Archive for Health
Getting Married? It’S Time To Remove That Tattoo
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Unlike henna, where a bride is purposely painted with temporary tattoos specifically for her wedding day, permanent tattoos that were once a great idea are often one of the first things brides request to be without come their wedding day. In many Asian, Indian and Middle East cultures, temporary henna tattooing is a necessary part of the wedding ceremony, but in America, getting a tattoo isn’t usually temporary- it’s permanent.
How Does Tattoo Removal Work?
Tattoo removal has been around for years, but previous methods were much more intense and scarring was unavoidable. Nowadays, graduates from laser schools for hair removal and skin rejuvenation often are trained in laser tattoo removal as well. Lasers work by directing laser beam energy toward the ink in the skin with highly concentrated colored light beams. These laser beams break up ink particles into tiny fragments which are later cleared up by the body’s own cells. The procedure is bloodless and no incisions are made. The laser selectively targets the pigment of the tattoo without damaging the surrounding skin.
If I am Getting Married in Six Months, Will I Have to Have More Than One Session?
How many sessions you will need will depend on several factors:
• The depth of the ink level
• Size of the tattoo
• Color of the tattoo
• Age of a person
• The newness of the tattoo- the more recent, the more difficult
• Health- your body’s ability to heal
Is it Painful?
The heat generated by the lasers may cause pain and blisters are commonly formed. Even though laser technology is developed, the chance of scarring is always present with multiple treatments.
What Does it Cost to Remove a Tattoo?
Lasers are considered safe and are believed to provide the best results. The cost of laser tattoo removal varies. The rule of thumb is usually between $100 and $150 per square inch per treatment- which can really add up! So, depending on the size as well as color of your tattoo will depend on the cost as well as the time it takes to have it removed. The darker the color of your tattoo, the more treatments are necessary to remove the deep color. Laser removal combined with some quality concealer and you should be good to go in just about anything.
That tattoo that you got ten years ago with the giant butterfly across your back seemed like a great idea at the time, but since then a few things have changed. If you are getting married and your dream dress just happens to be backless, the good news is there are options! From make-up to tattoo laser removal you don’t have to make your past apart of your future.
Finding the Most Affordable Tattoo Removal Procedure Options
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With an explosion in the popularity of tattoos, the cosmetic surgery world has also seen an explosion of interest in a particular procedure — tattoo removal. Whatever the reason is that people got their tattoos, be it youthful exuberance, a commitment to an “everlasting” love or an expression of their undying support for their favorite musical group, many people are finding that their sentiments aren’t usually as permanent as their tattoos. In fact, studies have shown that about 10 percent of Americans have a tattoo, but 50 percent of those with tattoos would like them to be removed. That’s over 15 million people in the U.S. alone!
Since so many people are interested in tattoo removal procedures, these procedures have become more advanced and more affordable. Finding the most affordable tattoo removal procedure for you will depend on a few factors. One of the most important is the size and type of tattoo that needs to be removed. Certain procedures are better for certain types of tattoos. The costs of tattoo removal also vary depending on the size of the tattoo that is being removed. Larger tattoos generally require more treatments, which can increase the cost.
The First Steps to Finding the Most Affordable Tattoo Removal Procedure Options
As with any medical procedure, the patient’s first stop should be a consultation with a doctor. In the case of tattoo removal, either a physician or a dermatologist will be able to help you decide how to move forward. During the first consultation with the doctor, he or she will view the tattoo, discuss removal options and then create a plan for removal. The plan is needed because many treatments require multiple applications, so the doctor will decide which procedure will work best for you and try to estimate the number of treatments needed.
At this point, it is important to go over with your doctor all of the risks and costs associated with tattoo removal treatments. There five main options for tattoo removal: laser tattoo removal, intense pulsed-light therapy, chemical creams, excision and dermabrasion.
Laser Tattoo Removal Procedure
One of the most widely used methods for tattoo removal, laser tattoo removal, involves blasting the tattoo away by breaking up the pigments of the tattoo with a high-intensity laser beam. The doctor can control the width and wavelength of the beam, targeting specific tattoo colors with different combinations. Since the physician can focus the treatment so precisely, the tattoo can be removed without damaging the surrounding skin.
Most patients describe the laser treatment as virtually painless. After each treatment, the treated area may feel like a sunburn, but the tattoo should fade as the area heals. Depending on the size of the tattoo, between two and six treatments are generally needed to complete the process.
Tattoo Removal through Intense Pulsed Light Therapy
Intense pulsed light therapy (IPL) directs an intense beam of light onto the tattoo area, which essentially burns off the top layer of skin. As the skin heals, the tattoo is less noticeable. The cost for intense pulsed light therapy is based on the number of pulses needed, so the size of the tattoo will determine the cost of removal. Generally, it takes 10-12 months for the full results of intense pulsed light therapy to show.
Removing Tattoos with the Use of Chemical Creams
A variety of chemical creams can be used to fade or eliminate tattoos. The creams are generally more affordable than the laser removal and pulsed light therapy, but often have mixed results.
Excision — Surgically Removing the Tattoo from the Skin
For people who have very small tattoos, excision might be an option. Tattoo removal by excision involves a doctor actually cutting off the portion of the skin that contains the tattoo ink. Sometimes, this method can be used on larger tattoos by removing the tattoo and then applying a skin graft to the area to encourage re-growth.
Tattoo Removal through Dermabrasion
This process can be likened to sanding away the tattoo by removing the top layers of skin. Usually, a local anesthetic is used along with dermabrasion. Results usually show in three to four weeks, but this might not be the best procedure for patients who are prone to scarring since it involves physical removal of the tattoo surface.
Discussing the Most Affordable Tattoo Removal Procedures with a Doctor
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.