| 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 Age | | | | If you're going to get your tattoo removed or |
| remains and Egyptian mummies. More than 20 | | | | faded 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 has | | | | questions. |
| increased, so has the demand for having the | | | | Question you must have answers to before you |
| tattoos removed or faded. A survey by the | | | | go in for the treatment: |
| American Society of Dermatological Surgery | | | | Cost of the Treatment |
| found that around 50 percent of the people who | | | | Prices for laser removal depend upon the size of |
| get tattoos eventually regret having them. And | | | | the tattoo, type of inks used etc. The bigger the |
| look for ways either to fade their tattoos or | | | | area; 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, so | | | | and 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 method | | | | painless 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 first | | | | treatment and your own tolerance level. Some |
| preference for most of the tattoos, except for | | | | people feel more pain than others. The truth is |
| red ink, which is best treated with an Nd: YAG | | | | that you will only know how painful it is until you |
| laser. Some people prefer laser treatment for | | | | try it. |
| tattoo fading rather than complete removal, as | | | | Chances of Side-effects |
| fading tattoos is less painful and less expensive. | | | | Normally the area blisters after the treatment. |
| Procedure of laser tattoo removal | | | | The skin returns to normal within 4 to 6 weeks. |
| Laser works by emitting short but intense pulses | | | | The possibilities of side-effects are few but it |
| of light that pass through the epidermis and get | | | | may include hyper pigmentation, hypo |
| absorbed by the tattoo pigment. The laser energy | | | | pigmentation, infection or a little chance of |
| breaks the ink pigment into tiny particles which | | | | permanent scarring. Get all your doubts cleared |
| are then easily removed by the body's immune | | | | before going for the treatment. |
| system a few weeks or months after the laser | | | | Number of Treatments |
| treatment. | | | | If you think that one fine day you would go in to |
| The amount of time and the number of laser | | | | the clinic, and walk out the very same day tattoo |
| treatments require to remove the tattoo | | | | free, 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 in | | | | Generally the number of treatments depends |
| determining how many laser treatments you | | | | upon the depth, color and the composition of the |
| require. Black and blue colored tattoos get | | | | ink. |
| removed easily whereas green and yellow | | | | Relation between Tattoo Removal and |
| pigments are the hard to remove. | | | | Breastfeeding Mothers |
| • Professional tattoos are harder to | | | | There is no evidence suggesting that tattoo |
| remove as compared to street tattoos as | | | | fading or cover up tattoo affects breastfeeding in |
| professional tattoo makers use better quality ink | | | | any 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 tattoo | | | | problems if they follow the recommended |
| rather an older one as the pigment in the new | | | | aftercare procedures. But if there are concerns |
| tattoo is likely to be denser | | | | about a tattoo, then the mother should consult |
| • Size of the tattoo | | | | the dermatologist or her physician for proper |
| • How deep the ink is injected | | | | advice. |