Procedures Laser Procedures Tattoo Removal | Tattoo Removal |
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Tattoo Removal Can all tattoos be removed? Most dermatologic surgeons caution that complete tattoo removal is not possible. Tattoos are meant to be permanent, so removing them is difficult. Few guarantee complete removal. Having said that, there are several methods of tattoo removal which have proven effective. The degree of remaining color variations or blemishes depends upon several factors, including size, location, the individual's ability to heal, how the tattoo was applied and how long it has been in place. For example, a tattoo applied by a more experienced artist may be easier to remove since the pigment was evenly injected in the same level of the skin. New tattoos may also be more difficult to remove than old ones. Doctors say they can't predict the exact degree of removal because they generally don't know which of the 100 tattoo inks available today were used. (The U.S. Food and Drug Administration currently lists tattoo pigments as "color additives," which are intended only for application to the top layer of the skin.) Does tattoo removal hurt and what can I expect?
The unfortunate thing about tattoos is that both getting them and having them taken off can be uncomfortable. The impact of the energy from the laser's powerful pulse of light has been described as similar to getting hot specks of bacon grease on your skin or being snapped by a thin rubber band. Because black pigment absorbs all laser wavelengths, it's the easiest to remove. Other colors, such as green, selectively absorb laser light and can only be treated by selected lasers based on the pigment color In preparation for a laser procedure, doctors recommend that non-aspirin products, like Tylenol, be used for minor aches and pains prior to the procedure, because aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents such as Ibuprofen can produce pronounced bruising after treatment. More than one treatment, which actually only takes minutes, is usually needed to remove an entire tattoo -- the number of sessions depends on the amount and type of ink used and how deeply it was injected. Three-week intervals between sessions are required to allow pigment residue to be absorbed by the body. Side effects of laser procedures are generally few but may include hyper pigmentation, or an abundance of color in the skin at the treatment site, and hypo pigmentation, where the treated area lacks normal skin color. Other possible side effects include infection of the site, lack of complete pigment removal and a 5 percent chance of permanent scarring. |
Tattoo Removal
Laser Lights Plastic Surgery & Cosmetic Laser Center in Atlanta, GA offers permanent tattoo removal of all tattoo colors including green.
Hair Removal
Laser hair removal provides an effective solution for eliminating hair on any area of the body. Most of our laser treatments can be performed quickly.
General Cosmetic
Dr. David Whiteman has been performing cosmetic and plastic surgery services in Atlanta since 1993.