American Tattoo Artists

Listen, Im not here to tell you that getting your exs name tattooed was a risky choice. You already know/knew that (no judgment though). I am, however, here to inform you of how to properly remove your tattoo (again, of course, if thats what you want to do). If youre reading this, my guess is youve exhausted all the different tattoo cover-up design options and have decided to get rid of it altogether.

The next and most important step, according to dermatologist Arash Akhavan, MD, founder of The Dermatology and Laser Group in NYC: to have laser tattoo removal performed only under the direct supervision of a licensed physician whos board-certified in order to ensure both safety and efficacy. In other words, you might have rushed into getting that inside-joke tattoo while out with your friends, but dont rush into removing it without (1) reading this and (2) going to the right doctor.

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The more hate you have for your tattoo, the more desperate and willing you are to try whatever DIY tattoo removal concoction you find online. But youll regret trying to remove it yourself more than you regret your tattoo, so put down the lemon juice and peroxide. Dr. Akhavan says, DIY tattoo removal is not only largely ineffective, but it can also, unfortunately, lead to serious complications, like permanent scarring.

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When done with a laser, as opposed to a DIY recipe, yes, tattoo removal actually is possible. Laser tattoo removal is by far the most effective way to remove tattoos, Dr. Akhavan says. Lasers work by heating the tattoo ink particles under the surface of the skin, splitting them into smaller ink particles that can then be cleared from the skin by our immune systems.

That said, your skin tone and the colors used in your tattoo play a huge role in tattoo removal. Laser tattoo removal is available for all skin tones, but it is most effective on skin that has less pigment, Dr. Akhavan says. No matter the skin type, laser tattoo removal can leave a trace of scarring and hypopigmentation (decreased pigment) at the site of the removed tattoo. This is typically very subtle and becomes less apparent with time. Dr. Akhavan adds that black ink on less pigmented skin is the most ideal scenario for tattoo removal. Colors that are lighter, like yellow, light blue, light green, and orange, are the toughest ink colors to remove.

PicoSure is a short-pulse laser by Cynosure that treats pigmentary conditions, and it can also be used for tattoo removal. Unlike some lasers that rely only on heat, this uses a PressureWave technology to break the ink apart with less damage to the surrounding skin, and it is then absorbed by the lymphatic system and eliminated.

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If you were hoping to walk out of your first appointment with zero trace of your old tattoo, sorry to disappoint. According to Dr. Akhavan, the number of sessions it takes to remove a tattoo depends on many factors: color, density, depth of pigment, and the type of laser being used. More modern picosecond lasers, such as the PicoSure Focus, break the ink up much more effectively, and with less trauma to surrounding normal skin, Dr. Akhavan says. In the best case scenario, the tattoo can be completely removed in five sessions or less. Unfortunately, some cases can be more stubborn and more than 20 treatments may be needed.

Not only will it likely require more than one session, but you also have to factor in the time it takes to heal between each one. With the PicoSure Focus, Dr. Akhavan typically recommends sessions that are spaced approximately two months apart, but with older, non-picosecond lasers, treatments should be further apart to allow the skin to heal from the extra trauma.

The cost of laser tattoo removal is based on the type of laser being used, the level of expertise of the operator, the size and complexity of a tattoo, and the geographic location of the laser removal center. The cost can range from several hundred to several thousand dollars per sessionmuch, much more than it cost to get it in the first place.

If you didnt do anything to numb the pain, tattoo removal would be a very painful experience (worse than your breakup). Thankfully, most doctors offices have different methods of pain control available. At our office, we use prescription-strength numbing creams, external skin cooling devices, and local injections of anesthetic to make the procedure painless," Dr. Akhavan says.

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When deciding whether to try tattoo removal, think long and hard about how much you dislike your ink because the process isnt cheap nor easy. But if youre ready to get rid of any trace you have of your ex or reminders of your past life, then its probably worth all the time and money in the world to youjust promise me you wont try to do it yourself, K?

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