The love of tattoos does not last forever, and a design that once made you happy can become boring over time or lose its relevance. Then questions arise, for which we turn to an expert. Is it possible to remove a tattoo without leaving a trace? Is it painful to remove a tattoo? What ways are there for this? We spoke with a dermatocosmetologist.
Dermatocosmetologist at DMC Center for Innovative Medicine
Let’s take a closer look at the characteristics of tattoos before considering ways to remove them. A tattoo is a subcutaneous structure, the result of the accumulation of dye within skin cells. In order for the dye to set and the pattern to last, the pigment is injected quite deeply into the subcutaneous tissue through a local lesion in the skin. Thus, to remove a tattoo, technologies are used that eliminate accumulations of pigment under the skin.
A special preparation is injected under the skin, which chemically reacts with the pigment, destroys it and brings it to the surface. The method has one major drawback: the reaction damages the skin. Therefore, the chemical method of removing pigment from the skin is rarely used and is considered obsolete.
Surgical tattoo excision.
During the operation, the surgeon “removes” with a special instrument the thinnest layers of the dermis and epidermis, saturated with pigment. In some cases, a flap of skin is removed and the edges are stitched. The method is traumatic and, once the sutures are healed, scars remain on the skin that can cause aesthetic discomfort.
Laser tattoo removal
A modern, low-traumatic and effective method to eliminate unwanted pigments from the skin. The technology is based on light absorption: the laser beam penetrates the deep layers of the skin, concentrates on the pigment and does not affect “clean” skin. Under the influence of a powerful ray of light, the pigment is heated, destroyed, and then removed from the body naturally through lymph.
Depending on the size of the pattern, the density and depth of the pigment, 1 to 5 sessions may be necessary. They are carried out at intervals of one month; This is the time needed to remove pigment from the body and restore the skin after the procedure.
First, the doctor conducts an examination, removes makeup if necessary (for example, when the tattoo is on the face and the patient uses cosmetics), then treats the skin with an antiseptic and completely removes moisture from its surface. Next, individual parameters are set on the device and laser processing of the pattern is carried out. Finally, a protective agent is applied to the skin.
All patients have individual sensations. If you try to make an analogy, a slight burning and tingling sensation when exposed to a laser is similar to the sharp blow of an elastic band from clothing or a drop of hot oil hitting the skin.
Anesthesia is usually not used, as it reduces the effectiveness of the procedure: the pigment is destroyed and removed less easily and this increases the duration of the session. But in rare cases, an ointment with an anesthetic effect can be used.
Laser tattoo removal is a low-traumatic procedure. During this procedure, the skin is not damaged and, consequently, no healing occurs. After the session, the doctor gives recommendations, compliance with which will contribute to obtaining the best results from the procedure:
do not wet the laser treatment area for the first 24 hours; Do not sunbathe for two weeks after the session, so as not to cause pigmentation in the skin. If the tattoo removal is carried out in summer, it is necessary to use sunscreen; do not visit the bathhouse, sauna or solarium for two weeks; do not mechanically impact the treated area: do not scratch, do not injure; treat the pigment removal area with medications prescribed by your doctor; Maintain a drinking regimen to maintain lymphatic system function.
With each session, the brightness of the drawing decreases and little by little the pigment disappears completely. After completing the required number of procedures, no marks or scars remain on the skin, it acquires its natural tone.
