a girlfriend's name tattooed across your chest, only to find out that she's cheating on you.

Maybe you've gotten a new job that requires you to look more refined and than the body art that extends past your shirt sleeves will allow.

Some folks even find that they are allergic to their new tattoo shortly after they get it. Whatever your reason for wanting to remove it, there are several options available.

Laser tattoo removal is quickly becoming the most popular method for removing tattoos. Using a laser to break up the pigments that make up the skin design beneath the skins surface, the doctor is allowing the body to act as its own eraser.

Once these pigments are broken up, the body's natural defense mechanisms begin to expel the waste through the bloodstream. This process usually takes several weeks. This removal approach usually takes several visits to the doctor.

Another common method of tattoo removal is called dermabrasion. A small grinding wheel is used to peel the outer layer of skin off. Once the skin is gone, then the doctor can remove the flaking layer of ink.

This method is usually quite thorough, but does have a few drawbacks. First, it can be very painful. Even though the area will be numbed for the actual procedure, it can still hurt for several days following the procedure.

Excision works well in situations where the skin design is small. The process involves an outpatient surgical procedure in which the doctor actually cuts out the body art. Carefully placed stitches close the wound for minimum scarring.

When this method is used on larger tattoos, it usually takes several times to complete the job. The doctor will start in the middle of the large body art and work his way to the edges. In extreme cases, a skin graft is used to help heal the resulting wound.

Salabrasion is the oldest method of tattoo removal. Similar to dermabrasion, this method uses an abrasive technique to scrape away the outer layer of skin that houses the skin design pigment.

Since this method has been around quite a bit longer than the more technically advanced versions of tattoo removal, it is a little more rudimentary and doesn't use any complicated equipment or tools. The tattooed area is numbed with ice or a local anesthetic.

The tattoo is actually removed by rubbing the area vigorously with a rough block or a block wrapped in rough textured gauze. This type of removal approach usually requires repeated treatments.

Regardless of which type of tattoo removal you may think is best for you, you should ultimately consult your doctor before making a final decision. Each of these methods has pros and cons and requires careful consideration.

After looking at all of the options, some people simply decide to keep the body art, or even add to it, in order to change whatever they didn't like about it in the first place.