There are many reasons why people may possibly want their tattoo removed. It could be that you are burdened by a piece you seriously regret or that your flashy neck stamp is keeping you from getting the job you want. Whatever your motivation for wanting your tattoo removed, there are several techniques and options you can choose from:
- Laser removal – Lasers are the most popular method of removal at the moment. The laser targets your inked skin with pulses of concentrated light, effectively breaking the pigments into tiny fragments, which are naturally cleared away by your immune system. Laser tattoo removal, however, usually requires several sessions to completely remove ink from your skin, although this also depends on the size and type of tattoo you have. Repeated treatments may cause blisters and scabs that may scar, but more advanced technology minimizes this risk, making laser tattoo removal relatively safe.
- IPL Therapy – IPL or Intense Pulsed Light Therapy is a dermal enhancer that is commonly used in spas. Instead of laser light, IP uses high intensity light. This method is believed to be less painful and said to be more effective than laser, although many still prefer the latter. There are also tattoo removal experts who don’t recommend IPL for specific skin types.
- Other medical methods – There are many other ways to medically remove a tattoo, but many of them are extremely painful and sometimes, ineffective. These include dermabrasion, which sands away the top layer of the skin by means of abrasive friction. Excision is another tattoo removal method where the tattoo is cut away, and then the skin is sewn back together. These methods usually cause more damage than good to the skin and result in severe scarring. They are often only recommended in extreme cases where gentler, more effective laser surgery is not an option.
