When you have a tattoo removed does it leave a scar? Tattoo removal is a complicated process and, even when done with lasers, can leave a significant mark on the skin. Tattooing the body is an ancient art....
Tattooing the body is an ancient art. The exact birth if tattooing is uncertain but can been seen as far back as the early Egyptians. It is deeply engrained into some cultures. In recent times, tattoos have seen a jump in popularity. Tattoos are becoming an accepted part of mainstream culture. With more and more people lining up to get tattoos there are some later down the road that no longer want their tattoos. This sentiment gave birth to tattoo removal.
Through the years many different tattoo removal techniques have been employed but only a few are still being used a viable methods. The most popular method of removal is laser removal.
"Before we had lasers, people would do different things," said Charles M. Boyd M.D., M.B.A., and F.A.C.S. He has been a plastic surgeon for more than 13 years. "You can do something called dermabrasion where you are basically sanding the skin down to remove the pigment in the skin." Dermabrasion is where the tattoo pigment and the surface of the skin are sanded away with a tool utilizing a small revolving wheel that grinds away the skin. Prior to the procedure the skin is either frozen or a local anesthesia is applied for pain. Dermabrasion can leave a mark. Most common with dermabrasion are discoloration and scarring.
Another method of tattoo removal is surgical excision. Surgical excision is cutting out the tattoo. After removing the tattoo the skin is then sewn up. This technique is best used in with small tattoos in inconspicuous areas of the body. This method is sure to leave a mark. There will be a scar in the shape of a line where the skin was sutured.
Finally, tattoo removal is most often done with laser treatments. What determines the success of laser tattoo removal?
"A lot of it depends specifically on your skin type and the type of dye that was used by the tattoo artist. The general principle is, however, that the fewer colors, the easier it is to remove. Multiple colors, greens and yellows and blues and reds typically take more time to remove," Boyd said. "It's a long process to remove a tattoo with the laser. It certainly takes longer than to get a tattoo applied and typically more expensive."
"The laser is a huge innovation for tattoo removal and it is the best method. It certainly can be painful, but we do apply a topical anesthetic to the skin to numb the skin and, if it is a particularly sensitive area or if patient requested, we can also do a nerve block. With the proper pain blocking techniques our patients shouldn't feel anything," Boyd said.
Laser tattoo removal takes much longer than the other methods because the recipient must endure several sessions to fully remove the tattoo. The laser penetrates the skin and breaks up the pigment which the body then removes. Laser tattoo removal, unlike the other methods, is a bloodless procedure and often completed without leaving a scar.
To find the best tattoo removal method for you call your doctor or dermatologist.
