Tattoo Removal: Learn How The Process Works

Though tattoos tend to be thought of as permanent, you can still get them removed if you are willing to pay and take some time to both prepare and recover from the procedure. Before you opt for tattoo removal, you should get to know the basic facts about it. Then you should start looking for doctor's offices and medical spas near you that offer this service.

While tattoo removal is not necessarily painful, it can be slightly uncomfortable, as many patients describe the feeling to be similar to tiny splatters of grease hitting your skin, or rubber bands being snapped against the surface. Note that black tattoos are usually the easiest kinds to remove since they respond best to the lasers. However, any shade can be taken off, as long as you choose a capable practitioner to do the job. Just know that the process will likely consist of a few sessions, with more sessions needed the deeper the ink goes. This is because the laser breaks up the pigment, and during the time after the treatment, the body's cells remove the residue that the pigment leaves behind, causing it to gradually disappear. Though each visit should only take minutes, you will need to wait about three weeks between sessions, so the process can take months in some cases.

There are a few ways to prepare for tattoo removal in order to get the best results. If you want to reduce discomfort as much as possible, you should take acetaminophen a few hours before the appointment. Do not take ibuprofen or medication that contains aspirin because these products can cause the area to bruise after the procedure. You may also be prescribed an anesthetic cream that you should apply to the skin a few hours before the treatment, though you may prefer to just have a local anesthetic put into the area before the process begins.

After the procedure, the practitioner will likely apply antibacterial ointment to the area so that it stays clean as it heals. You will probably be directed to place more on the skin in the next few days, and will also need to cover it with gauze to keep it free of germs. You can expect the area to look a little red and feel slightly irritated, and it may also scab. However, once the skin heals completely within a couple months, the area should be free of both pigment and redness so that it looks like there were never any tattoos on the surface. Of course, there are a few risks, such as possibility of infection or scarring, but these risks are rare. In addition, your skin may become either hyperpgimented or hypopigmented, meaning there is either too much color or not enough, but these issues are rare and may even be temporary when they do occur.

Once you know how tattoo removal works, including preparation, aftercare, and risks, you should find a practitioner. You are advised to get recommendations from friends and check reviews in order to find the best person for this task.