Tattoo Removal Using Laser

Each tattoo is as different as each person. There are a few things to know about tattoos before you have one applied. The human skin is different also. Fair skin is easier to have the tattoos removed then the darker skin. With the legs, arms, buttocks and chest a better chance of removal then with the fingers, ankles and places with less body fat where it will be more difficult and the results will vary. Also the health of the patient and the age of the tattoo will also have a effect on removal with a newer tattoo being harder to remove. All of these different aspects of the person and the tattoo will determine how many visits it will take to remove the tattoo.

When you first decided on a tattoo you had several options to choose from. Choosing your tattoo parlor was probably as hard in determining as making a decision on the tattoo itself. The same tough decisions will apply with the removal. Take the time to do some research and find a professional that is trained and qualified in that medical field. Make an appointment just to talk over the options, and what different procedures that are available. If laser tattoo removal is advised, get an idea of what is involved. And just as the costs of tattoos are not cheap, neither is the removal.

The tattoos are painful when they are placed on the skin and the removal of tattoos is uncomfortable as well. The lasers generate a series of very rapid pulses which, just like tattoos will feel a little different to each person, so the laser will also produce a difference in intensity. But be prepared for it to be generally uncomfortable. While blood thinners are not recommended, the physician may recommend for you to take some aspirins or Tylenol a few hours before the procedure just to minimize pain. Also, a local anesthetic ointment might be applied to the tattoo before the procedure. Depending on all of the conditions, a local anesthetic may be injected into the tattoo before the procedure.

The laser treatment is usually just a few minutes, but this depends on all the factors mentioned before. Multiple sessions are usually required to remove most tattoos. These will be split over a period of weeks, once again determined by all factors. Protective eye shields are worn during the treatments. The physician will test the skin to determine for the most effective energy, followed by activating a small prove against the tattoo, depending on all factors of the tattoo, 10 - 30 pulses of the laser may be required in on session. Ice will be applied to minimize swelling, followed by an antibiotic ointment with a sterile dressing. Leaving the skin dry, it will be cared for like a sunburn over the next several days. Safety durning removal is just as important as tattoo safety durning application.

While side effects are minor, hypopigmentation which is excessive fading of the skin or hyperpigmentation which is excessive color of the skin may happen. A slight chance of infection or small chance of permanent scarring may occur, the area may appear sunburned for several weeks to a few months and this should pass. Most patients like the fact of no surgery and no blood loss. This is considered cosmetic and is not usually covered by insurance. Most will range from several hundred into the thousands, depending again on all the factors.