| Tattooing, which is defined as the permanent | | | | injected around the design, and the skin is |
| insertion of ink or other pigments below the skin | | | | aggressively rubbed with salt or a salt sanding |
| using a sharp instrument, has been used for | | | | block. |
| cosmetic and ritual purposes since the Neolithic | | | | Complete tattoo removal can't be guaranteed, |
| era. It has been used to identify criminals, invoke | | | | and the procedure can leave the patient with raw, |
| magical powers and, most recently, to adorn the | | | | red, burned skin. Scarring is also a possibility with |
| skin with colorful designs in what has become a | | | | this method. |
| major trend. | | | | Laser Treatment |
| Indeed, a recent telephone survey done by the | | | | Laser treatment was introduced in the 1980s, and |
| American Academy of Dermatology reports that | | | | presented the best alternative to tattoo removal. |
| 36 percent of people between the ages of 18 | | | | The CO2 laser beam was used to vaporize the |
| and 29 are tattooed, and 24 percent of people | | | | ink and the overlying skin, and was less painful, |
| between the ages of 18 and 50 have been inked. | | | | safer, and much easier than other techniques. |
| This represents a 16 percent increase over a | | | | However, the technique was not perfect. The |
| similar survey done in 2003! | | | | healing process was long, there was considerable |
| But what happens when that tattoo you thought | | | | risk of scarring, and in almost all cases a faint |
| was so cool 20 years ago just isn't cool | | | | image of the tattoo was left behind. |
| anymore? | | | | Q-Switched Lasers |
| Yes, tattooing has been around a long time, and | | | | Q-Switched Lasers were introduced about 10 |
| something that has always gone along with | | | | years ago, and have been shown to be the most |
| tattoos since the very beginning is the desire to | | | | effective way to date to remove tattoos. |
| remove them. Whether the desire to remove the | | | | Q-switched lasers emit light in very short but |
| tattoo is a result of social, cultural, or physical | | | | powerful flashes, which pass through the skin and |
| reasons, people go to great lengths to get the | | | | break up the tattoo pigment. |
| job done. | | | | Because the absorption of the laser light affects |
| Early techniques for removing tattoos included | | | | the energy's ability to break up the pigment, |
| painful and scarring procedures such as sanding, | | | | different types of q-switched lasers are best |
| cutting, and burning the skin. Unless you were | | | | used on different colors of pigment. |
| willing to go to these lengths, tattoos were seen | | | | There are four different types of q-switched |
| as permanent and irreversible. However, thanks | | | | lasers: |
| to medical advances in the field of dermatology, | | | | 1.Q-switched ruby lasers have a red light and are |
| surgeons are now able to remove tattoos safely | | | | effective on most black, blue, and green pigments. |
| and effectively. | | | | 2. Q-switched alexandrite lasers emit a deep red |
| Methods for tattoo removal today include | | | | light and are effective for most black, blue, and |
| dermabrasion, surgical excision, salabrasion, | | | | green pigments. |
| chemical peels, and laser surgery. Let's examine | | | | 3. Q-switched Nd:YAG lasers emit an infrared light |
| how tattoos are removed with each of these | | | | and are effective on most black and dark blue |
| methods. | | | | pigments. |
| Dermabrasion | | | | 4. Q-switched frequency-doubled Nd:YAG lasers |
| With dermabrasion, the surface and middle layers | | | | emit a green light and are effective on most red, |
| of the skin are "sanded" away with a hand-held | | | | black, dark blue, and purple pigments. |
| scraping or sanding tool. This process removes | | | | While tattoo removal with q-switched lasers is |
| the pigmented skin and encourages the growth of | | | | completely safe, patients usually experience |
| new skin. | | | | discomfort on the same scale as receiving the |
| Dermabrasion is not for everyone. If the tattoo is | | | | tattoo. A topical anesthetic can be applied one to |
| old, or if the ink has been injected into the | | | | three hours before treatment. The more |
| subcutaneous fat, dermabrasion may not work. | | | | treatments the patient has the less pain he or she |
| Also, if the tattoo was done by an amateur and | | | | will feel, as there will be less pigment to absorb |
| the ink is deposited at varying depths in the skin, | | | | the laser energy. |
| complete removal may be difficult. | | | | Antibiotic ointment and a light dressing are applied |
| Side effects include skin discoloration, infection at | | | | to the area after treatment and normal activity, |
| the site of the tattoo, and scarring from repeated | | | | including showering, can resume the next day. |
| scraping and sanding. Complete removal of all the | | | | Light blistering or bleeding following the treatment |
| ink is not always possible. | | | | is normal and should subside within a day or two. |
| Until laser surgery was introduced, dermabrasion | | | | All tattoos will require more than one treatment, |
| was considered one of the most popular and | | | | the average being between five and 10 |
| effective ways of removing tattoos. | | | | treatments depending upon the depth of the |
| Surgical Excision | | | | tattoo, the colors used, the location of the tattoo, |
| Surgical excision is performed under general | | | | and the health of the patient. Fading of the tattoo |
| anesthesia. During the process, the surgeon | | | | should be evident about two weeks after |
| literally cuts the tattoo out of the skin, and closes | | | | treatment, and another treatment can be done |
| the wound with sutures. This technique is more | | | | as soon as a month later. |
| suitable for smaller tattoos. | | | | While scarring will not occur as a result of |
| This is one of the more invasive tattoo removal | | | | q-switched lasers, mild skin texture changes can |
| procedures, and complications include swelling, | | | | occur. Darker skinned patients may also |
| infection, and scarring. | | | | experience some skin lightening, though this is |
| Chemical Peel | | | | usually temporary. |
| A chemical peel, during which trichloracetic acid is | | | | Is it guaranteed that the tattoo will completely |
| usually used, progressively removes layers of | | | | disappear when treated with a q-switched laser? |
| skin, and eventually the tattoo. | | | | Well, because more than 100 tattoo inks are used |
| Depending upon the age of the tattoo, and | | | | today, and none of them are regulated by the |
| whether the ink is evenly distributed, it is not | | | | FDA, it is impossible to predict how a particular ink |
| guaranteed that a chemical peel will completely | | | | will respond to laser treatment. However, in most |
| remove a tattoo. Chemical peels can also cause | | | | cases the tattoo will completely disappear. |
| permanent damage to the skin, such as lightening | | | | To find a physician board-certified in laser surgery |
| where the design used to be, or scarring. | | | | who removes tattoos look in the yellow pages |
| Salibrasion | | | | under Cosmetic or Laser Surgery, and/or Tattoo |
| Salibrasion is perhaps one of the oldest methods | | | | Removal. Or contact the Ethical Cosmetic Surgery |
| of tattoo removal, and requires the skin to be | | | | Association to find a practitioner in your area. |
| "sanded" with salt. A local anesthetic is usually | | | | |