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Can a Tattoo be Removed Completely?

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Can a Tattoo be Removed Completely?

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This is often asked by tattoo wearers, especially when their tattoo doesn’t come as they expected or when they have tattoo regrets.

Well, the answer is – YES, tattoos can be removed. There are myriads of tattoo removal options like dermabrasion, chemical peeling, surgical excision, and laser removal. Laser removal and surgery are considered the best options to remove a tattoo. However, the best amongst all is laser removal. Surgery leaves a scar behind, which doesn’t look appealing at all. But, the laser makes it look as if there was never anything there. Also, laser removal is safe, easy, and fast and leaves your skin intact after the treatment, unlike other procedures.

Can a tattoo be removed naturally?

Another most important question asked frequently is – Can a tattoo be removed naturally? Well, the answer is NO. You can use natural procedures to lighten your ink, but complete removal of the tattoo is not possible. Also, it depends on the size and colors used in the tattoo. Removing a bigger sized tattoo from natural methods is next to impossible.

How effective is tattoo removal?

The tattoo removal effectiveness will depend on myriads of factors like the size of the tattoo, placement of the tattoo, colors used in the tattoo, the technique used to remove a tattoo, so on and so forth. Laser removal is considered the most effective method of tattoo removal. But sometimes it also doesn’t work that well, as it also comes with its own risks. Sometimes it leaves behind some scarring or an impression of the tattoo.

So far, other options are concerned; they may or may not work on your skin that perfectly. Sometimes you may end up having a scar on the spot where you have your tattoo. Or you may not even get rid of your tattoo completely, as the other methods are not very effective. That’s the reason most people prefer laser removal over other methods to get rid of their artwork.

Is tattoo removal worth it?

Honestly speaking, unless you’ve got a really good reason to obliterate your tattoo, it’s not worth it. If I were you, I would prefer to opt for a cover-up tattoo. Tattoo removal is not only a time taking process, but also it is very expensive. And if you think that you can cut on cost by using methods other than laser removal, then you will end up having a faded one (a more complex situation, I must say).

Does tattoo removal hurt?

Know that laser tattoo removal involves some level of pain. However, the pain scale varies from person to person. Each person has his/her own capacity to bear the pain. It is believed that tattoo removal is excruciating. Many say that it stings, while some say that it hurts less than they expected. And most people explain that the sensation of removal is similar to having a tattoo applied. Also, some creams are applied before the laser removal process to numb the area so that the patient feels less pain while undergoing laser treatment.

Read More: Tattoo Removal Pain – How Much Does It Hurt!!

Tattoo removal creams

There are myriads of tattoo removal creams available in the market. These creams are topical ointments used to remove a permanent tattoo from the skin. You can buy these tattoo removal creams from any local store or online retailer. However, there’s little or no evidence that tattoo removal creams actually remove tattoos or not.

Read More: Does Tattoo Removal Creams Really Work?

Most tattoo removal creams don’t even claim to remove tattoos completely. All they claim is to help make your tattoo less noticeable. You can use these creams to make the laser process easier because by fading your tattoo, there will be less ink to remove. But, these creams may carry some serious side effects, which include burning and scarring.

Tattoo removal results

No two persons can have the same tattoo removal results. Tattoo removal results will vary from person to person. And several factors determine tattoo removal results. For instance, some patients who underwent Q-switched laser removal showed a reduction of the tattoo pigment, while many showed complete disappearance of the tattoo without side effects or complications. Some showed the pigment’s disappearance with accentuation of transient adverse side-effects, some showed non-definitive removal of pigments, and a few achieved poor results. In contrast, few showed swelling, punctiform bleeding, vesicle formation, and itching. Factors that determine tattoo removal results are as follows:

  1. Tattoo Age: Older tattoos are easier to remove than newer tattoos, as they are prone to pigment fading.
  2. Tattoo Size: The size of the tattoo matters when you go for tattoo removal. It is believed that larger tattoos require more treatments than smaller ones.
  3. Ink color: The color of the ink will also influence the tattoo removal process. Typically black, blue, and green inks are easier to remove, while yellow, red, orange, and white inks are progressively more challenging.
  4. Smoking: Habit of smoking can have negative impacts on tattoo removal. Patients who smoked regularly will have a 70% lower rate of removal after ten sessions than their non-smoking counterparts. This is because smoking direct effects the process of wound healing.
  5. Amount of Ink: Undoubtedly, the amount of ink used will also impact the tattoo removal process. The more the colors used in the tattoo, the greater the density of pigments reside more in-depth in the skin, resulting in the more treatment sessions.
  6. Skin Color: It is believed that the tattoo removal procedure is more effective for individuals with lighter skin tones. This is because lighter skin does not absorb laser light, as most of the laser energy is focused on the tattoo pigment. Dark skin, on the other hand, draws off a portion of laser light from the tattoo. Also, most laser operators prefer to use lower energy settings on patients with darker skin types, as they are more receptive to unwanted side effects.
  7. Tattoo Location: Tattoos in the areas with a limited vascular supply and slower healing are hard to remove. That is why tattoos on the feet, hands, and lower legs require more treatments than tattoos on the chest and back.
  8. Scarring: People who develop scars or other tissue damage during the tattooing process require more treatments. This is because the ink pigments that reside under scar tissue are difficult to remove.
  9. Layered Tattoos: Layered tattoos are the tattoo when a person gets a cover-up tattoo on his/her initial tattoo. Layered tattoos are difficult to remove! They need more treatment sessions compared to singular tattoos. The new layers or the cover-up tattoos are mostly larger and darker, which significantly increases the overall density of ink that makes the full removal of layered tattoo challenging.

The Bottom Line

The most unfortunate thing could be to have tattoo regret. Getting a tattoo is already a painful process, and then getting it removed just adds to the pain. So the best way to avoid tattoo regrets is – plan your tattoo strategically. Yes, you don’t need to rush to get a tattoo. Spend a nice time to search for your tattoo design. And make sure you get it etched from a reputable tattoo artist. Also, you can try to have a temporary tattoo before going for the permanent one. This way, you will get an idea of how your tattoo will look on you, and you can avoid tattoo regrets.

Happy Tattooing…..☺ ☺

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