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 No one knows when the practice of tattooing the skin
began, but Egyptian mummies dating back to 1300 B.C. have shown evidence
of blue tattoo marks. Tattooing is accomplished by injecting colored
pigment into small deep holes made in the skin. Regardless of who
injects the pigment - a tattoo artist or an untrained person the marks
or designs are relatively permanent. For various personal reasons,
people turn to physicians to have tattoos removed.
Fortunately, there are several methods for tattoo removal
which have proven successful. In most cases, however, some scarring or
color variations remain. The conspicuousness of these blemishes depends
upon several factors including size, location, the individual's healing
process, how the tattoo was applied, and length of time it has been on
the skin. A tattoo performed by a more experienced tattoo artist, for
example, may be easier to remove since the pigment is evenly injected in
the same level of the skin. A tattoo that has been on the skin for a
considerable length of time may be more difficult to remove than a new
one.
Methods of Tattoo Removal
There are several excellent methods of tattoo removal
available today. The method that the physician chooses will depend upon
the size of the tattoo and its location as well as the length of time it
has been on the skin. How the patient heals may also be a factor in the
decision.
Excision
Another popular method of tattoo removal especially when
the dyed area is small is by excision. The advantage of this method is
that the entire tattoo can be removed. With larger tattoos, however, it
may be necessary to excise in stages, removing the center of it
initially and the sides at a later date.
Excision involves an injection of a local anesthetic to
numb the area after which the tattoo is removed surgically. The edges
are then brought together and sutured. With this procedure, there is
minimal bleeding which is easily controlled with electrocautery. In some
cases involving large tattoos, a skin graft taken from another part of
the body may be necessary.
Dermabrasion
Another method of tattoo removal is called dermabrasion
in which a small portion of the tattoo is sprayed with a solution that
freezes the area. The tattoo is then "sanded" with a rotary abrasive
instrument causing the skin to peel. Because some bleeding is likely to
occur, a dressing is immediately applied to the area.
Laser
 In recent times, many physicians consider laser surgery
one of the best methods of tattoo removal. Today, the Q-switched Nd:Yag,
Q-switched Alexandrite and the Q-switched Ruby are among the most
frequently used lasers today for the removal of unwanted tattoos. They
are all employed in a similar manner. If necessary, a cream to numb the
skin can be applied prior to the treatment. Pulses of light from the
laser are directed onto the tattoo breaking up the tattoo pigment. Over
the next several weeks the body's scavenger cells remove the treated
pigmented areas. More then one treatment is usually necessary to remove
the entire tattoo.
Salabrasion
Salabrasion, a procedure which is centuries old, is a
method still sometimes used today to remove tattoos. As with the other
methods, a local anesthetic is used on and around the tattooed area
after which a solution of ordinary tap water dipped in table salt is
applied. An abrading apparatus such as the one used with dermabrasion,
or an even simpler device such as a wooden block wrapped in gauze, is
used to vigorously abrade the area. When the area becomes deep red in
color, a dressing is applied.
What Results Can Be Expected?
Regardless of which method of tattoo removal is used,
some scarring or color variations are likely to remain. Healing time
varies depending upon the size and depth of the tattoo, the procedure
used and the patient's healing process. It is important for the patient
to discuss with the physician the various procedures, how they are
performed, and the probable results. Care of the treated area must also
be discussed.
Source: http://patient-info.com/tattoo.htm
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