Tattoo removal

Overview:

Tattoo removal is the procedure of removing unwanted tattoos from the body. This can be done using laser, surgery, or dermabrasion. A tattoo is a permanent ink placed below the skin's top layers by an artist in the form of letters, art, or any design. Removing a tattoo is more difficult and costly than the application of the ink itself. Tattoos cannot be removed by self or by using over-the-counter products. It can only be removed by doing certain procedures. 

About tattoos:

Tattooing involves placing permanent ink on the skin’s top layers. These inks can be of different colors. Most of these inks contain huge particles. Any foreign particle in the body is removed by the immune system. This immune system cannot remove the tattoo ink as the molecules are large.

Mechanism of tattoo removal:

Tattoo removal is a complicated process and may need multiple sessions for the removal. Tattoo removal functions on the principle of breaking down the ink particles from large to small size. These small-sized particles can be easily removed by the immune system. Some procedures work by removing the tattoos layer by layer. The area surrounding the skin eventually heals off removing the tattoo permanently. 

Types of tattoo removal:

Tattoo removal is done by laser surgery, surgery, chemical peels, and dermabrasion. 

• Laser surgery uses a strong beam of light called the laser to remove the tattoo. It breaks the permanent ink into multiple small particles to be easily removed by the immune system of the body. Multiple sessions might be needed to remove tattoos by this method. 
• Dermabrasion is a procedure where a special tool scrapes the superficial layers of the skin to remove the tattoo layer by layer. 
• Chemical peels use specific chemicals to remove the tattoo. Trichloroacetic acid is one of the chemicals that is used to peel the tattoo. These chemical peels the skin that contains the tattoo. 
• Surgery cuts the skin around the tattoo and removes it as a whole. The remaining skin is stitched. 
• Creams that are used to remove tattoos contain acids that remove the skin containing the tattoo by peeling it off. These are relatively less effective methods. 

Indications:

Tattoo removal removes the permanent tattoo. This is indicated when 

• One does not like the appearance of the tattoo 
• One does not like the location of the tattoo 
• The design of the tattoo has faded 
• One wants a new design in place of the old one
• An individual has developed an allergic reaction to it
• One has developed infections 
• If an individual’s workplace doesn’t allow tattoos 
• If the tattoo reminds of a traumatic experience in life

Before the procedure:

Tattoo removal is done by individuals who want to remove the existing tattoo. One should discuss the various options available to remove the tattoo with the healthcare professional. Based on the ink of the tattoo and the type of removal, the procedure can be selected. 

History regarding the time of tattoo placement, previous tattoo removal procedures, and how was the tattoo made will be asked by the healthcare professional. The tattoo size will be measured and photographs will be taken to compare the before and after procedures. 

During the procedure:

Tattoo removal does not require admission to the hospital and can be done as an outpatient procedure. It is done under local anesthesia. Laser surgery, surgery, and dermabrasion are the three major techniques that are used to remove the tattoos. 

• Laser surgery uses laser light is used to remove the tattoo. The laser light is produced from a device called the Q-switched Nd: YAG laser which uses a single powerful impulse of light to remove the tattoo. 

Before using a laser for tattoo removal, the target area is made numb with a local anesthetic after cleansing it with an antiseptic. Protective eyewear will be given to be worn both by the professional and the individual. A small pulse of light is used to know the effective energy level of an individual’s skin. 

As the area gets anesthetized, a pulse of light is passed to the target area using a handpiece. This heats the ink and disperses it. Tattoo designed with many colors may need lasers of different wavelengths. Larger tattoos need multiple sessions while smaller tattoos need a few sessions to remove the tattoo.

• Surgical removal of the tattoo is done with a surgical knife. This is done for smaller tattoos that cannot be removed by laser. A local anesthesia is injected to numb the target area. After the area gets numb, the tattooed area is removed with a special surgical knife. The ends of the tattoo are sutured. Medications are given to relieve pain and infection. 
• Dermabrasion is a procedure of cooling the target area till it freezes or gets numb. Then using a high-speed rotary device with having abrasive wheel and brush the target area is removed layer by layer till the deeper layers are reached. 

After the procedure:

After the tattoo removal, one can resume activities of daily living. Medication to relieve pain, infection, and swelling are given. The time taken for tattoo removal depends on the size, color, and location of the tattoos. 

Effectiveness:

Tattoo removal erases the tattoo but complete removal may not be possible. Be it any type of procedure, some of the tattoos may exist partially. 

Risks and complications:

Pain, infection, and swelling are some of the risks associated with the procedure. Blistering of the skin is seen if tattoos are removed by laser application. Tattoo removal can cause permanent scarring and skin discoloration at the site of the tattoo.  

Conclusion:

Tattoo removal is the procedure of removing permanent tattoos. There are various methods of removing them. They have to be removed by a healthcare professional or a specialist but not with over-the-counter medications. 

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