As the desire for tattoos increases, so too does the number of people who decide for one reason or another that they want their tattoo removed. Most people think of tattoos as being permanent but it is possible with varying degrees of success to remove them.

There are two important points to consider when thinking of having a tattoo removed. The first one is cost. It is undoubtedly more expensive to remove a tattoo than to have the tattoo applied in the first place. This makes it worthwhile browsing the websites of reputable tattoo removers in order to seek the best value for money - not necessarily the cheapest - but a person who will perform a good job. The second thing to think about is that it can take several visits to the tattoo remover before it is properly removed.

Tattoo Removal

It has been estimated that up to 50% who get a tattoo later regret it. Luckily these days there is way to remove most tattoos. Tattoos are created by injecting insoluble ink into the dermis layer of a person's skin. The dermis is protected by the epidermis or surface of the skin and therefore tattoos cannot be rubbed or washed off.

The good news is that techniques of the past are no longer used. Thse methods involved either rubbing off with abrasive material, freezing and removing the skin or literally cutting the skin off. All these ways were painfull and often left highly visible scars. The method used in the 21st century is laser tattoo removal.

Laser Tattoo Removal Q & A

Lasers are used for amateur and professional tattoo removal because of their minimal side effects in terms of pain and scarring. Green and yellow are the hardest colors to remove whilst blue and black are the easiest. The process works by breaking the tattoo ink into smaller particles, which the body is able to absorb.

Amateur tattoos usually require 3 to 5 treatment sessions at monthly intervals. Most professional tattoos require 7 to 10 treatment sessions at monthly intervals. The cost of each session depends on the size and colour of the tattoo. Each treatment session last between 10 and 40 minutes depending on the size of the tattoo. The overall cost of the tattoo removal depends on the number of treatments needed and this varies quite a bit from patient to patient. It is recommended that you browse the websites of some of




the tattoo removers to get an idea of the overall cost.

No one laser can remove all types of tattoo ink, three different laser types are used to ensure optimal results. Operation of the lasers can cause discomfort during treatment, but the sensation of pain of tattoo removal is very similar to the pain of getting the tattoo. The pain tends to decrease as treatment progresses and the tattoo ink fades. Some areas of the body are more sensitive than others, particularly the more bony areas such as ankles and shoulders. A local anaesthetic is available if required in cases where the person is particularly uncomfortable.

Redness and/or swelling may occur, in a similar fashion to sunburn, but it tends to settle fairly shortly. Some patients may suffer some blistering, which is quite normal and is not indicative of potential scarring. There is no evidence to suggest that the treatment can lead to skin disorders or an increased risk of cancer.

Reference: Wikipedia