New Jersey Tattoo Removal

As the popularity of tattoos has increased so have tattoo removal procedures. It is estimated that nearly 10% of the US population has a tattoo, and 50% of those regret getting the tattoo in the first place. Maybe you are one of those contemplating tattoo removal. But what different tattoo removal procedures are there to choose from? Are all tattoo removal procedures equal? And will tattoo removal actually get rid of the tattoo completely?

First it’s important to understand why a tattoo is permanent. Tattoos, whether professional or amateur, are drawn into the dermis or secondary skin layer. This layer is below the epidermis and contains the ink molecule which is too large for blood cells to carry the ink away. Though the tattoo may fade over years, due to layers of the skin being shed off of the body, the tattoo is always noticeable while in that dermis layer of the skin.

Most New Jersey tattoo removal procedures deal with the epidermis, or visible skin layer. Tattoo removal techniques, like dermabrasion, literally “scrape” the top and middle layers of the skin to remove the tattoo; whereas procedures like excision take the word tattoo removal “literally” by using a scalpel to remove the skin and patch up the wound with stitches. Unfortunately, these epidermal procedures are quite painful and can lead to scarring which can often look worse than the tattoo it was trying to replace.

Today the tattoo removal procedure that is probably your best bet is laser tattoo removal. By using laser pulses, this highly effective technique is able to break up the ink that is below the epidermis to such a small size that it is able to be carried away into the bloodstream. And though the number of treatments required may vary, the risk of infection or scarring is relatively low and patients have, for the most part, been very satisfied with their results after just a month or two.  If you’d like more information on New Jersey tattoo removal procedures contact Pistone Cosmetic Dermatological Associates for a free consultation.