Tattoo Removal

How many of us have done something when we were young that we are not proud of today? Most of us, I’d say. I certainly fall into that category but I will save most of those stories for another, possible more appropriate hour. Today I want to talk about tattoos. I got my first tattoo when I was 18. The second one followed shortly after at 19. It was the second one that slowed me down for good.

I was on vacation with friends and we decided to get tattooed at a tattoo parlor off of the beach. Bad idea. My tattoo was poorly done and looks horrible to this day. I have thought seriously about tattoo removal because as much as I hate the darned thing now, I know that it will drive me crazy when I am older.

The problem with tattoo removal is the cost. Most of the research I have done on the topic has led me to the understanding that it will cost hundreds, if not a thousand dollars to remove a tattoo of approximately two square inches. The stupid thing only cost fifty bucks when I got it. A patient will also have to go through several treatments before the tattoo removal is completely effective.

Apparently, a type of laser is used to break up the ink particles which are then absorbed by the skin. Every body is different and it takes some longer than others to process the ink particles and remove them from the system entirely. Of course there is no guarantee that your experience with tattoo removal will be a satisfactory one. So the saying is true – tattoos really are permanent.

When I was a precocious teenager I thought, like many other people, that getting a tattoo was not that big of a deal because there was such a thing as tattoo removal. I guess it is a lot like getting married today: sure you can get divorced in a moment’s notice, but that divorce may take a lot more time and money than you’d like and you may very well be left with scars. Listen to your parents: don’t get a tattoo. At least wait a while and think long and hard about it. You may be stuck with it forever because tattoo removal may not be able to get rid of it completely, that is, assuming that you could afford it in the first place.

Can you get a tattoo removed?

Lots of folks have tattoos, and many of them regret it. Many get them to celebrate a moment or a person, but don’t realize that one day that moment or person may turn into a sour memory. This memory may be something they no longer wish to have as a permanent part of their body. There are many who had tattoos done in college, and usually it was done without much thought. When it comes time to graduate and they are looking to intern at a law office, the tattoo on their arm is suddenly a huge liability to their career.

In years past, if you had a tattoo removed, you would have a scar to remind you that it was once on your skin. Doctors used to have to cut the tattoo out and pull the skin together. This often left a big, unsightly scar. Today, things have changed. Laser tattoo removal has become more popular, and sometimes, all traces of the tattoo can be removed. This will highly depend on whom you choose to do your tattoo removal, the size of your tattoo, and the detail and color used.

Tattoos that are larger in size and have intricate color patterns are harder to remove. Even the best lasers cannot completely remove all traces. When you go in for tattoo removal, don’t expect miracles. You can expect that some of the tattoo may not be completely removed. Do an extensive search in your area for the very best tattoo removal facility you can find. You can ask your doctor for recommendations, or friends and family if you know any of them have had a tattoo removed.

When you choose a facility, ask how long they have been doing tattoo removal. You want someone who has experience and is very knowledgeable on the subject. Make sure the place looks clean and respectable. If they don’t take care of their offices, chances are they won’t take care of you. Because tattoos are applied under the skin, they are hard to remove. The laser must zero in on the pigment under your skin. You should know there could be some pain involved in tattoo removal. Your skin may be red and irritated for a bit, but it is much better than a reminder of a bad situation or person.

If Matt has broken your heart, or you think the spider you had tattooed on your wrist no longer fits with your lifestyle, it’s good to know that effective tattoo removal is out there. Just remember to take the time to find the right place and the right person to assist you.