What are the Different Types of Tattoo Removal?

Posted on 25th of May, 2010
Subhash asked:


Earlier tattoo removal techniques included methods such as dermabrasion; this is where the skin is sanded so that it removes both the surface layer and the middle layer of skin, the doctor then removes the tattoo with a scalpel and stitches the wound closed, this method usually results in excessive scarring to the skin.

With the increasing popularity of various cosmetic surgery procedures, including tattoo removal, it is imperative that the prospective patient research and understand different issues like what the procedure can and cannot treat inherent risks, costs, and other considerations. Keep in mind, cosmetic surgery is just that – a surgical procedure whose results cannot simply be erased.

Generally, experts emphasize that to date there is no form of tattoo removal that can guarantee your skin will look like it did before the tattoo. Experts point out that the process can leave some scarring or skin discoloration. Depending on the tattoo itself and the skin of the patient, results vary.

You might have seen a tattoo removal in which the skin was scarred in roughly the shape of the original tattoo. Pigment in the removal area might be slightly lighter or darker than surrounding skin. If a small tattoo is removed from an ankle, it isn’t very noticeable. However, a large tattoo removed from a bicep is quite noticeable. Though methods are always improving, possible scarring must be weighed against how much one wants to rid oneself of the tattoo.

Tattoo Removal Methods:

The basic types of tattoo removal are laser surgery, including Intense Pulsed Light therapy (IPL), excision, and dermabrasion. All effective tattoo removal methods involve some pain, and the most effective methods can be quite expensive.

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.

Dermabrasion

Another method of tattoo removal is called 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.

Laser

The surgeon can control the width of the laser beam as well as the wavelength (or color) of the light. Different wavelengths are used to destroy different colors of ink. Precise focusing makes it possible to eliminate the tattoo without damaging the surrounding skin.

Two to six treatments are usually needed, depending on the size of the tattoo. The treatment is relatively painless. Patients have described the sensation like a lightly stretched rubber band snapped against the skin. Afterwards, the treated area may feel somewhat like mild sunburn. The tattoo fades as the area heals, usually disappearing completely within a month or two. Not all tattoos, however, can be removed completely and leave just a shadow.

Another option to tattoo removal is to have the tattoo redone and improved by a professional tattoo artist. This can solve the problem if the tattoo is simply blurred or amateurish. There are also tattoo artists who specialize in tattooing over old tattoos with a new, completely different design. This solution is also less expensive than tattoo removal.



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TCA Tattoo Removal

Posted on 25th of May, 2010
David L Mitchell asked:


Before they were ever used to fade tattoos, TCA (Trichloracetic acid) peels were often used to reduce wrinkles and lessen acne scarring as well as to remove foot corns and age spots.  All TCA chemical peel ingredients has been rigorously tested and have been proven safe and effective for removing tattoos.

In a study in the British Journal of Plastic Surgery from 1988 almost 700 people with tattoos were treated with a TCA treatment over a 6-year period between 1979 and 1988.  The results indicated an 85% success rate. These results proved it to be a simple, inexpensive tattoo fading technique.

TCA is a liquid acid that acts to gradually fade and remove inks.  It also does not contain hydroquinonea controversial bleaching ingredient commonly included in many tattoo removal creams. TCA peeling agents are now used commonly by many dermatologists, doctors and in health spas.  They are often readily available without prescription to consumers from many stores as well as online.   However, sales of hydroquinone is being greatly restricted around the world.  It was banned in Australia and in the 21 countries in the EU as well as in some Asian countries because of its cancer causing potential and its risk of causing other skin ailments including exogenous ochronosis (a disease that may result from long-term use of various types of topical agents).

Hydroquinone is still available in some countries (including Canada) but usually only in low concentrations such as 2% – 5%.

TCA skin peels work from the epidermal layers down to the ink through a series of skin peels that are repeated over a number of months.  TCA peels are usually less painful than laser therapy and the acid often produce a slight tingling sensation when applied with a q-tip.  Baking soda and water mixtures are known to relieve this discomfort.  The inflammation caused by the acid, which is only applied for a few minutes per treatment,  causes a controlled burn.  This  results in the tattoo pigments rising to the skin surface and thereby fading the inks with repeated use.

Pre-fading a tattoo with a TCA peel kit before having laser treatments  can save you money. You will need fewer laser sessions to remove the unwanted ink and you will also experience less pain due to fewer laser sessions since the faded ink will absorb less heat from the laser to destroy the remaining ink. As an added bonus fewer laser sessions will keep more money in your pocket, TCA products are surprisingly affordable.

Just remember to keep in mind that just like other tattoo removal methods TCA chemical peels will take a commitment of both time and patience.  After the TCA is applied, users should usually wait between 3 – 6 weeks before beginning another application.

These chemical peels are not color-dependent which is untrue for many laser systems.  These acids will work equally well on all colors of  ink.  Many people are under the mistaken impression that one laser system must be just as good as any other and this is definitely not the case.

Your success with lasers will be heavily dependant on the quality of equipment that is available, not only the power of the system but also the variety of wavelengths that the laser device(s) can produce.  You need the right ‘color’ of laser light to match the ‘color’ of your tattoo ink.  People have wasted a lot of money having laser therapy done with equipment that is not at all suited to the color of ink they have.  The poor results can be easily explained away as – poor quality ink, the artist put it in too deep, your body isn’t healing properly etc.  There can be many excuses when it’s possibly the equipment that is at fault.

It’s really buyer beware and you should read up on what types of lasers are suited to your needs and make sure your practitioner has that type of equipment your needs require.

Generally speaking black and dark blue or dark red are the easiest to get rid of with lasers.  The tough ones are: lighter red (pink), light blue, turquoise (very difficult to target), light green, white, greens and certain yellow tones. These colors can require more laser sessions unless the ink is pre-faded



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Tattoo Removal-what are My Choices?

Posted on 15th of May, 2010
Bart Clive asked:


Tattoos in the past essentially were permanent and if you wanted to get rid of it you could either have it changed to look like something else, learn to live it or find a new girl friend/boy friend with the same name as the previous one. Sometimes we regret that decision made under the influence of tequila shots, Jell-O shooters or that hot two week love affair. Due to recent technology advances there are now some better options on what method to be used to get rid of that tat. All tattoos have different characteristics so removal techniques must be tailored to suit each individual case.

Professional artists usually penetrate the deeper layers of the skin at more uniform depths. This allows methods that remove broader areas of inked skin at the same depth.

Amateurs cannot duplicate the uniformity of depth so lesser skilled tattooists usually apply ink at more varying depths making removal much more difficult.

If you have decided that for some reason, you just gotta get rid of that body art, the choices are:

1. Laser Surgery

2. Intense Pulsed Light

3. Dermabrasion

4. Surgical Excision

5. Salabrasion

6. Removal Creams

7. Cover-up

Laser Surgery

Laser surgery is considered the most effective non invasive, bloodless removal alternative. A high-intensity laser beam is targeted on the imbedded ink by a surgeon where he directs high intensity pulses to break up the pigment. The laser is applied with micro-second lasting pulses and it takes about 200 pulses for a small tattoo. The laser energy causes the tattoo pigment to vaporize into smaller particles that are then removed by the body’s immune system. Laser surgery is relatively low risk, pain free and effective with the least side effects. Multiple treatments are normally required. Expect to experience minor pain similar to the original tattooing experience. The lasers high energy vaporizing the ink under your skin will cause sensations similar to specs of hot grease. It usually takes more than one treatment which only takes a few minutes.

Intense Pulsed Light

Intense Pulsed Light Therapy is the most recent development in tattoo removal. This method uses high intensity light instead of lasers’ to vaporize the ink. After applying a gel a wand is aimed at the tattoo that emits high intensity light pulses. One the plus side this method is less painful and more effective but is much more expensive than laser removal.

Dermabrasion

Basically dermabrasion consist of freezing the removal area of skin and the top layers are sanded off to remove the inked area. This is done with a high speed rotary sanding type device. You will need at least a local or some other type of anesthetic, hey; you are getting your skin sanded off! There will also be some bleeding and a dressing will need to be applied. After the affected area heals the scarring will depend on an individuals own body and what the location on your body the tattoo was on.

Surgical Excision

Surgical Excision is nothing more than having a dermatologic surgeon use a scalpel to remove the inked skin and closing up the wound with stitches. This is ok for small tattoos on certain parts of the body. It is even possible to remove larger areas and graft skin from other parts of the body. Again you will need an anesthetic to numb the area but scaring will be limited to the sutured area and is usually minimal. This method results in the most complete and immediate removal of tattoo ink.

Salabrasion

Salabrasion is the oldest and crudest tattoo removal technique. I has been used for a few hundred years and is still occasionally used today. Local anesthetic consisting of tap water dipped in table salt is applied on the tattooed area. An abrading device like the one used with dermabrasion, or an even something simpler like a wooden block wrapped with gauze, is used to scrape the area. After the tattooed area gets deep red, it is covered up with bandages to heal. This is the preferred method selected by the biggest and baddest biker dudes and those lucky few who can drive nails through their hands and not feel it. If you are seeking a professional for a tattoo removal and he mentions the word Salabration, see how fast you can find the nearest exit and hope he hasn’t already locked the doors.

Tattoo removal creams

Removal creams have varying degrees of success much of which is dependent on the individual tattoo characteristics, depth of ink, type of ink and individuals body chemistry. Before spending a large amount of money for surgery you may want to try a removal cream if you can accept fading as opposed to complete removal.

Cover-up

So you changed your mind and for some reason you just do not like your latest tattoo but don’t necessarily want to get rid of it but just change it to something else. A tattoo cover-up job can be much less painful and cheaper alternative to removal. You just gotta find a skilled tattoo artist who can help you redesign the image into something you like and have him do the modifications. It is amazing what a talented artist can do to completely change a tattoo. Just make sure that you find an artist that is experienced in doing this and ask to see pictures of some of his modification jobs.

It doesn’t matter what removal method you use there will be some type of scaring or color variations. The most important thing is to consult with a physician that specializes or has extensive experience in removing tattoos. Good luck and remember that the best way to avoid these removal methods is to be very careful and selective when deciding to get that tattoo in the first place.

Go to www.tattoozfind.com to find the right tattoo. Find a large free image gallery along with extensive tattoo information and resources. You may consider taking one for a test drive before making it permanent.



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Tattoo Removal Boston

Posted on 14th of May, 2010
Glen Callahan asked:


With tattoos becoming more popular , many of us are going to tattoo artists all over the planet. Many of us feel the necessity to express themselves in a non-spoken manner and getting a tattoo done is the only way of doing this. However, infrequently folk get tattoos without knowing what they are doing, like when they are at a party. There are several places to get tattoos removed, and if you are in the Boston area, all you must do is look out for the assorted tattoo removal Boston clinics that have been established.

There are plenty of other reasons an individual would wish to remove a tattoo. Many young folk today fall in love and get the name of that person tattooed somewhere on their body as a way to express their love. A lot of the time, these relationships don’t work out and the tattooed person is left with the name of their ex printed on their arm for everyone to see. In this case, tattoo removal comes in handy. The majority of the time, you will find the costs of tattoo removal completely outweigh the costs of getting a tattoo done in the first place, which is why numerous tattoo removal home remedies have been developed. The sole other option would be for you to keep an eye open for tattoo removal Boston corporations, which offer assorted qualified practitioners in one place who just specialize in tattoo removal.

Tattoo Removal Boston

This is, actually, a method that is carried out over many sessions, as with laser removal the ink is only lighted with every visit to the laser specialist. Many of us say that getting a tattoo removed, hurts more than getting the tattoo put on to begin with. This is why it is always commended that you think long and hard before you get a tattoo in the first place, particularly if you want to get a name tattooed. In fact, many tattoo artists, do not like to apply names of people unless it is the name of the person’s mum, dad, sibling, child or any other person you can not divorce or dump.

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How Much Does Tattoo Removal Cost?

Posted on 9th of May, 2010
Vlad Rizhkov asked:


It is perfectly understandable that someone contemplating tattoo removal would want to know, down to dollars and cents, just how much tattoo removal will cost them. The truth is that there is no single answer to the question: how much does tattoo removal cost?  Research is likely to result in an extensive list of options and price ranges which can be confusing and frustrating.

Lesson 1: The cheapest option is not always the cheapest option

All that glitters isn’t gold and much of what looks like a bargain isn’t really a bargain at all.  Many people are attracted to less drastic options for tattoo removal such as lemon juice bleaching or topical agents which can be purchased from a pharmacy for the purpose of slowly fading the tattoo in a similar way as the sun might over time.

Tattoos are made of pretty stern stuff and aren’t prone to easily fade away. A tattoo may lose some of its original vibrancy over time, but on the whole will usually retain its clarity and shape for the lifetime of the wearer.  It is possible that you might spend many times over the cost of medical intervention in your search for a ‘miracle’ cream.

Lesson 2: There is no ‘one size fits all in tattoo removal

Tattoo removal is not like those sweaters you can buy which are so freely sized that they could be worn by any size and either ***. Tattoos are personal and require a personalized solution to successfully orchestrate their removal.

Arrange a proper consultation with a trained professional who can advise you on the particular issues associated with your tattoo.  Is it placed somewhere bony like a shoulder blade? If so, that will present some pain management challenges as there is little fatty tissue underlying the skin to act as a cushion against the laser or scalpel effects.  If your tattooist used a particularly festive color palette in his or her work, laser therapy may cease to be an option, as not all inks are equally receptive to the light frequencies safe to use on human skin. The true question may not how much does tattoo removal cost but rather how much pain and punishment am I willing to withstand?   In most cases, removal of a tattoo is a much more complicated, lengthy and painful process than getting the ink there in the first place.

Is a redesign a viable option?

It may be possible to take your unsavory tattoo to a great new place without any humungous costs or invasive treatments. If the design is the problem and a professional deems it suitable for a re-working, this may present you with a very cost effective alternative. You will need to withstand the original process once more, and it may hurt a little more second time around and require more treatments to get a good result, but will almost certainly cost less than actual removal.

Like any service, the question of how much does tattoo removal cost could easily be answered with the quip: how long is a piece of string? It depends on what process you choose, your individual issues and who you select to perform the service. Even your locality, not to mention the exact locality of the tattoo itself, can influence how much removal treatments may cost.

Ultimately, the best advice is to collect enough good quotes to make a fully informed decision.



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Tattoo Remover With Laser Technology

Posted on 3rd of May, 2010
fenolftalein86 asked:


With the proliferation of tattoos in recent years, doctors have seen an increase in the number of people requesting tattoo removal. The reasons for this vary: the tattoos may be poorly placed or executed, the site may have become infected, or the person may simply have outgrown whatever impulse led to the tattoo.

Lasers work by producing short pulses of intense light that pass harmlessly through the top layers of the skin to be selectively absorbed by the tattoo pigment. This laser energy causes the tattoo pigment to fragment into smaller particles that are then removed by the body’s immune system. Researchers have determined which wavelengths of light to use and how to deliver the laser’s output to best remove tattoo ink.

During laser tattoo removal, the laser is used to selectively target and destroy the tattoo without damaging the surrounding tissue, which greatly decreases scarring. Lasers have differing wavelengths and pulse durations, and different laser beams are absorbed by specific colors, allowing physicians to choose the precise combination of lasers for the depth and color of a particular tattoo as well as for multi-colored tattoos. After treatment the skin is more uniform and natural in appearance, although some changes in skin texture and color are unavoidable.

With any tattoo, color is very important.  Black and white are the most commonly used colors, although there are other colors used as well.  Tattoos need to have an equal balance of color, along with the right shape.  If the shapes used in your design follow the contours of your body, the tattoo will look even more impressive.  Therefore, you should always have your tattoo applied by someone with a lot of experience.

Today, electronic tattoo machines are the most common methods of tattooing.  With electronic tattoo guns, the ink is injected into the skin by a group of needles that are attached to a bar.  The electronic gun moves very fast, going in and out of the skin hundreds of thousand of times per minute.  If an experienced tattoo artist uses the gun, the results can be amazing.  Experienced tattoo artists are always the way to go, as they have the experience to give you the results you want.  With the right tattoo artist and the right application technique – you should have a tattoo that you can be proud of.



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Are You Ready For Tattoo Removal Orange County?

Posted on 2nd of May, 2010
Daniel Marcus Manson asked:


For some tattoos are a reminder of where they are, what they’ve accomplished, to them a tattoo is an ultimate tribute to a memory. For others a tattoo is a form of self expression, illustrated with body art that reflects who they are, and still for others they are an act of rebellion, an of individualism, tattoos for them, is a way to let people who is in control. When a person gets a tattoo they go in with the understanding that the tattoo is permanent. They understand that they decision that they are making is a decision that will last forever. They in the stage of life they are in, think that there is in no way possible that they would ever want to remove their tattoos.

In all their wisdom, they never suspected that when they made the decision to get their tattoos that it would end up with regret. Over time, procedures have been introduced that remove tattoos, unfortunately, these methods often leave scars as reminders of the tattoo that used to be. And although removing the ink works leaving a scar of the tattoo itself isn’t the outcome that is wanted. If you have been looking into what is necessary to remove your tattoos, and you don’t know where to start, start with South Coast Med Spa.

Using state of the art tattoo removal lasers, SCMS can effectively remove professional, amateur, traumatic, and surgical tattoos. Dark blue and black inks, as well as red resolve the best, while greens and yellows may require more procedures to produce tattoo fading. You may be wondering if they tattoos actually disappear, and the answer is yes. Although there are many types of inks used for tattooing, and depth for each tattoo is different, it may take more procedures to get the results you wanted. However, in most cases greater 95% fading of the tattoo can be expected. Because of the varying issues that go along with tattoo removal, a physician cannot tell you how many procedures you’ll need, although on average it is six to eight procedures.

If you are ready for tattoo removal Orange County is where the most advanced tattoo removal lasers are to be found. South Coast Med Spa is the place in Orange County where you want to go. Visit Southcoastmedspa.com or call 877-650-SCMS (7267) to find out what they can do for you. Even though you thought you’d love your tattoo for life, reality happens, and when it does you want the best in laser tattoo removal. South Coast Med Spa is here to wipe the canvas clean.



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