There are several different methods for tattoo removal which have proven successful. In most cases, however, some scarring or color variations remain. The success of removal depends upon the color, size, location of the tattoo, the method used to apply the tattoo, and the length of time it has been on the skin. A tattoo performed by a more experienced tattoo artist may be easier to remove since the pigment is evenly injected in the same level of the skin. A tattoo that has been on the skin for a lengthy amount of time may be more difficult to remove than a new one.

There are several methods of tattoo removal available today. Lasers are frequently used for the removal of unwanted tattoos. If necessary, a numbing cream is applied to the skin and pulses of light from the laser are directed onto the tattoo to break up the tattoo pigment. Over the next several weeks, the body’s scavenger cells remove the treated pigmented areas. More than one treatment is usually necessary to remove the entire tattoo.

Another popular method of removal, especially when the tattoo is small, is by excision. The advantage of this method is that the entire tattoo can be removed. Using a local anesthetic to numb the area, the tattoo is removed surgically, the edges are then brought together and sutured. With larger tattoos it may be necessary to excise in stages by initially removing the center and later the sides. In some cases involving large tattoos, a skin graft taken from another part of the body may be necessary.

Dermabrasion is another method of tattoo removal. 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.

Regardless of which method of tattoo removal is used, some scarring or color variations are likely to remain. Healing time varies depending upon the size and depth of the tattoo, the procedure used and the patient’s healing process.

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