A tattoo is something that will be with you for life, and whilst a lot of us love the pieces we have, it is not unusual to look back on a bad or old tattoo and regret your decision. Luckily for us, technology is advancing, which means we can get rid of our unwanted artwork, fade them enough to cover up or have them disappear completely.
Tattoo removal means that you can feel more confident in your skin, without having to be reminded of your past mistakes. If you’re thinking about tattoo removal, here are some of the top treatments you should know about.
Laser tattoo removal
Having your tattoo removed by a laser is without a doubt the safest and most successful way of getting rid of unwanted pieces. There are clinics that offer this service, in a professional environment to ensure that your appointments are carried out effectively.
When you get a tattoo, ink pigments are injected under the skin. Your body tries to get rid of them but is unsuccessful because of the amount of ink used in the tattoo. When you choose this method of removal, lasers help your body to break the ink pigments up, and then your immune system starts work flushing them out of your body. With laser removal, your tattoo can take a few appointments to start to fade, so choosing this treatment doesn’t mean your tattoo will disappear in one go, a few appointments mean a longer process but also mean a safe and effective result.
Benefits of laser tattoo removal
- Effective removal of most colours – as laser treatments have improved over the years, colours that were quite difficult to remove in the past, for example, greens, yellows, and turquoise can now be removed just as well as other colours and will leave virtually no trace.
- Reduced side effects – Unlike what you might find with other tattoo removal methods, choosing to use a laser means little to no scarring at the site of the tattoo, or on the skin around it.
- Fewer treatments – although you will need to leave 6-8 weeks between treatments, laser technology means that it could take you as little as 3-7 sessions to remove your old ink. There are factors that impact how many treatments you need, such as the placement, age, and ink density of your tattoo.
Tattoo Removal Cream
You might be thinking of exploring this more affordable, easy to obtain and apply method before you invest money into laser removal. However, a cream that you can buy off the shelf is not going to give you the tattoo removal results that you’re looking for. At best, the cream will simply fade your tattoo, but it will still be visible, and even still this could end up taking months. Unfortunately, you wouldn’t be able to achieve results with a cream as well as you would with a laser. These removal creams can sometimes cause a change in skin texture, burning or even scarring. For successful tattoo removal, a laser is your best option.
Tattoo removal treatments to avoid
As well as tattoo removal cream, there are a couple of other older and less advanced treatments that are worth being aware of, mostly so you can avoid them if possible!
Skin excision is a method by which a tattoo is removed surgically. This method is still used today and can be used on smaller tattoos but is more difficult or impossible on larger tattoos. This method leaves scarring. Choosing to have a tattoo removed by a laser means no surgery and no harsh scarring.
Subcutaneous injection is a method that means having glycolic acid-based liquids injected into the skin in the hope that it will influence the breaking down of ink particles from the tattoo.These injections can leave burn marks and scars. It is not proven that this method works, as the solution that is injected into the tattoo can’t be expelled easily from the skin, meaning the ink particles have nowhere to go.
If you’re looking for a way of getting rid of any ink you may regret or have grown out of over the years, it is important that you choose the safest, most effective way of doing this. Your health and well-being are a priority and choosing a laser treatment means that you can have access to professional equipment, treatments and aftercare solutions.
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