Tattoo removal: everything you need to know about this treatment
No, a tattoo is not eternal. Or at least, not anymore. Today, in fact, it is possible to erase drawings, writings and names of ex-partners from one's skin, without leaving a trace or feeling extreme pain. If you too, like Angelina Jolie, Megan Fox and Belen Rodriguez, want to permanently eliminate one or more tattoos from your body, know that now you can do it and no longer at prohibitive prices. So, we just have to discover together everything there is to know about this aesthetic medicine operation!
Staying on the subject, check out this video on the things to know if you decide to get a tattoo!
How does tattoo removal work?
Before starting with the actual removal of the tattoos, the patient will have to undergo a preliminary examination in which the doctor evaluates his reasons, observes the tattoo, analyzing the type of ink used, and focuses mainly on the study of the skin, identifying any allergies or cases of hypersensitivity. Only after having carried out these checks, the specialist will be able to decide with which technique to proceed, after disinfection and application of a specific anesthetizing cream. In fact, there are several techniques. In the past, surgery or dermabrasion was mainly used, invasive, painful and now obsolete treatments. Nowadays, however, thanks to continuous innovations in the technological and medical fields, the laser is the most widespread and safe practice for erasing a tattoo. This method uses the energy released by electromagnetic waves to break colors and let the body dissolve them. In this regard, a distinction must be made between Q-Switched and Picosecond technology:
Q-Switched: it is the most used technique, being also the most accessible. This system breaks up the ink pigments, releasing a strong energy impulse that takes just a few seconds. The Q-Switched laser works effectively, without damaging the skin. In this case, to see the removal work completed, it will take between 4 and 10 sessions.
Picoseconds: it is the last frontier in terms of lasers and consequently involves an increased cost. The energy delivered is faster and more powerful and shatters the pigment into even smaller sections so as to facilitate its elimination by the body. Choosing the pico second technology means speeding up both its disappearance and healing.
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Who carries out the treatment?
As this is a rather delicate operation, it is of fundamental importance to contact only and exclusively trained people such as a surgeon, an aesthetic doctor or a dermatologist. So, beware of excessively low prices and go to a specialized and certified center, where you can eliminate all traces of color, without damaging the skin or running into more or less serious health problems.
How long does it take to remove tattoos?
It is difficult to find a single answer. The time required for the permanent removal of a tattoo may vary according to different elements. The times depend on the type and extent of the design, on the color of the pigment (black and blue tend to disappear more easily, as opposed to white, green, yellow and red), the amount of years in which it is present and the reaction of the organism. Furthermore, another determining factor is the work done by macrophages, "scavenger" cells, which are responsible for absorbing the pigments present Usually, the number of sessions needed varies between 4 and 10. These will be repeated every 2/3 months, occupying a temporal space of about one and a half / two years.
Can scars appear after the treatment?
The risk of these treatments leaving marks or scars is quite low and unlikely. The new laser techniques, especially picosecond technology, are limited to acting only on the pigments, without impacting the fabric. Their action is, in fact, fast and devoid of heat, therefore it does not constitute a danger to the skin. Also in this case, it is not only the method adopted, but also the skill and professionalism of the attending physician that influences the success of the process from the point of view of the final aesthetics.
Tattoo removal: is it painful?
If you have endured the pain of getting tattooed, this process should definitely not scare you. The annoyance, in fact, is completely tolerable, even if obviously it is a very subjective fact. Thanks to the new laser technologies mentioned above, getting rid of your tattoos is certainly less painful and more immediate than in previous years, when the systems that made this choice possible were not only rudimentary but also rather annoying.
Read also: Tattoo pain, find out where it hurts the most and where it is most bearable
Before and after: all useful recommendations
If you decide to undergo these treatments, you need to be more cautious than ever. There are, in fact, some rules that the patient must follow strictly in anticipation and following all the sessions. Particularly:
- Absolutely avoid exposing yourself to direct sunlight for at least 2 weeks following each session.
- Do not take photosensitizing drugs in the previous days
- Spread emollient or antibiotic creams on the treated area to facilitate healing.
Contraindications
Although this is a safe operation, unfortunately not everyone is allowed to erase their tattoos. Sometimes, there are clear contraindications that preclude the possibility of undergoing such a treatment, for example:
- the season (it is best to avoid this operation during the summer)
- the clinical picture (skin cancer, psoriasis, hypersensitivity to light, intake of anticoagulant drugs, etc.)
- pregnancy and breastfeeding
- excessive size of the tattoo
- particularly delicate area of the body (e.g. genitals)
How much does it cost to remove a tattoo?
The price of this operation may vary depending on the selected center and the specialist who takes care of it, but usually ranges between 80 and 800 euros per session.
