by Justice Liberty

Created on: March 22, 2007   Last Updated: April 17, 2007

In todays day and age, many people have tattoos, but not everyone is happy with their tattoos as the time passes. People's lives change and so do their tastes, and this is why many people are turning to tattoo removal. There are several ways to have a tattoos removed.

Laser Tattoo Removal: With laser tattoo removal, the laser breaks up the ink that was stamped into your skin. What happens is by breaking up the ink in your skin, it helps your body rid itself of the ink which is a foreign substance. This procedure can take up to two years and many sessions to completely get rid of the tattoo.

Intense Pulsed Light(IPL): Similar to Laser Tattoo Removal, the Intense Pulsed Light tattoo removal method uses pulses of high intensity light, but is not laser light.

Excision: The Excision method of tattoo removal is a surgical procedure where the tattoo is actually cut off of a person and then they stitch the skin back together. Small tattoos can be removed by Excision in one setting, while larger tattoos have to be taken off in pieces over time.

Dermabrasion: The Dermabrasion method works by spraying a substance on the tattoo, which freezes the area sprayed, then an instrument is used that is much like a small sander that forces the skin to then peel off. OUCH!

Salibrasion: Maybe the oldest method of tattoo removal is called Salibrasion, in which salt is rubbed on the tattoo. This method uses a local anesthetic.

Saline Injections: Saline Injections provide another way of breaking up the ink of a tattoo, and in most cases does not remove the tattoo, but blurs the tattoo so that it can be covered up with another tattoo.

There can be complications with any of these tattoo removal techniques, and you should never try to implement any of these methods yourself. It appears that the removal of a tattoo would be much more painful than getting the tattoo in the first place. In most cases you are going to be left with a scar, however minimal it may be. It is your decision whether you would rather have the unwanted tattoo, or a scar.

There are some people who should not use these tattoo removal methods. As with any procedure done to your body, first consult your medical doctor and ask for his input. You should not use the tattoo removal options in this article if you have any of the following conditions:

1)Severe Acne
2)Rosacea apparent at the time of the procedure
3)Diabetes consult your doctor
4)Aids or any other auto-immune system disorder
5)Warts
6)Lesions
7)Problems with your skin healing properly

Learn more about this author, Justice Liberty.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.