Truths about tattoo removal
A young man I’ll call “Jack” came to my office in order to remove a tattoo on his neck. He wants to join the military after high school graduation, and the military no longer allows tattoos above the collarbone.
Like many people, both old and young, Jack now suffers from tattoo regret. Tattoos are easy to obtain and very affordable. Unfortunately, many are designed to last a lifetime. An impulsive decision made on vacation may result in consequences when seeking employment or even in the social arena. Tattoo removal once had low odds of success with a high risk of scarring and pain. The newer lasers now have improved technologies which markedly increased safety and efficacy.
To properly remove a tattoo, lasers of varying wavelengths must be used to target different colors. A laser targets particles of a specific color, causing them to break into smaller pieces that can be easily carried away by the body’s lymphatic system. For each color, a different wavelength is needed to optimally treat. Therefore, it is important to make sure that your treatment center has a laser with multiple wavelengths.
To avoid scarring and discoloration, a number of treatments are often necessary. These must be spaced at eightto 12-week intervals which allows the body to remove the broken down ink before the next treatment.
Not all colors can be easily removed.
The red and black inks are usually the easiest to remove, while yellows, greens and blues may be more difficult. Sometimes color-specific lasers are combined with CO2 lasers to get the best results.
The individual treatment is relatively simple. A patient receives a consultation to determine whether he or she is a candidate for removal. Some people cannot have tattoo removal, including those who form thick scars called keloids, those who had an allergic reaction to the ink when they received the tattoo, women who are pregnant or those who have recently taken Accutane.
Also, many people have had cosmetic make-up and this type of “tattoo” ink cannot be removed with the laser.
Prior to the treatment the person should avoid sun exposure for two weeks and, if possible, avoid aspirin, ibuprofen and other anticoagulants for seven days.
How does it work? A topical anesthetic is placed on the tattoo site for a few minutes to numb the area. The actual procedure takes only a few minutes and feels a little like a snap of a rubber band. A cooling device, or Zimmer, is used to increase comfort.
Shortly after the procedure the person may have some temporary whitening and even some surrounding redness.
Over time, the tattoo fades. After-care is simple but important to minimize scarring. After the procedure, Aquaphor and a light bandage are placed on the area. Strenuous exercise and excessive heat should be avoided for 24 hours to prevent blistering and the treated area should not be exposed to sunlight. The number of treatments varies with the age of the tattoo and the color and amount of ink.
Again, this is not a one-time procedure. Average numbers of treatment vary, but doctors can make a fairly accurate prediction during the initial consultation.
So before you have “Ronnie” tattooed on your arm, think about the difficulty of removing “Ronnie” if circumstances change.
And to avoid any complications, seek an experienced board certified physician with extensive laser training.
