Monday, December 28, 2009

Ask Dr. Man- Tattoo Removal

Dear Dr. Man, I got a tattoo of my fiance’s name on my ankle and now we’re no longer together. Needless to say, this is embarrassing and I want it off of my skin. What’s involved in removing tattoos? Do I have to have surgery? Signed, Bad Move in Boca

Due to advancements in technology and a de-stigmatization of the practice, tattooing has undergone a tremendous surge in popularity over the years. In fact, according to U.S. News & World Report, tattooing has been the fastest growing sector of retail business in the last ten years. However, many people who get tattoos in their youth, or those who get tattoos that remind them of an ex-partner, can wind up regretting this permanent marking. Yours is a problem we see quite often.

Until the 1990s, scraping the skin or slicing it off was the only way to remove unwanted tattoos. Scars were inevitable after these tattoo removal techniques, not to mention a great deal of pain and recovery time. Fortunately, with advancements in laser technology, lasers can now penetrate the skin to target specific pigments, breaking up the tattoo dye into tiny units that the body can absorb. There is a technology called the Vaculight Laser system, which uses a YAG laser. It is an excellent treatment to remove tattoos from the body. The laser is color sensitive and targets the pigments most often used in tattoos, without affecting surrounding tissues. The effect of the laser on your tattoo varies depending on your levels of water, melanin (pigment) and hemoglobin content.

Treatments last from 15 minutes to an hour, depending on the area of the body and how big the tattoo is. Laser tattoo removal with the YAG laser can remove tattoos of all colors, shapes and sizes. Also, an infrared tattoo removal machine is very effective and may have fewer side effects. It can treat any color tattoo. Six to eight treatments are usually necessary; and laser treatments are scheduled at four-week intervals. The laser tattoo removal has always worked well with blue and black tattoos. Now, with the med-lite laser, even yellow and green color tattoos can be effectively treated. There is minimal discomfort during the procedure, though redness may appear and last for several days.

Potential problems include scar formation and the fact that the tattoo removal procedure may never replace your original beautiful skin.

If you are interested in laser tattoo removal, I advise you to speak with an experienced and qualified plastic surgeon to do the procedure.



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Dr. Man


Dr. Daniel Man is a board-certified plastic surgeon who has dedicated his life’s work to helping people look younger and improve their appearance through cosmetic surgery. He is a noted author, artist, inventor and educator. Dr. Man has been featured on major television networks, as well as national and local magazines and newspapers for his work as both a plastic surgeon and an artist. He has a successful private practice in Boca Raton, FL. For more information about Dr. Man, visit www.drman.com.

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