Over time, we may grow less fond of our body art and may consider making a change. While the idea of tattoos is that they are permanent additions to your skin, we’ve learned new ways of making them disappear. There are several ways to go through the tattoo removal process, but which one stands out? A Younger You Medical Spa in Burlington, WI excels at tattoo removal, so visit us and let us educate you on some of the pros and cons of various tattoo removal techniques.
What Is Tattoo Removal?
The idea of removing tattoos has been around a long time, about the same time that tattoos have been around. In that time, various means have been applied for removing body ink. As time has gone on, our tools have only improved, making the process of removing permanent tattoos all the more effective. There are now four main ways a tattoo can be permanently removed.
Dermabrasion
Dermabrasion is a method that involves the actual removal of the inked area. By using a special tool, the top layers of skin that contain all of the ink particles are taken off. After all inked layers are removed, the tattoo is completely gone.
The process is basic, but it may take a few sessions to remove the extra layers of ink if the tattoos are particularly complex or deep. Upon completion of this mild procedure, hygiene is a priority, as you will need to clean and disinfect the affected area often.
Chemical Peels
Another tattoo removal process that many people have considered is using a special acid that allows for the inked area to be broken down until it’s depleted. The chemical is known as Trichloroacetic acid, or TCA. It’s a mild acid that is typically used as a chemical peel that removes the top layers of skin but has in the past also been used for the removal of unwanted tattoos. Just like with dermabrasion, the area that was treated requires mild care with soap and water until completely healed.
Removal via Excision
Are you someone who wants your tattoo removed in a timely fashion? A minor procedure is an option to quickly remove any trace of ink within your skin. Typically, this process is reserved for more minor tattoos in smaller sizes as larger tattoo removal using this method isn’t as practical. This process of removing tattoos isn’t as commonly used as others, but it is a potential possibility. Just like the others, this one requires you to take care of the location of the procedure.
Laser Removal
Perhaps the most commonly used method of removing unwanted tattoos, and the one you’ve likely heard about in the past, is laser removal. A laser simply breaks down the ink particles, allowing them to be removed naturally by your body. The laser, instead of breaking through the skin, applies a reasonable amount of pressure-inducing energy to the tattooed area in order to break down the ink particles.
Your immune system, which is programmed to handle small particles of foreign substances by flushing them out of your body, will do the rest of the work. While it typically takes multiple sessions to fully remove a tattoo, it’s also the least intrusive and most effective way to remove ink particles.
What Is the Most Effective Way to Remove Tattoos?
Laser removal is by far the most often used method of tattoo removal and there’s a valid reason for that. It’s considered the most successful way to remove tattoos and is also minimally invasive and non-surgical. Your laser removal session won’t take long at all, but you will probably need multiple sessions to fully remove the embedded ink, depending on a few different variables:
- Size of tattoo
- Type of ink used in tattoo
- Location of tattoo
- Your own health and lifestyle
If you’ve previously attempted to remove the tattoo via laser or some other means, we still may be able to help you fully remove what’s left. Just stop by our office and we’ll be happy to take a look and see what we can do to help you.
The Pros of Laser Removal
Minimal to No Scarring
Other methods to remove tattoos often leave behind minor scars from the procedure. Since laser removal is minimally invasive and non-surgical, you won’t experience much scarring — if any at all. The laser itself is designed to have minimal impact on your skin cells, not leaving behind much trace that any procedure was ever done.
It’s Completely Safe
While the potential for danger is really low with most methods of removing a tattoo, it’s essentially non-existent with laser removal. Those who have undergone laser removal note that the process requires minimum care and that recovery is fast.
Can Remove Entire Tattoos
Laser removal is very effective at removing either specific areas or entire regions where tattoos have covered. It does so with great precision, allowing for efficiently focused beams to completely remove any ink. Whether it’s a small tattoo or a large one, the laser removes the tattoo with great sufficiency.
Visit A Younger You to Get Your Tattoo Removed
Are you looking to have your tattoo removed? Our team is qualified to remove any size or complexity of tattoos. Visit A Younger You in Burlington, WI to have a consultation to see if laser tattoo removal is right for you.