9 Tattoo Removal Tricks
So the occasion you got a tattoo is something you’d rather forget. Or perhaps the tattoo you received in your twenties no longer represents you.
But is it that simple to get rid of your tat?
According to dermatologist Alok Vij, MD, today’s laser technology can remove or fade most tattoos, but not all. Once medically shaved, scraped, frozen off, or chemically peeled away, Tattoos were once medically shaved, grated, frozen off. “This frequently left an unsightly scar,” Dr. Vij observes.
“Q-switched” nanosecond lasers appeared in the 1980s, providing superior results. Most colors are removed or faded by their short pulses of high-powered energy, with little risk of skin harm. Newer picosecond lasers have shown promise in eliminating tattoos faster and with fewer treatments. A series of laser treatments spaced four to eight weeks apart is required in most cases.
Consider the following suggestions before making an appointment:
1. Not every tattoo will fade away.
By conversing with a laser therapy specialist, you can set your expectations. After these treatments, some tattoos fade only partially.
2. The older you are, the better.
How long has it been since you got your tattoo? It makes a difference what you say, and older tattoos fade more easily than newer ones with laser treatments.
You may be left with a “ghost” of your former tattoo if skin alterations are discovered during laser removal.
3. The position of your body is important.
What shop did you go to get your tattoo? Tattoos that are positioned further down the arm or leg fade more slowly.
4. Who was the perpetrator?
Professional tattoos are considerably more difficult to erase than amateur tattoos.
5. Various lasers of various hues
There isn’t a single laser that can eliminate all tattoo hues, and different dyes react to varying wavelengths of light. The simplest colors to fade are black and dark green; yellow, purple, turquoise, and fluorescent colors are the hardest colors to fade.
6. Your skin’s appearance may change
Tattooing can cause scarring or modify the skin’s texture, often concealed by the pigments. You may be left with a “ghost” of your former tattoo if skin alterations are discovered during laser removal.
7. Sunscreen can be beneficial.
Over and around the tattoo, laser treatments may darken or lighten skin pigment. To minimize changes in your skin color, use sunscreen before and after laser tattoo removal. Wait for your tan to fade before getting a tattoo removed for the same reason.
The darkening effect is number eight.
With laser therapy, certain cosmetic tattoos, such as pink, white, and flesh-colored lip liners, may darken quickly, and this effect is usually reversible with additional treatment. If immediate skin darkening is a concern, a tiny patch of skin should be checked initially.
9. Do you have any allergies?
Tell your doctor if you have had an adverse reaction to your tattoos, such as severe itching and swelling. Using a “Q-switched” laser to erase the tattoo could result in a more severe allergic reaction.