Tattoos have experienced resurgence in popularity in many parts of the world. Many people love their body art and wish to keep their tattoos forever. However, others regret that decision, and decide at some point in their lives that they don’t like that star on their ankle or dragon on their bicep anymore. They may had been under peer pressure or drunk when getting their tattoo. Or they found a new job and a conspicuous body decoration makes them feel uncomfortable in the new professional environment. What then?

While tattoos are meant to be permanent, it is possible to remove them with treatments, fully or partially. The expense and pain of removing tattoos, however, will typically be greater than the expense and pain of applying them.

So, how to remove a tattoo and what are the available tattoo removal options?

Common methods of tattoo removal include dermabrasion (removing the surface of the skin by abrasion), chemical peels (a chemical solution is used to scrape away the outer skin layers until the tattoo pigmentation is reached), tattoo removal creams (a do-it-yourself option, effectiveness of this method is often questioned, though), cryosurgery (application of extreme cold to tattooed area of the skin), and excision (surgical removal) which is sometimes used along with skin grafts for larger tattoos.

While these methods are popular, the most common procedure for removing tattoos is using laser technology.

Laser surgery is one of the most effective tattoo removal options and causes least damage to the skin. The laser beam reacts with the ink in the tattoo and breaks down tattoo pigmentation without damaging the surrounding skin. The broken-down ink is then expelled by the body, mimicking the natural fading that time or sun exposure would create.

The healing process is much shorter than with other methods; however, multiple sessions are necessary – up to 8 or more. At $150-$500 per session, this makes the laser treatment very costly – it can run up to $10,000. The number of sessions and spacing between treatments depend on various factors, including the area of the body treated and skin color. The procedure is not covered by insurance, so a tattoo that may have only cost a couple hundred dollars to get, may cost much more to remove.

Regardless of which type of tattoo removal method you choose, you should ultimately consult your doctor before making the final decision. Ask for a free consultation – you’ll surely have questions, and the doctor removing your tattoo should also see your tattoo to make sure you are a good candidate for the procedure. After looking at all of the options, some people simply decide to keep the body art, or even add to it, in order to change whatever they didn’t like about it in the first place.

Tags: Cosmetic Surgery, health, laser tattoo removal, Plastic Surgery, skin care, tattoo removal cost, tattoo removal methods