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