One way that Oklahoma tattoo artists skirted huge fines and jail time in the months leading up to the passage of the new tattoo bill that legalized the art of tattooing is by showing that tattoos are no longer considered a permanent mark. I’m sure that many would disagree because of the pain and costs involved in removing tattoos but mark my words, most tattoos are removable.
Just like tattooing, tattoo removal has been around for a very long time. Many years ago removal of a tattoo was a horrific experience that involved surgical excision of the area including and around the tattoo and a more humane method was the use of abrasives. Both of these methods created a lot of pain and usually a lot of scarring. Thankfully, the world of medicine and technology has evolved to give us easier ways to remove tattoos that are no longer wanted.
With almost 57% of people that have received a tattoo becoming unhappy with a piece of their artwork at some point in their lives it became a must to create a way to effectively and safely remove these tattoos while minimizing pain and scarring. No method is 100% effective but there are two very popular methods that can produce near perfect results depending on the size, coloration and location of your tattoo.
The most commonly known method is laser removal. This involves “zapping” the tattoo repeatedly with a burst of laser light. The current laser technology favored by tattoo artists is the Q-switched laser. There are three different types of Q-switched lasers that are used. There are varying degrees of success for each for different colored inks. Each of the lasers has strengths and weaknesses. Some of them can cause burns for various skin tones and others are much safer but less effective on the different colors of ink. Multiple types of the Q-switched laser may be necessary if your tattoo is heavily colored. Be sure to check references for anyone that you have selected to do a tattoo removal as any kind of procedure of this nature can cause permanent injury.
The other popular removal method is known as the “fade-away method”. It involves rubbing various creams and ointment into the tattoo for a period of time until it has faded to your satisfaction. This is the cheapest and least painful of any method to remove a tattoo. Most tattoo shops now offer the various removal creams for you to purchase. As with anything you do to your body you should check with your doctor prior to using any of these methods to ensure that no harm will come to you.
There are a few other options available but the most popular of the remaining solutions is dermabrasion. It sounds harsh because it is. A doctor will use a sanding instrument to remove layers of your skin until the tattoo is no longer visible. It can cause bleeding, irritation to surrounding skin and scarring.
When getting a tattoo you should assume that it’s going to be a permanent mark on your body. Even with today’s technology it is not always a guarantee that the tattoo can be removed. Choose your tattoo wisely and listen to your tattoo artist if they refuse to tattoo your girlfriend or boyfriend’s name on your knuckles. If you do have a tattoo you want removed be sure to talk to your tattoo professional and get their opinions and recommendations on the most effective and safest way to remove unwanted ink.
http://www.oklahomaink.com/articles/tattoos-no-longer-permanent.php
