All About Tattoo Removal

Despite the name, cryosurgery isn’t really surgery at all and is also known by the term “cryotherapy.” It works by using a super cooled gas, such as liquid nitrogen, to freeze the skin above the tattoo. The procedure has been around for over 100 years but is still a relatively uncommon way of removing a tattoo.

Freezing the skin destroys the cells inside resulting in the skin peeling away. It is similar to getting frostbite. The frozen tissue below the skin where the tattoo pigment lies is also destroyed and then slowly replaced by the body’s healing process.

The procedure is not as painful as laser treatment but is also not pain free. Chances of scarring are minimal but there is a risk of damage to nearby tissue and nerve cells. Some patients have experienced pigmentation changes in the skin after treatment and healing. The risk

Dermabrasion is the rubbing away of skin to encourage new skin growth. For tattoo removal, this is usually accomplished by a mechanical spinning brush designed to peel human skin. Yes, it is unpleasant and frequently the last ditch choice for those who have tried everything else. It will usually only work on tattoos that are not too deep.

The procedure works with your doctor, or plastic surgeon, cleaning the area to be treated and administering a local anesthetic such as lidocaine. Next, the skin is sprayed with liquid nitrogen to freeze the top layer making it stiffer and easier to work on. Then the spinning abrasion brush is brought out to grind away the epidermis and get at the dermis where the ink pigment is located. The process will take anywhere from a few minutes to two hours depending on the size of the tattoo.

Vascoconstrictors,

Salabrasion is the oldest form of tattoo removal known to man. Looking at the word meaning will tell you all you need to know: sal (salt) + abrasion (rubbing). This can be a DIY procedure but all you will end up doing is replacing that unwanted tattoo with an unwanted scar. Here is how it works:

1) Area to be treated is shaved and cleaned.
2) A topical or local anesthetic is applied (if done by a medical professional)
3) A gritty paste of salt and water is made
4) The paste is applied to a wood block wrapped in gauze
5) The tattoo is rubbed hard for 30 to 40 minutes. Enjoy.

Intense bleeding will result. Healing time will be many weeks and the procedure almost always requires repeat treatment (ouch!) to get all the ink out. The rubbing has to be deep to get

Tattoo excision is the surgical removal of a tattoo by a qualified surgeon. This is the most effective way to completely remove an unwanted tattoo. This method, while invasive, is most suitable for smaller tattoos which can be removed in one session. It is also the method of choice for people whose tattoos are too deeply embedded to be removed effectively any other way. Deeply embedded tattoos can be amateur tattoos or just old tattoos where the ink pigment has sunk into the lower dermis.

After a consultation with your surgeon the procedure works like this. First the area of the tattoo to be removed is shaved and cleaned. Local anesthetics are given. This numbs that area only. You will be awake for the procedure so if you don’t like blood, especially your own, you will definitely want to look away. Actually, bleeding is reportedly