Skin grafting and dermabrasion are good examples of tattoo removal, although the most popular and most common these days is laser tattoo removal.
Laser tattoo removal is the fastest and most preferred method of tattoo removal. With this surgery, the laser being used will zap the metal ions that are found in the pigment of the tattoo, breaking up the ink into tiny pieces that the body can easily dispose of. This method of tattoo removal is most commonly performed using lasers that react with the ink in the tattoo, and break it down. The broken-down ink is then absorbed by the body, mimicking the natural fading that time or sun exposure would create.
However, before you decide to get a tattoo removed with laser, you should always make sure that you choose a surgeon you can trust. Almost all surgeons will use numbing ointment and local anesthetics before they do the tattoo removal, in an attempt to lessen your pain. Even though you may think that you have a high tolerance for pain and can deal with the treatment, you may still want to take any type of anesthetic.
Recently, the advent of another method of removal is the use of glycolic acid which supposedly leaves less scars than the laser method. The process involved tattooing the acid into the skin using a tattoo machine, just as if the person were getting an actual tattoo. The acid forces the ink to the surface of the skin in the scab, which is removed at another time.
On the other hand, some wearers opt to cover an unwanted tattoo with a new tattoo. This is commonly known as a cover-up. An artfully done cover-up may render the old tattoo completely invisible, though this will depend largely on the size, style, colors and techniques used on the old tattoo. Some shops and artists use laser removal machines to break down and lighten undesired tattoos to make coverage with a new tattoo easier. Since tattoo ink is translucent, covering up a previous tattoo necessitates darker tones in the new tattoo to effectively hide the older, unwanted piece.
Overall, blue-based ink is the most difficult to remove. Black ink is most readily broken down by the laser, and unprofessional tattoos done at home are the easiest ones to remove, due to the low quality of ink used, as well as the ineffective manner in which they were applied.
