| The word "tattoo" comes from the Tahitian | | | | |
| word tattau; meaning, to mark. It has been | | | | • The individual's ability to |
| around for ages. Tattoos have been found on | | | | heal |
| Ice Age remains and Egyptian mummies. More | | | | |
| than 20 million Americans have one or more | | | | If you're going to get your tattoo removed or |
| tattoos. | | | | faded through laser procedures, remember to |
| | | | do 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 | | | | |
| tattoos removed or faded. A survey by the | | | | Question you must have answers to before you |
| American Society of Dermatological Surgery | | | | go in for the treatment: |
| found that around 50 percent of the people | | | | |
| who get tattoos eventually regret having | | | | Cost of the Treatment |
| them. And look for ways either to fade their | | | | |
| tattoos or have them removed altogether. | | | | Prices for laser removal depend upon the size |
| | | | of the tattoo, type of inks used etc. The |
| Tattoos were meant to be permanent, so | | | | bigger the area; the higher the charge. Fix |
| removing or fading them was difficult until | | | | up an appointment with the removal |
| now. However, with the recent advances in | | | | practitioner or the dermatologist and get the |
| technology, laser therapy has become the | | | | estimate. |
| preferred method for removal of tattoos. | | | | |
| | | | Pain Involved |
| The Q-switched ruby laser is considered the | | | | |
| first preference for most of the tattoos, | | | | Fortunately laser removal or fading is |
| except for red ink, which is best treated | | | | relatively painless procedure. But still the |
| with an Nd: YAG laser. Some people prefer | | | | amount of pain felt will depend on the type |
| laser treatment for tattoo fading rather than | | | | of tattoo, the level of treatment and your |
| complete removal, as fading tattoos is less | | | | own tolerance level. Some people feel more |
| painful and less expensive. | | | | pain than others. The truth is that you will |
| | | | only know how painful it is until you try it. |
| Procedure of laser tattoo removal | | | | |
| | | | Chances of Side-effects |
| Laser works by emitting short but intense | | | | |
| pulses of light that pass through the | | | | Normally the area blisters after the |
| epidermis and get absorbed by the tattoo | | | | treatment. The skin returns to normal within |
| pigment. The laser energy breaks the ink | | | | 4 to 6 weeks. The possibilities of |
| pigment into tiny particles which are then | | | | side-effects are few but it may include hyper |
| easily removed by the body's immune system a | | | | pigmentation, hypo pigmentation, infection or |
| few weeks or months after the laser | | | | a little chance of permanent scarring. Get |
| treatment. | | | | all your doubts cleared before going for the |
| | | | treatment. |
| The amount of time and the number of laser | | | | |
| treatments require to remove the tattoo | | | | Number of Treatments |
| depends on several factors such as: | | | | |
| | | | If you think that one fine day you would go |
| • The color of the ink is a big | | | | in to the clinic, and walk out the very same |
| factor in determining how many laser | | | | day tattoo free, then you are dreaming in |
| treatments you require. Black and blue | | | | vain. It takes a number of sittings for |
| colored tattoos get removed easily whereas | | | | tattoo fading or removal. Generally the |
| green and yellow pigments are the hard to | | | | number of treatments depends upon the depth, |
| remove. | | | | color and the composition of the ink. |
| | | | |
| • Professional tattoos are harder | | | | Relation between Tattoo Removal and |
| to remove as compared to street tattoos as | | | | Breastfeeding Mothers |
| professional tattoo makers use better quality | | | | |
| ink and equipment. | | | | There is no evidence suggesting that tattoo |
| | | | fading or cover up tattoo affects |
| • It is tougher to remove a new | | | | breastfeeding in any way. The body filters |
| tattoo rather an older one as the pigment in | | | | the ink particles via the white blood cells |
| the new tattoo is likely to be denser | | | | and mothers are unlikely to face problems if |
| | | | they follow the recommended aftercare |
| • Size of the tattoo | | | | procedures. But if there are concerns about a |
| | | | tattoo, then the mother should consult the |
| • How deep the ink is injected | | | | dermatologist or her physician for proper |
| | | | advice. |
| • Location of the tattoo and | | | | |