Tattoos, artwork, ink… or how about a huge mistake? Call them what you want, but one thing for sure is that tattoos are just about everywhere…and tattoo laser removal is a growing industry that just might be about to get it’s big break.
A far cry from a few years back, most people won’t even take a second look if they see a 90-year-old man marked up with a naked chick on his not-so-muscular bicep. Whatever makes him feel young right? It’s probably not even too far off to assume that those serious-looking, high-profile attorneys and frowning politicians walking around Downtown Sacramento have a few pieces of artwork discreetly hidden under their power suits.
While tattoos are finally becoming socially acceptable, it seems that people are putting less consideration into getting ink injected into their dermis.
Young newlyweds run to the tattoo parlor to commemorate their “foreverness” by getting each other’s names scrawled across the body part of their choice. Bands just starting out might celebrate their newfound success with matching back pieces. And while most shops say that they won’t ink someone under the influence, the drunk guy determined to get a tattoo of his own face on his derrière will somehow find a way.
But what happens if your “soul mate” runs away with your best friend? Or if the band mates have a falling out and end up despising each other? Or when you get out of the shower and see your own face on your BEHIND?
Tattoo removal, there's your cue.
While it used to be an excruciatingly painful process involving dermabrasion (hardcore scrubbing), laser technology has made the removal process a little more pleasant. Lasers administer pulses of light and are absorbed by the tattoo, which often penetrate the second or even third layer of skin below the surface. The ink’s pigment is broken up into tiny particles which is absorbed into the blood and cleaned out by the body’s immune system.
A far cry from a few years back, most people won’t even take a second look if they see a 90-year-old man marked up with a naked chick on his not-so-muscular bicep. Whatever makes him feel young right? It’s probably not even too far off to assume that those serious-looking, high-profile attorneys and frowning politicians walking around Downtown Sacramento have a few pieces of artwork discreetly hidden under their power suits.
While tattoos are finally becoming socially acceptable, it seems that people are putting less consideration into getting ink injected into their dermis.
Young newlyweds run to the tattoo parlor to commemorate their “foreverness” by getting each other’s names scrawled across the body part of their choice. Bands just starting out might celebrate their newfound success with matching back pieces. And while most shops say that they won’t ink someone under the influence, the drunk guy determined to get a tattoo of his own face on his derrière will somehow find a way.
But what happens if your “soul mate” runs away with your best friend? Or if the band mates have a falling out and end up despising each other? Or when you get out of the shower and see your own face on your BEHIND?Tattoo removal, there's your cue.
While it used to be an excruciatingly painful process involving dermabrasion (hardcore scrubbing), laser technology has made the removal process a little more pleasant. Lasers administer pulses of light and are absorbed by the tattoo, which often penetrate the second or even third layer of skin below the surface. The ink’s pigment is broken up into tiny particles which is absorbed into the blood and cleaned out by the body’s immune system.
Depending on the size, location, depth, density, and age of the tattoo it might take over a year for the tattoo to fade completely. Even then, 10 percent of tattoos still remain visible. But because there are so many different types of ink used by artists, it is impossible to pinpoint the exact type used and physicians must basically experiment until the eyesore disappears.
Anyone looking to start the process should be prepared to empty their pockets. While prices vary at different clinics, clients should expect to pay anywhere from $200 up to $1000 per session. Amateur tattoos might require only one to four sessions but professionally done tattoos can take anywhere from six on up. Plus, the more sessions needed, the longer they are spaced apart. A quick half hour tattoo session can easily turn into a year-long waiting game since it’s never guaranteed how many removal sessions might be needed.
The pale girl that thought it might be fun to get a sleeve of solid black? She actually might have been onto something. The lighter your skin, the easier it is to get rid of the art. Lasers have a hard time distinguishing ink from darker skin. Also, darker ink fades faster than colors and areas of your body with more circulation (arms, chest, etc.) will break up the ink faster.
As long as the needles keep buzzing, there are sure to be clinics popping up all around town. Websites such as tattooremoval.org and tattooremoval411.com can help you get started undoing your mistake. They offer listings of the phone numbers and addresses of credible clinics and laser technicians all across the US.
Tattoo artists probably won’t quit inking anytime soon, and laser services clinics couldn‘t be more thrilled.
Just remember… think before you ink.
Anyone looking to start the process should be prepared to empty their pockets. While prices vary at different clinics, clients should expect to pay anywhere from $200 up to $1000 per session. Amateur tattoos might require only one to four sessions but professionally done tattoos can take anywhere from six on up. Plus, the more sessions needed, the longer they are spaced apart. A quick half hour tattoo session can easily turn into a year-long waiting game since it’s never guaranteed how many removal sessions might be needed.
The pale girl that thought it might be fun to get a sleeve of solid black? She actually might have been onto something. The lighter your skin, the easier it is to get rid of the art. Lasers have a hard time distinguishing ink from darker skin. Also, darker ink fades faster than colors and areas of your body with more circulation (arms, chest, etc.) will break up the ink faster.
As long as the needles keep buzzing, there are sure to be clinics popping up all around town. Websites such as tattooremoval.org and tattooremoval411.com can help you get started undoing your mistake. They offer listings of the phone numbers and addresses of credible clinics and laser technicians all across the US.
Tattoo artists probably won’t quit inking anytime soon, and laser services clinics couldn‘t be more thrilled.
Just remember… think before you ink.
3 comments:
My son-in-law is about to get two tattoos - one on each bicep - of the baby footprints of his two daughters.
And that will be just another set of marks, added to probably 10 years of getting tattos from here to there to I-don't-want-to-know where.
Good column and useful about the removal issue. Why people do this is beyond many people's understanding (I put it there with smoking cigarettes) but I have several dermatologist friends who are driving rather expensive cars thanks to a relatively small group of people who need rehab.
Good point about the suits downtown and the tatoos they might be hiding. Fun to see them on a really hot day - with long sleeved shirts.
Good column, and it does raise a good point. Be sure of what you want tattoed, because it stays there forever...
really nice column- i know someone who got a tattoo on her honeymoon and now has the never-ending reminder of a broken marriage on the back of her neck... i'll have to direct her to the websites you referenced... anyway, i liked the column... :)
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