If Considering Tattoo Removal Worcester Residents Should Know Their Options

By Rosella Campbell


When people first get a new tattoo they are proud to show it off, but several years down the road they may change their mind and wish they had never got it in the first place. In such instances, they will likely want to consider having it removed. There are different ways this can be accomplished, so when thinking about tattoo removal Worcester customers should first find out what their options are.

Perhaps the most popular approach to eliminating unwanted body art is laser removal. Laser light beams break apart the color pigments in the ink so they can be absorbed by the skin. This method even tackles professional tattoos in which inks have been injected into the deeper dermal layer where they are held in place by collagen fibers.

The particular type of laser used for removing tattoos is called a "Q-switched" laser, it emits sharp, short light pulses that break the ink molecules down so they are absorbed by the skin cells and are no longer visible. These lasers are sub-grouped into three types which offer vary degrees of effectiveness on specific colors: Ruby and Alexandrite lasers are used for green, blue, and black ink, and the Nd:YAG laser for red, black, and blue. Vivid, intense colors are usually the most challenging to remove.

Amateur ink work may only need two sessions or so to eliminate it, whereas professional designs can involve the use of at least two lasers and require up to twenty sessions. Some inks that contain iron-oxide compounds have the tendency to turn black when exposed to laser light, so a patch test is done first to determine if this will occur.

A topical anesthetic is applied before the laser treatment to minimize discomfort, although it is not a pain-free procedure and most patients will feel a sensation when it's being done. It may take only a few minutes or up to an hour, depending on the type and size of the tattoo. There may be minor scarring.

The IPL or Intense Pulsed Light method is another alternative for removing tattoos which is similar to laser except that it uses larger pulses of broad spectrum light. The upper layer of epidermal cells is burned away, taking the pigments with it, after several treatments the design will fade. Due to the nature of it, it is most suitable for larger areas such as the back, and more light pulses will be needed for designs that are deeper and more complex.

Dermabrasion can also be used to remove unwanted body art. Using a local anesthetic, the surgeon sands away the skin's upper layers in which the inks are present using a machine called a dermatome. The area will be red and sore afterwards for up to several weeks as new skin grows. Those who scar easily should not undergo this procedure.

The most extreme approach is surgical excision. The patient is given a local anesthetic and the surgeon then cuts away the section of skin where the design is located, if the image is small, the skin flaps on either side can simply be stitched together, however, if it is a larger design, sometimes skin must be taken from elsewhere on the body and be grafted on. Sometimes more than one surgery is needed, and scarring is a real possibility.




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