Nowadays, there are a growing number of people that are choosing
to remove their tattoos. Some find that tattoos bring back
unwanted memories of the past. Others find that tattoos may be
detrimental to their health and eventually cause skin cancer or
some type of skin disease. Career concerns, bad artwork or art
placement, changing lifestyle or personal taste are just a few
of the reasons that people decide to remove their tattoos.
Studies have shown that approximately 10% of Americans have some
kind of tattoo and of that percentage, 50% want them removed.
The tattoo removal procedures people commonly use these days are
as follows:
Laser Tattoo Removal
These days, most people use laser
technology to remove their tattoos. Basically, lasers remove
tattoos by breaking up the pigment colors of the tattoo with a
high-intensity light beam. The more treatments you have, the
more the laser can penetrate to wipe away the ink. However,
overdoing the treatments can cause damage to you skin and
eventually lead to scarring. If treated properly, sometimes
there are no traces of scarring but it really depends on the
situation. Basically, the laser type, number of sessions and the
patient's body ability to rid it self of the ink are factors
that can determine the outcome of the procedure. Depending on
your tattoo, you may need anywhere from 1-10 sessions, each
costing in the range of $250-$1000 per session.
Intense
Pulsed Light Therapy (IPL)
IPL, or Intense Pulsed Light
Therapy is an effective tattoo removal treatment that targets
intense light onto the upper layer of the skin basically burning
it off. The treatment stimulates new skin growth, and when the
treated area heals, the tattoo is usually much less noticeable
than before. This method is said to be not as painful as laser
therapy, and more effective, resulting in less treatment
sessions. It usually takes 10-12 months after the treatment for
full results to show. The cost of IPL is based on the number of
pulses your tattoo requires to be removed and it can range
anywhere from $10-$15 per pulse.
Using Creams to Fade
Away Tattoos
Creams are a chemical, non-laser approach to
removing a tattoo. They are used over an extended period of time
to gradually fade away a tattoo. However, results are not
guaranteed and people usually resort to this method only if
laser treatments are out of the budget. Some creams burn away
layers of skin and can cause scarring. The positive side to
cream is that it's affordable, however the saying goes as
follows "you get what you pay for."
Excision
Excision involves removing the tattooed area of skin and then
stitching it closed. This method is more ideal for smaller
tattoo, however can still be used on larger ones. For larger
tattoos, the skin is removed and a skin graft from another part
of the body is used to cover the area.
Dermabrasion
Dermabrasion is a surgical procedure where the surgeon uses a
sanding tool to go over the skin in order to rub off the top
layers of the skin to reveal fresh skin beneath. Local
anesthesia is used during the treatment. When the procedure is
over, the skin appears to be red in color and is tender. It
usually takes the skin a few weeks to heal. This procedure is
not recommended if the patient is prone to scarring. If the
patient is prone to hyper or hypo-pigmentation as well, then
this procedure is not highly recommended.
Tattoo removal
surgery has recently become more popular for various reasons. A
patient should do their research and give the surgery some
serious thought before proceeding.
If you are considering
having a tattoo removed, the first thing you want to do is
research the various options available for tattoo removal
surgery. You need to also consider the costs, time commitment,
and risks.
The next step is to make an appointment with a
local physician or dermatologist to setup an initial
consultation. The doctor will discuss your options and go over
any questions or concerns you have. The doctor will be able to
explain the surgery and go over the details such as cost and
risks.
When you decide to move forward, an appointment will
be made for the initial procedure. The size and condition of
your tattoo will determine how many sessions will be necessary
to complete the removal process.
About the Author:
To find out more about tattoo removal and to find a tattoo
removal center in your area, visit
http://www.TattooRemoval411.com