Dealing
with an unwanted tattoo at Albuquerque’s Western Dermatology Consultants is straightforward: After an initial
consultation, the patient will go through a series of treatment sessions that
involve laser light applied to break down the ink in the skin. There are no
incisions involved, and while the process isn’t exactly comfortable (getting
the treatment has been compared to the feeling of a rubber band snapping
against the tattooed area), it’s certainly well tolerated by just about
everyone who wants to get rid of a formerly “permanent” body modification.
The
tattoo removal process has not always been so relatively simple, however.
In
times past, people simply had to live with their choice. Eventually, some
tattooed folks who wanted to lose their lines turned to surgical excision. In
these cases, someone with a scalpel or similar instrument physically cut the
inked skin out of the patient’s body. This definitely removed the unwanted
image—along with a good deal of tissue. It also typically left behind a
significant scar.
Less
invasive, but also less reliable, was “sanding” the tattoo off by abrading the
skin. While gentler than slicing the ink away, this method was middling
effective.
Eventually,
researchers developed freezing as an option, using the power of cold to chill
the unwanted ink and surrounding cells. While this worked, it—like
excision—often left behind a scar or similarly obvious patch of treated skin.
For a significant number of people, this was preferable to the tattoo itself,
but thankfully, such methods are no longer the only option.
Technology
has advanced to the point today that laser energy can quickly and effectively
break down a wide range of ink colors, leaving behind clearer skin. There is
still some risk of scarring, but the side effects are less dramatic than those
caused by the treatments of yesteryear.
One
last note: Never try to remove an unwanted tattoo on your own—or even by
bringing it to a tattoo parlor. Let a board-certified dermatologist
(experienced in skin care, not just ink) help you plan your ideal strategy for
erasing the ink from your life as thoroughly and safely as possible.
Learn more about the advantages of modern tattoo
removal at Western
Dermatology Consultants. Call 505-855-9267
or request a consultation online.
