The Pros and Cons of Tattoo Removal Methods


Tattoos are a type of body modification where ink is inserted into the skin using a needle to create an image, word, phrase, or form of artwork a person may want. Usually, tattoos are carefully planned before receiving one, but there are those occasions where the decision to get a tattoo might be made spontaneously.

It’s usually those unplanned tattoos and the ones that are viewed as a mistake later down the road, leading to a desire to get the tattoo removed. Thankfully, there are a small handful of useful methods for removing unwanted body art.

What are the methods for removing tattoos?

Tattoos are removed through a number of methods. Some are more expensive than others, and some are done by a professional while others can be used at home. These common methods include:

  • Laser removal
  • Intense pulse light therapy
  • Dermabrasion
  • Fading formulas

What are the pros and cons of each method?

  1. Laser Removal

Laser removal involves the use of high-intensity light beams that break up the color pigments deep in the skin. The number of laser treatments you will need depends on the size and colors of the tattoo. Laser removal can sometimes cause irritations and discoloration of the skin, so with each treatment you will be given an ointment or antibiotic to help soothe and protect the skin from infection. Each treatment usually occurs every six weeks until the tattoo is completely gone. Laser removal can be very painful and is one of the most expensive methods, but is also one of the most effective.

  1. Pulse Light Therapy

With intense pulse light therapy, a gel is first applied to the inked skin. Then a wand with pulsating light waves is used to provide intense light beams directly into the skin to help break up the pigments of color that once formed the undesirable tattoo. Just like with laser removal, the determined amount of necessary treatments will depend on size and colors of the tattoo. This method can be costlier but is generally less painful than laser removal.

  1. Dermabrasion

Dermabrasion is a relatively affordable tattoo removal option, but it can be extremely painful since you’re using a device that literally sands away the surface layer of skin. This can leave it sore, swollen, and irritated for long and inconvenient periods of time. Sometimes scarring is left behind which is why this method is generally less favorable.

  1. Topical Formula Treatments

The least painful and most affordable tattoo removal options are fading formula treatments that gradually fade tattoos away with an ointment or cream. You can see some results of how fading formulas work at Trufade Reviews. These formulas are applied to the skin daily using an applicator brush or by simply massaging them into the inked skin. With each application, you should begin to see your unwanted tattoo fade away. The process can take more than a few months but is almost pain-free and can be done from the convenience of your own home. But again, how well they work depends on the size and colors of the tattoo you are trying to remove.

Which method is best for me?

The tattoo removal method that is best for you depends on your budget, pain tolerance levels, and how desperate you are to remove the tattoo. If you need help determining which method is best for you, consider consulting with a dermatologist. Some skin types respond better to certain tattoo removal methods over others.

All methods work when it comes to at least fading the inked masterpiece from your body, but in rare cases when they do not work, you could always have a tattoo artist tattoo over the tattoo you have with a new design that is pleasing to you. With that said, it takes an extremely skilled tattoo artist for this task to be done properly.

Bottom Line

Whatever your reason is for wanting your tattoo removed, just keep in mind that all the above methods are available to you for effectively having it removed properly. Once you determine which method is best for you, go ahead and begin your treatments. Keep in mind that fading a tattoo away doesn’t occur overnight and is a process that comes with discomforts and costs.

Be patient and in time the unsightly ink design will be gone away with each treatment. Once it has disappeared, don’t be foolish and choose another random moment to have yourself inked. Instead, plan and research the tattoo that you want and have it done by professional, highly talented tattoo artist.

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