Archive for Health
Laser Tattoo Removal – How Does It Work?
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People like to get tattoos when they are younger and sometimes do so for stupid reasons. Often, after ten years of so of having a tattoo, the person may decide they don’t want it any more. There are many reasons that a person may want to have a tattoo removed. Perhaps they have a named of an old lover tattooed on them, or they have a gang tattoo that there are no longer associated with. Some people have tattoos in places that will prevent them from getting a job they want. Some people might also have a tattoo that symbolizes hate or racism, and they no longer feel this way. Whatever the reason is, there are methods of tattoo removal out there. Laser tattoo removal is one option for people considering the removal of a tattoo which is the most common method of tattoo removal. Laser removal involves targeting the tattooed area with pulses of concentrated light that will in turn break the ink fragments up into tiny particles which are then removed by you’re immune system. This process does not happen after one session, however, and the more treatment you have, the more likely the laser will destroy the ink. However, the more treatments you have also means heightened damage done to your skin. Excess treatments can lead to blistering of the skin, painful sores on your skin, scabs and even scarring. Since technology has advanced so much, the risks of skin damage have become minimal and many experts say it is very rare for scaring to occur. However, there is always some risk involved. Laser tattoo removal can be quite painful, as some people have described it as feeling like being splattered with hot grease. Laser tattoo removal can also hurt your wallet though. Depending on the size and detail of your tattoo, you might need to have up to ten sessions in order to fully remove all of the ink. Each session costs in the range of $250 to $850. There are many other options for you to consider before you decide if laser tattoo removal is right for you. No method is 100% effective and guaranteed, but many will get you the results that will satisfy you. Laser removal is one of the best treatments for removing a tattoo, but remember, if you have a large colorful tattoo, you may spend thousands of dollars on treatment and it will not even be fully removed.
When Tattoos Are No Longer Fun
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We received an email last week that we’d like to share from “Sherri” (Not her real name):
“I’m worried that my younger brother has become a tattoo addict. It started off innocently enough. I even helped him to get his first tattoo when he was visiting me in Berkeley. He thought it was a very California souvenir, and he was eighteen, so I thought if I couldn’t stop him, I might as well help him, and besides, what’s the harm?
Even then, though, I inspected the tattoo parlor with an eagle eye; making sure that it was clean, that the needles were new, and that they used autoclave sterilization. Having grown up in the eighties, I was bombarded with AIDS fears, and I wanted to make sure that little brother didn’t catch something because of a dirty tattoo needle. The parlor passed inspection, the tattoo, was applied, and he left California proudly sporting a snake tattoo on his shoulder, and I thought nothing more of it.
Now it’s almost ten years, and five tattoos, later. I wince whenever he shows me a new addition to his body art gallery, and I hope that he’s as careful with his choice of tattoo artists as I was for him. These days there’s the risk of getting Hepatitis A or B, and AIDS still lurks about in the background like an old movie monster; almost comfortingly familiar, yet still scary as hell. Yes, reputable tattoo artists can make sure that they use the latest sterilization techniques, and I have met some who are almost religious in their cleanliness. Yet still, there’s that nagging thought in the back of my mind; that blood-borne pathogens can find an opening through the smallest of cuts, and from the times that I’ve seen tattoos being applied, I can tell you that blood is definitely a component of this art.
With the advent of reality shows in tattoo parlors like “Miami Ink” and actors making body art trendy, tattoos are more popular than ever, and I wonder how many people have gotten a nasty disease in the process of getting a tattoo. I do think that tattoos are safe, if they’re done correctly and sanitarily. Yet I wonder about tattoos done by amateurs, or as a favor to a friend, or even of a drop of blood falling where it shouldn’t in a carefully run parlor. I’ve thought of getting a tattoo myself many times, but every time I’ve chickened out when I think of the risk involved. The next time my brother shows me another tattoo he’s acquired, I’ll do what I always do: tell him it looks great, and hope for the best. “
One thing Sherri should remember: Sometimes even the most rebellious young person thinks better of a particular tattoo he got when he was more impulsive. If her brother ever decides he regrets his latest tattoo, removal options are available.
10 Things to Consider Prior to Getting a Tattoo
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If you are thinking about getting a tattoo, take a moment to consider your answers to the following 10 questions. You will be glad that you did.
1. Is the tattoo artist experienced? This is perhaps the most important thing to consider before hiring any one particular tattoo artist. An experienced professional will be knowledgeable in the proper cleansing of equipment, which is an absolute necessity, and also how to create designs that the customer will enjoy.
2. Will the tattoo image be as important to you in the future as it is right now? For instance, if your tattoo will be in celebration of a love interest, are you absolutely certain that person will be there 10, 20 or even 50 years from now?
3. Why do you want to get the tattoo? Is it because you want to or because someone else wants you to? Is it to fit in with a crowd or possibly a love interest? If you are making any type of permanent marking on your body, including a tattoo, you will want to be sure that you are doing it for the right reasons.
4. Are you prepared to deal with possible consequences that may arise out of getting a tattoo? This may include an infection or severe soreness of the skin at the site of the tattoo. In addition, surgery will be the only way to later remove it if you should ever change your mind.
5. Do you have a design in mind? If you don’t, stop by the local tattoo parlor and ask to see some samples of what is available.
6. Can you afford the tattoo? The larger the tattoo, the larger the cost. Even the smallest tattoo can be expensive, especially if you are on a budget. Before deciding to get the tattoo, make sure that you know how much it will cost and make arrangements to have the full payment ready on the date of it’s application.
7. Do you have a fear of needles? If you do, tattoos may not be for you. Either this or you will have to find some way to put the thought of it out of your mind. A lot of people have a fear of needles and perhaps the best alternative is a temporary tattoo, which are made to look quite realistic these days.
8. What type of tolerance do you have for pain? There is no other way to say it, but getting a tattoo is painful. It does involve needles and you should really consider your level of tolerance before signing up for a tattoo.
9. What will you do if you ever decide to have it removed? Can you afford the cost associated with surgery? The only way to remove a tattoo is through surgery, which can be very expensive. Unless it is for medical reasons, most health insurance policies will not cover the cost of a tattoo removal. This means that the patient will often find themselves with 100% of the financial responsibility and, before getting a tattoo, you should make sure that you will be financially able to handle any future medical procedures that are associated with a tattoo.
10. Are you prepared to treat the area as recommended to avoid infection? This will likely involve keeping the tattoo site covered until it is able to heal properly and keeping it clean in the way that the tattoo artist or physician recommends.
This article is to be used for informational purposes only. The information contained herein is not intended to be used in place of, or in conjunction with, professional medical advice. Before deciding on getting a tattoo or having one removed, the patient must consult a licensed medical doctor for medical advice and/or to determine the best course of action for his/her individual healthcare needs.
Make an Educated Decision – Tattoo Removal is a Long Process
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Tattoo removal is a serious process and often tattoo removal takes longer than deciding to get one and which one to get. Before you make that decision, you may wish to learn more about what tattoo removal entails. Educate yourselves now and then make an informed decision.
A Little Tattoo History and Why Tattoo Removal
Tattoos have become a part of our American culture over the past few decades. There is an estimated 10 million Americans that have at least one tattoo, and at least 44,000 tattoo studios in America. Tattoos are a great way to express yourself. Having a tattoo may have seemed like a great idea at the time, but things change. We find new loves, new jobs, and new tastes. So if the remnants of your past choice of tattoo no longer compliment your present, its time to think about tattoo removal.
One half of all people with tattoos have considered removing them. Besides the obvious reasons of removing tattoos for career enhancement, there are other reasons why many people elect to remove tattoos. As skin ages, tattoos tend to fade and deform. A tattoo that once was shown with pride may lose its attractiveness and, in some cases, even become an embarrassment. Even a change of weight can change a prized tattoo to something less than appealing.
Here are a few things that you should know about tattoo removal, before you get the tattoo:
Laser Tattoo Removal
-Lasers can get rid of most tattoos without scarring.
-It will take 6 to 12 laser treatments to completely remove a tattoo.
-The toughest body parts to remove tattoos include the ankles, hands and fingers.
-Older tattoos with less colors are easier to remove.
-Lasers, surgical excision, and dermabrasion can all be used to remove tattoos.
-Laser removal of tattoos can actually be a bit painful.
Removing a tattoo is no easy process and an important point that people should understand BEFORE getting a tattoo. It is much easier to get the tattoo than to remove it. Here are some of your tattoo removal options:
Tattoo Removal Options
-You could get your tattoo covered by a new tattoo that may need to be around 50% bigger to effectively hide the existing tattoo.
-Laser treatment is the most common method. The process contains wavelengths of light are used for different pigments. The laser beam then passes through the skin and is absorbed by the ink. Once the ink breaks down it can be removed by the body’s lymphatic system.
-If the tattoo is too deep or too small for laser treatment, the skin with the pigment can be cut away and the edges sewn together.
-Dermabrasion literally rubs the tattooed skin away with an abrasive tool, over several treatments. If the tattoo is deep, a skin graft may also be necessary.
-Versapulse laser, offering a quick procedure for removing unwanted tattoos. This laser is a low energy laser which can minimize the risk of burning.
-Tat Gone ink removal. After several applications, some see a huge improvement.
Price of Tattoo Removal
Tattoo removal is definitely not cheap. A tattoo that costs $40.00 to have it put on can cost $4500.00 to have removed by laser, taking a year or more. Plus, it would leave a scar shaped like the tattoo that would not tan.
Tattoo Removal is a long process. Sometimes the process of tattoo removal is longer than the process of selecting the tattoo.
What Has To Happen In Order For Tattoo Removal To Be Successful?
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Body art is something that has been a part of various cultures for thousands of years. People in these cultures have gotten body art in order to illustrate their rank or occupation within their culture. Nowadays, body art is just as popular in American society, in that people get body art as a way to illustrate things that have a particular meaning in their life. However, sometimes people grow tired with their body art, and start to not identify with it as strongly.
These people thus become candidates for tattoo removal. This form of treatment is actually relatively new, in that just a couple of decades before, people had only three main ways of dealing with an annoying tattoo that they had. The first choice (and actually one that some people still choose to do today) was to cover the old tattoo with a new one.
The second choice was to expose the tattoo to direct sunlight, which would, over time, fade it. This was not the best idea. In fact, it was not a good idea at all, because it just subjected the tattoo wearer to additional sun damage, which could lead to skin cancer. The last choice was just to cover the tattoo and pretend that it was not ever there.
In order to understand the different tattoo removal methods that are available, it is important that the tattoo wearer have a better understanding as to how a tattoo is applied in the first place. Believe it or not, there are many people who go to get a tattoo and only focus on ho the finished design will look, as opposed to the actually tattooing process.
What happens during the tattooing process is that since the skin is like a sponge, the electric needle that is used to administer the tattoo simultaneously pokes holes in the upper skin layers, and also injects the ink. Because of the porous nature of the skin, the ink then bonds to the skin molecules. This action is what is supposed to make the tattoo permanent.
This being said, there are currently two main tattoo removal methods that people are choosing from. The first method involves applying a clear liquid chemical that is known as TCA to the tattooed area. The benefit of this method is that it is not very expensive. However, the drawback is that it is done at home, by the person who got the tattoo. This treatment can only be done once every few weeks, so in order to prevent scarring the person has to follow the treatment directions.
Laser tattoo removal is considered to be at the forefront of the removal methods since it is done in a medical setting by a dermatologist who specializes in these kinds of treatments. The laser heat is meant to break up the skin molecules that have bonded to the ink, and the laser light stimulates new skin tissue to cover the old tissue. This process will also need to be done gradually in order to obtain the best results.