Of all these techniques, the use of the laser method of tattoo removal is possibly the most effective. Before opting for it, you should know that redness and swelling may take place after the removal. The number of sittings depends on the tattoo size and whether it has been done by an amateur or a professional. But hospitals with Q-switch lasers that can produce powerful pulses can ensure lesser sittings and thorough removal of the tattoo. An amateur uses fewer colors than a professional. Lasers produce a powerful pulse that shatters the color pigment present in the layers of the skin. The deeper pigments are erased through the phagocyted cells while, the lighter pigments are taken care of transepidermally as mentioned in www.vital.ae.com.
Dermabrasion leaves behind scars but can be helpful. Dermabrasion is another cosmetic method of tattoo removal wherein layers of dead skin are filed away using a small machine that looks similar to a sanding belt and is rubbed against the tattoo. Before the machine is used, a lotion or cream is used to soften the skin. While rubbing the layers of skin and colors are removed. Sometimes the skin is also frozen before beginning the procedure. Dermabrasion involves a high risk of scarring and infection. The possibility of scarring is much less in the use of the laser technique. Some colors like red are particularly difficult to remove when using a laser but that possibility is rare in dermabrasion.
None of the tattoo removal techniques can however ensure full removal of the designs. They remain like blister on the body. Also, in some cases particularly for dark skinned people it may lead to the area becoming lighter than the rest of the body. Excision is the most difficult type of removal procedure. The pattern has to be cut off from the skin. It is then stitched back, and the area allowed healing. The procedure can be adapted for smaller tattoos perhaps but for larger ones it can be very painful.
Tattoos are considered by many as forms of expression, but they are not without risks. Various creams are available for tattoo removal like the trichloroacetic acid and the glycolic acid which are used mainly for exfoliating the skin. These remove the tattoos over time and not in the wink of an eye. Sometimes even the ones used for preparing the skin prior to tattoo removal can make it look ugly.