Tatoo Removal

There are several excellent methods of tatoo removal available today. Unfortunately, treatment for tatoo removal is not always successful. There are many ways for tatoo removal :

Laser Surgery

Many types of lasers have been used for tatoo removal. Different lasers remove different types of ink better than others. For example, the Q-switched ruby laser and YAG lasers effectively remove blue-black and red ink but may not remove green ink. Light blue ink usually cannot be removed with a laser. Be sure to ask your health professional which kind of laser is better for your specific tatoo.

Intense Pulsed Light

Therapy Intense Pulsed Light Therapy, or IPL, is the newest and greatest dermal enhancer currently being used. Instead of laser light, it uses high intensity light in pretty much the same manner. A gel is applied to the skin and then a wand is used to emit pulses of light onto the skin area being treated. This method is said to be less painful than laser therapy, and more effective, resulting in less total treatment sessions.

Excision

This the popular method of tatoo removal especially when the dyed area is small is by excision. The advantage of this method is that the entire tatoo can be removed.

Dermabrasion or Salabrasion

These other methods include dermabrasion, which would actually "sand" away the top layer of skin through abrasive friction. By the way, Salabrasion, a procedure which is centuries old, is a method still sometimes used today for tatoo 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.

Home techniques for tatoo removal, such as the use of a hot cigarette or heated coat hanger, are not recommended. The scarring and infection rates are very high with these methods.