Laser tattoo removal

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For hundreds of thousands of years, innumerable cultures have ascribed meaning and importance to body marking. Tattooing was largely unpopular in 20th century America because of its risks, drawbacks, and social stigma. Largely due to advancements in technology and a de-stigmatization of the practice, tattooing has undergone a tremendous surge in popularity. According to U.S. News & World Report, tattooing has been the fastest growing sector of retail business in the last ten years.

While self expression is human nature, so, too, is regret. Many people who get tattoos in their youth grow up to regret the butterfly, dolphin, dragon, name, symbol, or other marking permanently displayed on their body. One woman, speaking of the dolphin and lizard tattoos she received on her ankle at 21 years of age, says “I thought they were cool at the time. As you get older and go to nicer places, they just don’t look classy.”

Cosmetic surgeons report an increasing number of people coming to their offices in search of laser surgery for tattoo removal. The president of the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery, Roy Geronemus, says the increased interest in tattoo removal directly correlates with the number of people with tattoos in our society today.

Cosmetic surgeons report that there are three categories of patients who come to their office seeking laser tattoo removal. The first is the teenager accompanied by distressed parents who want to “fix their child’s mistake.” The second is the young professional who feels that tattoos are no longer an appropriate aesthetic feature for their image. The third is the new parent. Parents, especially mothers, comprise the largest group of tattooed patients who seek laser surgery. Many adults believe that tattoos are neither professional nor a good example to set for their children. These considerations are rarely taken into account by the teenager or young adult seeking permanent body art.

Until the 1990s, scraping the skin or slicing it off was the only way to remove unwanted tattoos. Scars were inevitable after these tattoo removal techniques, not to mention a great deal of pain and recovery time. With advancements in laser technology, lasers can now penetrate the skin to target specific pigments, breaking up the tattoo dye into tiny units that the body can absorb. These laser treatments, however, are not perfect.

Cosmetic laser surgeons report that red and black tattoo markings are the easiest to remove, while turquoise and purple are the most difficult. White and yellow tattoo dye can also respond poorly to laser treatments. If a patient had an allergic reaction to the tattoo itself, laser removal is significantly more difficult.

The practice of removing tattoos through laser surgery is not simple and often requires numerous treatment sessions to complete. People who seek laser tattoo removal are strongly advised by cosmetic surgeons to find an experienced and qualified surgeon to perform their desired procedure.


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