My brother has been a dermatologist for about 20 years. During his time in practice, he has had his share of patients coming to him for advice about their tattoos. Although he never shares the names of his patients because of confidentiality laws, he is able to relay many stories. Some of them are funny, some of them are outrageous and many of them are heartbreaking.
However, as a dermatologist, the majority of his tattoo clients are seeking to have their tattoos removed. Unfortunately, they are not aware that this is a very time-consuming and expensive process and many of them ultimately leave stunned and shocked.
Thankfully, my brother is an excellent dermatologist, with all of the credentials and certifications needed to perform the most sophisticated and state-of-the-art laser removal of tattoos. When he first entered his practice back in the late 1980s, he hadn’t thought much about tattoo removal as a main part of his services. He was more interested in helping teenagers treat acne and encouraging patients to get skin cancer screenings.
Now he is an advocate for tattoo education, trying to ensure that anyone who wants to get a tattoo is sure to have it done by someone who practices appropriate sterilization techniques.
Unfortunately, many of my brother’s patients want to remove tattoos that were botched from the beginning. Today’s preferred way of removing unwanted tattoos is through a sophisticated laser tattoo removal process, which targets the ink and breaks it down into small particles that are harmlessly reabsorbed into the body.
Depending on the sophistication of the design, the number, colors and intensity of inks used and the depth of the tattoo, the series of treatments may take a year or more before the tattoo is faded enough to declare success.
Tattoos done by amateurs using lower quality inks may be removed in three or four sessions, but professional designs can take much longer. The length of each session varies, but consider spending about 15 minutes under the laser every two or three months until the tattoo has faded.
The reason the treatments takes so long is to avoid permanent damage to the skin, so patience is a virtue if you want to have a tattoo removed.
Until you have a consultation with the dermatologist, there is no way to tell how long the process will take, or how much it might cost. (My brother charges about $300 for a 15-minute session for a typical six-inch tattoo, as long as there aren’t any complications.)
The money and the time add up, and that’s why my brother would prefer that young people consider all the drawbacks to a tattoo before they make that commitment.
Many patients want to know if it is painful to have a tattoo removed. My brother says that there is a certain amount of discomfort involved which he compares to a series of bee stings. Some patients tolerate the procedure better than others do, and he does provide pain relief and topical anesthesia for those who are getting large areas of their body worked on.
Most people want their body art removed because it is from an era where they thought it was hip or cool to sport a tattoo. Others want their ex-girlfriend’s name removed or don’t like the fact that the tattoos are visible when wearing certain articles of clothing.
Moreover, there are many who feel the tattoo job was botched in the first place and it’s time for it to be gone.
Regardless of the reason you might want to remove your tattoo, make sure you select a qualified dermatologist who is skilled and experienced in the procedure and is trained to use the latest equipment. Ask for references and do check them. And make sure you know up front what the doctor’s fee is going to be.
It’s expensive, but in many cases, you may be able to negotiate a deal. Good luck to you!
Author’s Note: Article published here.
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If you have a tattoo that needs to be removed, you can spend 1000s on laser tattoo removal treatments, OR you can explore the Nuviderm Home Tattoo Removal System, which could remove tattoos without emptying your wallet. Visit http://nuviderm.com/ today to learn more about the Nuviderm tattoo removal cream. Bree Levine is a full-time, freelance writer.
Read more articles written by Bree Levine
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