Cheap Tattoo Removal Methods

Although getting a tattoo may seem like a great idea at the time, almost half of all people who get a tattoo regret it.

It is estimated that 75% of people with a tattoo had it done on a spur of the moment whim.

A tattoo is for life, they are difficult to remove, and serious consideration should be taken before you decide whether a tattoo is for you.

There are a few ways to remove a tattoo, although no methods are guarenteed to remove them completely.

Laser Removal :

The type of laser used to remove a tattoo depends on the tattoo's pigment colors. (Yellow and green are the hardest colors to remove; blue and black are the easiest.)The three lasers developed specifically for use in tattoo removal use a technique known as Q-switching, which refers to the laser's short, high-energy pulses:

• the Q-switched Ruby,
• the Q-switched Alexandrite,
• the Q-switched Nd: YAG, the newest system in this class of lasers and particularly advanced in the removal of red, blue and black inks.

Excision :

Another popular method of tattoo removal especially when the dyed area is small is by excision. The advantage of this method is that the entire tattoo can be removed. With larger tattoos, however, it may be necessary to excise in stages, removing the center of it initially and the sides at a later date.

Excision involves an injection of a local anesthetic to numb the area after which the tattoo is removed surgically. 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.

Dermabrasion:

dermabrasion in which a small portion of the tattoo is sprayed with a solution that freezes the area. The tattoo is then "sanded" with a rotary abrasive instrument causing the skin to peel. Because some bleeding is likely to occur, a dressing is immediately applied to the area.

Salabrasion :

Salabrasion, a procedure which is centuries old, is a method still sometimes used today to remove tattoos. 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.

Cryosurgery: This method involves freezing area of tattoo area prior to its removal. The removal technique often used is dermabrasion. As a result of freezing the skin, there is less blood loss.

Chemicals and Creams:

There are chemicals and cream treatments which are proven to fade tattoos if used over a period of time, these are a cheaper method and can leave less scarring.

Cover Up:

The cheapest and most effective way to get rid of an ex girl/boy friend's name from your person is to cover it up with a new tattoo over the top of the existing one.