There are a lot of reasons you might want to have tattoos removed. Maybe you want a new job or a new mate. Perhaps your old tattoo is looking faded or doesn't fit your lifestyle any longer. Regardless of the reason, you now are thinking about having it removed. Here are the different removal processes you'll have to consider.
Laser Treatment
The most common method for having tattoos removed is laser treatment. Lasers work by burning off the top layers of skin to break up the tattoo pigments. The fragments of pigment are then absorbed by the body harmlessly. The process has been described as feeling like hot grease splattered on your skin.
As if that's not enough, laser tattoo removal is not just a one-treatment process. More treatments reach deeper to break up more pigments. But the more treatments, the more damage to skin, causing sores that can turn into scars. The treatment is painful and recovery is painful afterwards. Do tattoos hurt? Compared to the agony of removal, the application of a tattoo is not nearly so painful.
Cost will be another source of pain. Based on your tattoo size and coloration, you may need from 1-10 sessions, each costing $250-$850 per session. A large, color tattoo could cost thousands to remove, and complete removal isn't guaranteed.
However, there are other options for removing tattoos. Some are equally painful and not recommended. Others are painless, but of dubious value.
Sanding and Excising
Other painful ways to have tattoos removed include sanding the skin and excising the tattoo-literally cutting it out and sewing the skin together over the top. Sanding the skin can end up doing more damage than good by causing severe burns and permanent scarring. Excising the tattoo tends to create unsightly puckers in place of possibly nice looking tattoos.
Balms and Creams
The painless approach to having tattoos removed is using special balms or creams that reportedly fade a tattoo away to near invisibility. Unfortunately, these products get mixed reviews. Some people have said they noticed a fading in about 4 months, especially in the dark lines of the tattoo. Others have said they've seen no effect at all. Still, it might be worth trying before opting for laser treatment, and you can find a number of popular balms and creams online.
One other method bears mentioning: the vinegar and sandpaper method. In this method, which many professional tattoo artists consider a myth, you can soak your tattoo in vinegar, then rub it lightly with sandpaper. Repeat the process until the tattoo is gone. According to tattoo specialists, this is nothing more than wishful thinking.
So the next time someone asks you, "Do tattoos hurt?" you can answer, "Yes, but mostly when you don't want them anymore."
Laser Treatment
The most common method for having tattoos removed is laser treatment. Lasers work by burning off the top layers of skin to break up the tattoo pigments. The fragments of pigment are then absorbed by the body harmlessly. The process has been described as feeling like hot grease splattered on your skin.
As if that's not enough, laser tattoo removal is not just a one-treatment process. More treatments reach deeper to break up more pigments. But the more treatments, the more damage to skin, causing sores that can turn into scars. The treatment is painful and recovery is painful afterwards. Do tattoos hurt? Compared to the agony of removal, the application of a tattoo is not nearly so painful.
Cost will be another source of pain. Based on your tattoo size and coloration, you may need from 1-10 sessions, each costing $250-$850 per session. A large, color tattoo could cost thousands to remove, and complete removal isn't guaranteed.
However, there are other options for removing tattoos. Some are equally painful and not recommended. Others are painless, but of dubious value.
Sanding and Excising
Other painful ways to have tattoos removed include sanding the skin and excising the tattoo-literally cutting it out and sewing the skin together over the top. Sanding the skin can end up doing more damage than good by causing severe burns and permanent scarring. Excising the tattoo tends to create unsightly puckers in place of possibly nice looking tattoos.
Balms and Creams
The painless approach to having tattoos removed is using special balms or creams that reportedly fade a tattoo away to near invisibility. Unfortunately, these products get mixed reviews. Some people have said they noticed a fading in about 4 months, especially in the dark lines of the tattoo. Others have said they've seen no effect at all. Still, it might be worth trying before opting for laser treatment, and you can find a number of popular balms and creams online.
One other method bears mentioning: the vinegar and sandpaper method. In this method, which many professional tattoo artists consider a myth, you can soak your tattoo in vinegar, then rub it lightly with sandpaper. Repeat the process until the tattoo is gone. According to tattoo specialists, this is nothing more than wishful thinking.
So the next time someone asks you, "Do tattoos hurt?" you can answer, "Yes, but mostly when you don't want them anymore."
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