Laser Tattoo Removal Guide

The term “dermabrasion” describes a general cosmetic procedure where a doctor or trained medical specialist removes the outer layers of the skin for both aesthetic and medical purposes. Dermabrasion is most popularly known as a skin care technique used to rejuvanate the outer layers of the skin. This typically relates to improving the skins appearance from things such as wrinkles, scars, skin spots, and discolorations, often related to sun damage.

In regards to tattoo removal, dermabrasion is a technique for removing the layers of the skin that contained the tattoo ink, and thus, in this way removing the tattoo as well. It’s a tattoo removal technique with somewhat of a shady past, whose performance often lead to scars and unwanted skin conditions left in place of where the tattoo used to be.

Currently it’s still possible to consult and work with a doctor who is trained in this technique and have your tattoo professionally removed via dermabrasion, but, it’s availability has been overshadowed by superior techniques and developments in ***laser tattoo removal*** methods.

Before laser tattoo techniques took off, in the past – as in, decades ago – dermabrasion was one of the main removal techniques available, as it really was one of the only methods available that was offered by trained medical professionals.

Compared to more modern tattoo removal methods, dermabrasion runs a high risk of scarring on the skin. This is simple due to the fact that the technique itself involves rubbing the skin and removing the layers of the skin itself. This naturally presents a risk of skin scarring. In literal terms, dermabrasion removes these skin layers via sanding (also called abrasion, and hence derma (skin) abrasion (sanding) The term “skin sanding” is righly frightening!

Additionally, dermabrasion for tattoo removal is a very painful method. Individuals receiving dermabrasion treatments usually also receive medication to deal with the pain. (However, patients are never unconscious during the procedure.)

The pain involved coupled with the risk of scarring makes the dermabrasion of a tattoo a hard sale to most people wanting to get tattoo removal!

While dermabrasion techniques are better now than they were in the 1970’s, this technique is largely considered outdated. Instead of dermabrasion, a person is better off investing in rejuvi tattoo removal or laser tattoo removal.

Ironically, the evolution of dermabrasion techniques has led to the use of lasers (such as Co2 and the Erbium YAG laser) to perform the dermabrasion itself, instead of the aforementioned sander. While promising, the validity of these newer dermabrasion techniques for tattoo removal has not been proven yet.

There are a few things a person should be aware of before going in for laser tattoo removal treatments. It’s going to be necessary to avoid sun exposure to the area that’s going to be treated (i.e. the tattooed area should be shielded from sunlight) for about 2 weeks before going in for laser treatments. This is because of the way that laser treatments can adversely effect skin that’s been effected by the sun.

Treatments themselves are spaced out over a number of different sessions, allowing the doctor to target different areas of the tattoo in each session, and giving time for the body to react effectively to the laser pulses, thus removing the tattoo little by little.

After having had a laser removal session, there are a number of common side effects the person will experience. For starters, as mentioned for the “before” info, avoiding the sun afterwards is just as important. The area treated by lasers will be extra sensitive to the rays of the sun. Exposure at this point – in the days and weeks after treatment – could effect the skin adversely, creating a discoloration. Avoiding the sun is easy to do though because most likely, any sunlight on the tattooed area will be uncomfortable. A person should avoid sunlight for 2 weeks following treatments. After this, it’s even a good idea to protect the area by using sunblock if you are going to be outside.

Immediately after a laser tattoo removal session, the area that was treated will be feeling the stress of having been hit repeatedly by stinging little lasers. Those lasers will leave the treated area of the skin feeling extra sensitive. The skin will react by being red, almost like a sunburn in and of itself. This will go away in a few days on its own. During this time, it’s a good idea to avoid hot water directly on the area. This would include avoiding heated pools, hot tubs, saunas, and taking care during showering to ensure the treated area isn’t hit with hot water.

The number of treatment sessions needed to remove a tattoo depends entirely on a number of factors. This includes the colors used in the tattoo, the depth of the tattoo ink itself the skin, the size of the tattoo, and the age of the tattoo. Most tattoos are removed via laser tattoo removal within 5-15 sessions. During this time, a person should see the tattoo colors fading with each treatment, and then eventually, entirely removed the skin.

After treatments are completed and the skin is fully healed, it’s unlikely that there will be any marks or ink or anything left in that area to signify that there was once a tattoo there.

Congratulations – the tattoo has been removed!