Tattoo RemovalOptionsMany people choose to have decorative tattoos in youth but live to regret this decision. Options for tattoo removal include surgical excision, dermabrasion, and laser. Surgical excision is best employed for small tattoos on loose skin but always leaves a scar. Dermabrasion involves sanding the skin with a rotating wire brush and may leave a scar or a pale area. Even after several treatments, the tattoo may still be visible. Laser has become the treatment of choice. Laser Tattoo Removal Lasers target tattoo ink and rapidly heat it. Heat causes ink to expand and break up into smaller particles. The body is able to then absorb the small ink fragments and carry them away. Treatments are associated with mild discomfort, not unlike a small rubber band snapping against skin. Discomfort is well tolerated when small areas are treated, but if large areas are treated, discomfort may interfere with the procedure. Discomfort can be minimized by the use of ice, sedatives, pain medications, or injections of local anesthetic. Multiple Treatments Are NecessaryEach laser targets a different family of colors. To completely remove a family of colors, two to four sessions may be required. Because most tattoos are comprised of multiple color families, several lasers may be required. For example, if three color families exist in one tattoo, and each family of colors must be targeted three times, a total of nine laser sessions will be necessary. Some tattoos required 15 to 20 laser treatments for complete removal. Many other factors determine the number of treatments necessary. Tattoos obtained in a tattoo parlor are difficult to remove because professional tattoos are typically deep, dark, and made with complex ink. Homemade tattoos are variable in their difficulty of removal based on the type of ink used and the depth they were placed. New tattoos are difficult to remove because they have a higher concentration of ink than old ones. Older tattoos have a lower concentration of ink because as a tattoo ages, the body absorbs some of the ink. Turquoise tattoos are particularly difficult to remove, because no laser effectively targets that color. Red, white, and flesh colored tattoos are also troublesome, as they may turn black after laser treatment. The total number of treatments necessary cannot be established with certainty at the outset. The common range is between six and twelve. Treatments may be performed every one to two months or may be spaced over several years. The tattoo will begin to fade one week after each treatment and will continue to fade for several months. Some choose to save money by discontinuing treatments before the tattoo is completely removed. Others pursue laser therapy until there are no detectable signs of the tattoo. Some people choose to over-tattoo ("cover-art") to hide an undesirable tattoo. This is especially common when the original tattoo contains the name of a former lover. If you have done this, expect that you will need even more laser treatments. Ask Your Plastic Surgeon About These Potential ComplicationsScarring CostThe typical cost is $200-500 per session. If your tattoo is extensive, expect to pay more. Since five to twenty sessions may be required, the total fee may range from $1,000 to $10,000.
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Dr. Loftus is the highly acclaimed plastic surgeon who authored The Smart Woman's Guide to Plastic Surgery, which is the #1 Best-selling book on plastic surgery in the United States. She has appeared on CNN, MSNBC, THE TODAY SHOW and THE VIEW, discussing all facets of plastic surgery. People from all over the world travel to Cincinnati to seek her care.
Loftus
Plastic Surgery Center
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