Your Tattoo Removal Options

Did you get a tattoo you regret on a drunken night? Is your ex’s name still tattooed on your arm? Regardless of the reasons, there are thousands of people who are stuck with tattoos that they no longer want. Unfortunately, getting rid of these works of art is not nearly as simple as getting them. Tattoos are supposed to be permanent so it is often no small feat to remove them.

If you have a tattoo that you wish to have removed, then you need to be aware of all the tattoo removal options that are available to you. Some are more painful than others. Some may or may not be appropriate depending on the type and size of the tattoo you want removed. Some may be prohibitively expensive. Below are five of the most common tattoo removal options that can be used to remove your unwanted ink.

Cryosurgery
Some of the tattoo removal options that are available will leave you with a scar after the artwork has been removed. One such method is cryosurgery.  With this technique, liquid nitrogen is sprayed onto the direct area where the tattoo is located. This creates a form of frostbite in only that area, which will cause the tattooed skin to peel off as it heals over the next few weeks. This is a painful method of removal, but is not as costly as some of the others.

Microdermabrasion
Less aggressive tattoo removal options also exist, but do not always work quite as quickly or effectively as others. One popular method of removal is microdermabrasion of the area. This is a treatment which can be done in a spa or dermatologist office or even with a kit from your home. It involved sandblasting the affected area so that it removes the outermost layers of the skin. The body will eventually grow new skin in that area and push the ink laden skin out. It can take quite a while to achieve complete success with this method and many treatments will be required.

Excision
Excision may be a good removal method for those who need to get rid of small tattoos. This treatment involves numbing the area with anesthesia and then cutting out the dyed areas of the skin. This can be painful and will definitely leave a scar behind. Excision can be used for larger tattoos, but several treatments are needed and possibly even a skin graft.

Chemical Peels
This is another one of the tattoo removal options which can take some time to work completely. With chemical peels, an acid based solution is used on the area of the skin over time to eat away at the inked layers. Several treatments over the course of months or years will be needed in order to completely remove a tattoo.

Laser Surgery
Perhaps the most commonly used and preferred method of tattoo removal is laser surgery. The lasers which are used can single out the pigmentation within the skin and remove it without hurting the other skin around it. This shortens the recuperating time, but several treatments may be needed for complete success.

If you are searching for a way to remove a tattoo that you no longer want, then it helps to be aware of all of the tattoo removal options that exist. The five methods referenced above are the most commonly used techniques for getting rid of your old artwork and each method may fit a different person depending on their personal needs.