Can You Completely Remove A Tattoo?

Tattoos have been around since ancient times and remain popular today, with an estimated 25% of Americans having one. However, tattoos may be fun to get, but your tastes can change or the person you made a commitment to with your tattoo may no longer be in your life, leaving you wondering if you can completely remove a tattoo. The desire to find a way to get rid of tattoos so that you’re not stuck with them the rest of your life has led to the creation of multiple types of tattoo removal. Here’s what you need to know about tattoo removal and whether it can completely remove a tattoo. 

Types Of Tattoo Removal

With how common it is for people to change their minds about tattoos and really not want to have to have them on their skin permanently, there are several types of tattoo removal available now. Some types of tattoo removal are more effective than others. 

When considering tattoo removal and if you’re trying to completely remove a tattoo, you’ll want to consider factors like: their cost, their risk of scarring, how effective they are to completely remove a tattoo, and how much time will be involved in the process. These factors vary greatly based on the type of tattoo removal you go for, as well as your skin tone and the size, colors, condition, and complexity of your tattoo. 

The current types of tattoo removal are: 

• Laser tattoo removal

This is among the most effective methods to completely remove a tattoo. Laser tattoo removal involves using lasers to heat up the pigment in your skin and dissipate it. Once the ink is broken up, your body will be able to excrete it.You’ll need several treatments in order to completely remove a tattoo. The more complex, the more treatments you’ll need. 

If you have darker skin, laser tattoo removal carries the risk of lightening it, so you may need more sessions as the specialist will use the laser at a lower setting in order to both remove your tattoo and preserve your skin tone. Some types of laser tattoo removal are less likely to cause lightening of skin pigmentation than others, so you’ll want to ask your specialist about the best options for you.

• Dermabrasion 

This is less likely to completely remove a tattoo, because it involves sanding away layers of your skin where the tattoo is. Dermabrasion can be effective, depending on the person and the kind of tattoo you have, but it also carries risks of bleeding, bruising, and greater risk of changes in your skin pigmentation. 

• Excision

This type of tattoo removal is also known as surgical removal, and will always completely remove a tattoo, because it involves literally cutting it off and then stitching your skin back together. Excision usually leaves a scar and is best done on smaller tattoos for this very reason. This is the most invasive type of tattoo removal, but guarantees that you can completely remove a tattoo - instantly.

• Cover-up tattoos

Sometimes, people will still want tattoos, just not one they currently have. In this case, you may choose to get a cover-up tattoo, and have your tattoo that you no longer want covered up and turned into something else. 

At home treatments such as chemical peels and tattoo removal creams may be popular and cheap, but there’s a reason for that - there is no solid, scientifically proven evidence that they actually work. In the best case, they’ll lighten your tattoo a little. In the worst case, you’ll end up with a serious chemical burn. As such, if you want to completely remove a tattoo, you’re best off with professional treatments. They may be more expensive, but they are far, far more effective.

Does Tattoo Removal Work?

Whether or not you can completely remove a tattoo will depend on the kind of treatment that you go for. Excision guarantees that you can completely remove a tattoo, but it also carries high risk of scarring, is very invasive, and is better suited to small tattoos. If you want to completely remove a tattoo without scarring and in a more cost-effective way that is still very effective, laser tattoo removal is the best option. 

How many sessions you will need will depend on your skin tone and your tattoo’s size and complexity, with smaller and less complex ones needing less treatments than bigger and more complicated ones, such as tattoos that involve white or blue or green or red ink. 

Does Tattoo Removal Hurt?

This depends on the kind of tattoo removal you get. Generally, your specialist will give you an anesthetic or numbing cream or injection to minimize your discomfort during the procedure. As you’re working to completely remove a tattoo, you’ll probably feel a little discomfort during a laser treatment procedure, as well as redness and swelling and crusting over the treated area, after the fact. 

Specialists will do everything they can to make the process as comfortable as possible for you, such as prescribing an antibiotic ointment for the treated area. Laser tattoo removal is a more comfortable and less invasive way to completely remove a tattoo than other available methods, and also avoids side effects, such as scarring. 

The PicoWay tattoo removal Regeneration Health Medical Spa uses has a picosecond laser (a trillionth of a second) which shatters pigment in ultra-fast pulses that use less heat than traditional lasers, lessening your risk of scarring even more. 

Is It Possible To Completely Remove A Tattoo?

It is possible to completely remove a tattoo. If you want it gone instantly and are willing to risk a scar, excision will guarantee that you can completely remove a tattoo. If you want a more time-intensive, but effective way to completely remove a tattoo while minimizing side effects and prioritizing your comfort, laser treatments, especially PicoWay lasers, could be right for you. Results vary from person to person, as with everything. What works for one may not work for another. It’s important to consult with a specialist in order to determine the best tattoo removal for you.

Regeneration Health Medical Spa offers PicoWay laser treatments and our provider will develop treatment plans personalized to you and your tattoo, so you can take care of that tattoo. Results will vary depending on the person, as will how many treatments you need. Although laser tattoo removal is very effective, it isn’t for everyone. Contact us today for our provider to gather your health history and determine whether or not the PicoWay laser is the best option for you to remove your tattoo.