All About Tattoo Removal
Tattoos are often emotional investments, and sometimes done when emotions are high. When the emotion wears off, you had better be ready to live with that is now a part of your body. You can bet about half of the people you see sitting in a tattoo parlor getting inked will one day regret their decision, and they will have that tattoo removed.
I have one, myself. I got it in college and thankfully, do not regret it. In retrospect, I’m awfully lucky where as my roommate was not. I have a simple design on my inner ankle, while she had a spider tattooed on her chest. Last I heard she had it removed.
She’s not alone. Many people mistakenly think love is always meant to last forever. It just isn’t sometimes, as sad as that is. Countless people are walking around with names tattooed on their bodies. Half of these people can no longer stomach seeing that person, let alone having their name permanently etched into their skin.
So what can you do when “Tim” ran over your dog with his truck and left town with your sister? Do you have options if that really cool flame going up your arm is suddenly a liability in your new job? Lucky for you, there are ways to get rid of the permanent reminder of your heartache.
Before you rush out to see someone about getting your tattoo removed, there are a few things to keep in mind. The most important point to remember is that it is hard to completely remove any trace of a tattoo. They are, as you know, meant to be permanent. You run the risk of leaving with a scar, discoloration, or part of the tattoo still visible.
Today, most tattoo removal is done by laser. This is a far more comfortable alternative to the way they used to be removed. It often required the skin to be removed by cutting or being frozen off. Ouch! If the skin was removed, the skin surrounding the area would then have been pulled in and stitch together, leaving a scar.
Lasers are handy because they can zoom in on the pigment of your tattoo while leaving the skin surrounding it healthy and untouched. The laser will target the ink and cause it to break down. After this happens, your body should remove it on it’s own.
You will want to visit a cosmetic surgeon to have your tattoo removed. They will either do the procedure themselves or refer you. Ask about their experience in removing tattoos and what their success rate is.
If you want the job done right, look for the best in your area. Discuss price when you call. Tattoo removal can and will cost hundreds of dollars. It may even shoot up into the thousands, depending on the size and placement of your artwork.
When you have found a doctor, it’s time to get it removed. If you are wondering if it’s going to hurt, ask the doctor what to expect. Getting a tattoo can be painful, and getting it removed will not be pain-free. You should ask if you can take any pain medications before your appointment. A good doctor will discuss all of this with your beforehand.
Though tattoo removal today is much less invasive than it was years ago, you should know some discoloration or scaring could still occur. Don’t go into you removal sessions thinking your skin will be just like it was before the tattoo. Of course, if your “Bubba loves Bitsy” tattoo is embarrassing, a little bit of discoloration is a lovely alternative, don’t you think?
