Fade your Tattoo But Carefully!

The word "tattoo" comes from the Tahitian word• Location of the tattoo and
tattau; meaning, to mark. It has been around for• The individual's ability to heal
ages. Tattoos have been found on Ice AgeIf you're going to get your tattoo removed or
remains and Egyptian mummies. More than 20faded through laser procedures, remember to do
million Americans have one or more tattoos.your research and don't be afraid to ask
Just as the demand for getting tattoos hasquestions.
increased, so has the demand for having theQuestion you must have answers to before you
tattoos removed or faded. A survey by thego in for the treatment:
American Society of Dermatological SurgeryCost of the Treatment
found that around 50 percent of the people whoPrices for laser removal depend upon the size of
get tattoos eventually regret having them. Andthe tattoo, type of inks used etc. The bigger the
look for ways either to fade their tattoos orarea; the higher the charge. Fix up an appointment
have them removed altogether.with the removal practitioner or the dermatologist
Tattoos were meant to be permanent, soand get the estimate.
removing or fading them was difficult until now.Pain Involved
However, with the recent advances in technology,Fortunately laser removal or fading is relatively
laser therapy has become the preferred methodpainless procedure. But still the amount of pain felt
for removal of tattoos.will depend on the type of tattoo, the level of
The Q-switched ruby laser is considered the firsttreatment and your own tolerance level. Some
preference for most of the tattoos, except forpeople feel more pain than others. The truth is
red ink, which is best treated with an Nd: YAGthat you will only know how painful it is until you
laser. Some people prefer laser treatment fortry it.
tattoo fading rather than complete removal, asChances of Side-effects
fading tattoos is less painful and less expensive.Normally the area blisters after the treatment.
Procedure of laser tattoo removalThe skin returns to normal within 4 to 6 weeks.
Laser works by emitting short but intense pulsesThe possibilities of side-effects are few but it
of light that pass through the epidermis and getmay include hyper pigmentation, hypo
absorbed by the tattoo pigment. The laser energypigmentation, infection or a little chance of
breaks the ink pigment into tiny particles whichpermanent scarring. Get all your doubts cleared
are then easily removed by the body's immunebefore going for the treatment.
system a few weeks or months after the laserNumber of Treatments
treatment.If you think that one fine day you would go in to
The amount of time and the number of laserthe clinic, and walk out the very same day tattoo
treatments require to remove the tattoofree, then you are dreaming in vain. It takes a
depends on several factors such as:number of sittings for tattoo fading or removal.
• The color of the ink is a big factor inGenerally the number of treatments depends
determining how many laser treatments youupon the depth, color and the composition of the
require. Black and blue colored tattoos getink.
removed easily whereas green and yellowRelation between Tattoo Removal and
pigments are the hard to remove.Breastfeeding Mothers
• Professional tattoos are harder toThere is no evidence suggesting that tattoo
remove as compared to street tattoos asfading or cover up tattoo affects breastfeeding in
professional tattoo makers use better quality inkany way. The body filters the ink particles via the
and equipment.white blood cells and mothers are unlikely to face
• It is tougher to remove a new tattooproblems if they follow the recommended
rather an older one as the pigment in the newaftercare procedures. But if there are concerns
tattoo is likely to be denserabout a tattoo, then the mother should consult
• Size of the tattoothe dermatologist or her physician for proper
• How deep the ink is injectedadvice.