Tattoo removal

Tattoo removal is a serious process that should be approached very carefully. Tattoos are made to be permanent, so tattoo removal is basically an attempt to reverse a permanent procedure. Thus, most surgeons will advise that complete removal is nearly impossible.

How Tattoo Removal Works

Tattoos are made when a pigment is injected into the dermal layer of the skin, the living layer beneath the dead skin cells that we see. This allows for the ink to remain in the skin and not be shed with the dead skin cells. However, this also makes it very difficult to remove.

There are several different methods used in tattoo removal, none of which are perfect. In dermabrasion, skin is sanded to remove the surface (epidermis) down to the area of the dermis where the ink has been deposited. Cryosurgery freezes the skin above and surrounding the deposited ink before removing it, while excision involves cutting away the inked skin completely and stitching the edges of the wound back together.

However, the most popular choice today for tattoo removal is laser, since it is relatively low risk compared to the surgical options and can allow for quicker healing.