What if you have a tattoo that you really don’t want to live with? Tattoos can be removed, but the procedures are expensive and don’t always produce very good results. There are several different procedures to choose from. Each procedure works best in particular circumstances (depending on the size and location of the tattoo, for instance). If you are considering tattoo removal, do some research. A plastic surgeon or a dermatologist (skin doctor) should be able to help you.
Methods of tattoo removal include:
• Surgical Removal - where doctors insert a balloon under your skin and cut away the tattoo.
• Dermabrasion - where the doctors sand away your tattoo.
• Salabrasion - where they soak your tattoo in a salt solution to suck out the ink. This may leave some discoloration.
• Scarification - in which they use an acid that removes the tattoo but leaves a scar.
• Laser Surgery where a laser is used to burn away the ink. This is probably the most effective method, but even this method can leave some scarring or discoloration.