You want to remove a tattoo who you no longer like or who simply no longer belongs? No problem ! Contrary to some popular belief, it is quite possible to erase a tattoo, even a permanent one. For this, we present here the most widespread and effective methods.
Summary
How to remove a laser tattoo?
To get rid of a tattoo, a dermatologist or plastic surgeon will usually use the Q-switched technology which comes in two main forms.
The Q-switched nanosecond laser
This is the most common laser method for tattoo removal. When you get a tattoo, colored pigments lodge in the dermis (middle layer of the skin). The rays lasers therefore penetrate the skin to fragment the encrusted pigments so that they are reduced to micro particles.
The body’s macrophage cells can then capture and dispose of residual debris. A two month interval generally spaces out the laser sessions to allow the body to do the cleansing. Unfortunately, some tattoos are Q-switched resistant and therefore not completely removable.
The Q-switched picosecond laser
This form of laser is newer. It offers a finer fragmentation of the tattoo pigments, and therefore an elimination faster by the organism. With the picosecond laser, the break intervals are reduced to 1.5 months or even 1 month.
Also, the picosecond requires fewer sessions than the nanosecond. Moreover, it is more conclusive with regard to tattoos with inks of difficult to process colors (especially green and turquoise blue). That said, this processing costs up to twice as much as Q-switched nanosecond.
How many sessions are needed?
The number of laser sessions is not standard. It is a function of:
- The dimensions of the tattoo design;
- The intensity of the colors;
- The depth of penetration.
Smaller tattoos usually require 5 to 7 sessionswhile the most spread out ask 10 sessions at a minimum.
How to remove a tattoo using surgery?
To get rid of tattoos, you can also resort to surgery. Used long before the laser, this method generally only works with small size tattoos.
What does this imply ?
In addition to being radical, the surgery makes it possible to obtain results with session unique. During the operation, the surgeon cuts out the tattooed area. This leaves scars on the patient’s skin.
So that these are less visible, it is recommended to practice the operation on fleshy areas such as the buttocks. A skin graft (for example) can then also be used to mask the scar.
How is the surgical operation performed to remove a tattoo?
the tattoo removal surgical usually requires simple local anesthesia. It can be done in two ways. The doctor can:
- remove pieces of tattooed skin;
- stretch the skin to ensure that the tattoo mark disappears entirely.
What about dermabrasion?
Dermabrasion refers to a particular form of surgical tattoo removal. Unlike the classic method, this solution can be implemented for large tattoos. The intervention takes place under anesthesia general or local, as the case may be.
Procedure of the intervention
Using an abrasive rotary brush or bur, the top layer of tattooed skin is removed. The pigments used by the tattoo artist are thus gradually eliminated.
How long to heal?
The wound of a dermabrasion heals completely after several weeks. With the intervention, a crust containing the color particles forms and falls off at the end of the healing process. The latter is materialized by a scar similar to that of a fourth degree burn.
This scar can keep a reddened appearance for several months. In order for the rest of the operation to proceed without complications, special attention must be paid to hygiene personal. The same is also true for any method of surgical tattoo removal.
How to erase a tattoo with cryotherapy?
Cryotherapy is a little used method to remove a tattoo. Less effective than the laser, it is however less expensive. It consists of bringing the tattooed area into contact with a temperature extremely cold. The top skin layer then dies off and is then removed by dermabrasion.
Since it is rather unpleasant, this technique is often performed under general anesthesia. During healing, the blisters that appear are similar to those of a burn. Also, the size of the tattoo determines the number of cryotherapy sessions needed.
Other possible solutions
Apart from these three main techniques, it is also possible to use diathermy. However, this tattoo removal solution is still in its infancy. Some caution is therefore called for.
On the other hand, it is strongly discouraged to opt for so-called “homemade” methods. To guarantee an aesthetic result and avoid complications, it is indeed preferable to always resort to medicine.
Remove a tattoo: how much does it cost ?
Tattoo removal can cost the same or even more expensive than a tattoo. Rates are not fixed and vary according to several criteria, including:
- The size of the drawing;
- The color of the pigments;
- The quality of the ink;
- The number of layers, etc.
The process usually requires multiple sessions; each of which may cost between 60 and 500 euros depending on the chosen method. To this price must be added the cost of the prior consultation.
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