Probably a lot of serious tattoo folks will laugh at the idea of tattoo laser removal but there are actually several pretty good reasons for having a tattoo removed--even if you love tattoos. Now for everyone else who perhaps went through a wild period and doesn't want to carry the reminder forever, laser tattoo removal may be a good option for you. And on the subject of tattoo removal, I recall a comedian's act about a tattoo of a butterfly on a ladies breast turning into a condor after her boobs began sagging.
Why Get Tattoo Laser Removal Done?
There are probably tons of reasons to have a tattoo removed. Maybe you're entering the professional job market and you're worried that job hunting might be a little bit hard with "love" and "hate" tattooed across your knuckles. The Japanese, because of the association of tattoos with the Yakuza, are even more strict, going as far as banning people with tattoos from entering pachinko parlors and public bath houses. Former gang members will have very obvious reasons for wanting to remove theirs. I would guess though, that most people wanting to remove a tattoo are probably having "buyer's remorse." However, one group, the tattoo-loving crowd, often get tattoos removed to open up precious real estate, currently occupied by a less meaningful or skillfully done tattoo.
How Does Laser Tattoo Removal Work?
Normally, the human body is able to expel foreign particles that get into the skin but with tattoos however, the "ink" is too big and so in effect it's permanent. With laser tattoo removal, a laser (big surprise right) is used to shatter the pigment into fragments small enough for the body to eject. The lasers also come in different colors because some laser colors are more effective on certain pigments versus other laser colors. Just to give you an example, red pigment is most affected by a green laser.
What Can I Expect When Having a Tattoo Removed?
This is where most people are going to have problems with tattoo removal but I should stress that you should focus on your goal of being tattoo free rather than on the trouble of having a tattoo removed. So first off, it takes a lot longer to remove a tattoo than it does to get one done. At the very least, you'll need three sessions and probably closer to twelve. The sessions aren't exactly cheap either at $150 to $300 per session. It's also quite a bit more painful that getting the tattoo. Most people choose to use a numbing cream or even get a shot to numb the pain. Again, think of your goal to have the tattoo gone.
How Do I Take Care of the Tattoo Between Sessions?
If you do decide to have your tattoos removed, here is what you can expect to go through after the procedure. Just like when you got the tattoo, there may be some bleeding and swelling as well as some redness. Similarly, the tattoo may crust over. Youll also need to keep a topical antibiotic ointment on your tattoo. And Im not giving medical advice here, but my experience and talking with doctors, being fastidious with the ointment can go along towards preventing scarring. Thats not medical advice, just passing along what I was told.
Complications Due to Tattoo Removal
Finally, there are some complication to having tattoo laser removal. Are you surprised? Well like I mentioned above, it can cause scarring. Another complication is burning of the skin. The laser that are used for targeting dark pigments may be just as effective on the bodys natural melanin, the pigment of the skin that causes freckles, or is dominant in black and hispanic people. The point is that black and hispanic people, especially, run the risk of skin becoming lighter in color at the removal site. Likewise, some pigments like yellow, can become darker after a tattoo removal session.
Finally...
According to a February 12, 2008 Harris Interactive poll, 84% of Americans having tattoos expressed no regret about their decision to get a tattoo. For the 16% that did express regret, the most often cited reason is that they were too young when the first got the tattoo. And while the expense and amount of time spent having a tattoo removed, tattoo laser removal is time and money well spent. - 29882
Why Get Tattoo Laser Removal Done?
There are probably tons of reasons to have a tattoo removed. Maybe you're entering the professional job market and you're worried that job hunting might be a little bit hard with "love" and "hate" tattooed across your knuckles. The Japanese, because of the association of tattoos with the Yakuza, are even more strict, going as far as banning people with tattoos from entering pachinko parlors and public bath houses. Former gang members will have very obvious reasons for wanting to remove theirs. I would guess though, that most people wanting to remove a tattoo are probably having "buyer's remorse." However, one group, the tattoo-loving crowd, often get tattoos removed to open up precious real estate, currently occupied by a less meaningful or skillfully done tattoo.
How Does Laser Tattoo Removal Work?
Normally, the human body is able to expel foreign particles that get into the skin but with tattoos however, the "ink" is too big and so in effect it's permanent. With laser tattoo removal, a laser (big surprise right) is used to shatter the pigment into fragments small enough for the body to eject. The lasers also come in different colors because some laser colors are more effective on certain pigments versus other laser colors. Just to give you an example, red pigment is most affected by a green laser.
What Can I Expect When Having a Tattoo Removed?
This is where most people are going to have problems with tattoo removal but I should stress that you should focus on your goal of being tattoo free rather than on the trouble of having a tattoo removed. So first off, it takes a lot longer to remove a tattoo than it does to get one done. At the very least, you'll need three sessions and probably closer to twelve. The sessions aren't exactly cheap either at $150 to $300 per session. It's also quite a bit more painful that getting the tattoo. Most people choose to use a numbing cream or even get a shot to numb the pain. Again, think of your goal to have the tattoo gone.
How Do I Take Care of the Tattoo Between Sessions?
If you do decide to have your tattoos removed, here is what you can expect to go through after the procedure. Just like when you got the tattoo, there may be some bleeding and swelling as well as some redness. Similarly, the tattoo may crust over. Youll also need to keep a topical antibiotic ointment on your tattoo. And Im not giving medical advice here, but my experience and talking with doctors, being fastidious with the ointment can go along towards preventing scarring. Thats not medical advice, just passing along what I was told.
Complications Due to Tattoo Removal
Finally, there are some complication to having tattoo laser removal. Are you surprised? Well like I mentioned above, it can cause scarring. Another complication is burning of the skin. The laser that are used for targeting dark pigments may be just as effective on the bodys natural melanin, the pigment of the skin that causes freckles, or is dominant in black and hispanic people. The point is that black and hispanic people, especially, run the risk of skin becoming lighter in color at the removal site. Likewise, some pigments like yellow, can become darker after a tattoo removal session.
Finally...
According to a February 12, 2008 Harris Interactive poll, 84% of Americans having tattoos expressed no regret about their decision to get a tattoo. For the 16% that did express regret, the most often cited reason is that they were too young when the first got the tattoo. And while the expense and amount of time spent having a tattoo removed, tattoo laser removal is time and money well spent. - 29882
About the Author:
Arthur Takeda first got interested in all things related to cosmetic surgery after his wife had breast augmentation. Turning this interest on himself, he decided to undergo laser tattoo removal.
