Want To Get That Tattoo Removed?
by: mariaryi
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Word Count: 876
People
get tattoos for any reason, and sometimes for no reason. We get tattoos express
your love, to express one’s own self, as a fan or admirer of some idol, under
peer pressure, to be up with the Jones’es or maybe just because its hip to get
one.
Whatever
the case is, many of us in adult life end up regretting this youthful
adventure. It could be because the tattoo reminds you of a broken love
relationship or may be that visible tattoo is coming in your way of getting
good job or joining a coveted university. In other words, you desperately need
to get it out of your way, but the very memory of the painful procedure you
went through to get it done gives you cold feet.
There are
several ways a person can undo a tattoo or at least make it less visible. All,
barring one, are very painful and cumbersome. But before discussing ways to
remove tattoos, let’s first understand what is a tattoo.
What is a
Tattoo
A tattoo, or dermal pigmentation, as the term self explains is a mark made on
the skin by inserting pigment into the skin. It is accomplished by injecting this
pigment into small deep holes made in the skin. Tattoos made this way are
relatively permanent.
Apart
from permanent tattoos there are also temporary tattoos. They are more like body
sticker, similar to a decal. Temporary tattoos are made on the skin by
transferring the design on the skin, rather than inside the skin, using water. Temporary
tattoos are waterproof, but can be removed with oil-based creams, and are
intended to last only a few days.
Methods
of Tattoo Removal
There are several methods of tattoo removal available today showing variable
performance, result wise and procedure wise. It is the size of the tattoo, its
location, and the length of time it has been on the skin which make the
physician decide upon the method to be used. The patient’s healing prowess also
plays its part in deciding the method to be used.
Let’s now
discuss the methods.
Surgical Method
It is one
of the most popular methods around, especially when the dyed area is small. The
major advantage here is the removal of the entire tattoo in one go,
particularly if it is small tattoo. Larger tattoos, however, require multiple
surgical sessions where the centre of a tattoo is removed first followed by
removal of sides at a later date.
The surgical removal process involves an injection of a local anesthetic to
numb the area after which the tattoo is removed. The edges are then brought
together and sutured.
With this
procedure, there is minimal bleeding which is easily controlled with
electrocautery. In some cases involving large tattoos, a skin graft taken from
another part of the body may be necessary.
Rubbing
the tattoo off
In this method, the tattoo is literally scrapped
off. It is quite painful and cumbersome procedure but practiced nonetheless.
There are two ways by which a tattoo is rubbed off the skin:
- Dermabrasion
This procedure of tattoo removal involves spraying of a portion of the
tattoo with a freezing solution, after which that part is sanded with a
rotary abrasive instrument causing the skin to peel. Because some bleeding
is bound to occur, a dressing is immediately applied to the area.
- Salabrasion
This is an age old method of tattoo removal. As with the other methods, a
local anesthetic is used on and around the tattooed area after which a
solution of ordinary tap water dipped in table salt is applied. An
abrading apparatus such as the one used with dermabrasion, or an even
simpler device such as a wooden block wrapped in gauze, is used to
vigorously abrade the area. When the area becomes deep red in color, a
dressing is applied.
Laser
Laser
tattoo removal is considered as the best of the solutions
available. Though it is costly and might require multiple sessions, it ensures
that tattoo removal is relatively pain free and blood free. Also the results
have been quite encouraging and tattoos have been either totally removed or
there were dramatic fading.
Laser
tattoo removal procedure involves exposing the tattoo to the pulses of light
from the laser, usually Q-switched Nd:Yag, Q-switched Alexandrite and the
Q-switched Ruby. This exposure breaks up the tattoo pigment, which are removed
from the body by the scavenger cells. More than one treatment is usually
necessary to remove the entire tattoo.
About the Author
Maria
John is a cosmetician and specializes in removing
tattoos with laser. She is also an amateur writer who has
contributed with articles and discussions on various aspects of laser tattoo
removal on various online platforms.
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