Can you remove a tattoo

You'll need things like Aquaphor, bandages, and even clothes that don't rest on your tattoo. At first, I was cutting tags out, but when tagless cotton tees still made the spot hurt and itch, I figured keyhole backs were a good investment. If you have tattoos on your ribs or feet and like to wear bras and shoes it might be best to plan your sessions accordingly. It also helps to apply a thin coating of antibiotic ointment or healing moisturizer three times a day, like from Aquaphor or Kiehl's , for the first three days of the healing process.

One tattoo removal method that isn't talked about as much is semi-removal—i. If you don't want to take your tattoos all the way off, you can simply lighten them enough to get some good cover-up work done.

I have a friend who had a bird piece lightened enough to have a tattoo artist ink a lightbulb over the top. I thought it was smart because it meant her new tattoo didn't have to be heavy-handed. If, like me, you want your ink completely removed, you should know that the skin that is left might not be flawless.

While the risks are nowhere near as big when you are treated by a removal specialist or medical professional, your skin pigment can be lightened. Which, again, is all the more reason to refer back to the first point on this list—go to a qualified doctor or specialist. Lauren Chan is a fashion expert and designer in New York City.

Follow her lcchan. By Whitney Perry. By Deanna Pai. Rewards Free Stuff Promos. It might be worth getting a cover up tattoo instead of a full tattoo removal.

Know that the process could leave scarring. Topics tattoo removal tattoos tattoo. Infection or skin discoloration is possible as well. If you're considering tattoo removal, consult a dermatologist. He or she can explain the options for tattoo removal and help you choose the method that's most likely to be effective for your tattoo. For example, some tattoo inks are more responsive to laser treatment than are others. Likewise, small tattoos might be good candidates for surgical removal, while others are simply too large to remove with a scalpel.

Tattoo removal is often done as an outpatient procedure with local anesthesia. Common techniques for tattoo removal include laser surgery, surgical removal and dermabrasion.

Q-switched lasers — which release energy in a single, powerful pulse — are often the treatment of choice for tattoo removal. A special type of laser — called a Q-switched Nd:YAG — might be used on darker skin to avoid changing the skin's pigment permanently.

Before laser treatment, the skin is numbed with an injection of a local anesthetic. Then a powerful pulse of energy is applied to the tattoo to heat and shatter the tattoo ink. Multicolored tattoos might need treatment with various lasers and different wavelengths.

After the procedure, you might notice swelling and possibly blistering or bleeding. Antibacterial ointment can help promote healing. You'll likely need repeated sessions to lighten the tattoo, and it might not be possible to completely erase the tattoo. During surgical removal, the skin is numbed with an injection of a local anesthetic. The tattoo is removed with a scalpel, and the edges of skin are stitched back together. After the procedure, antibacterial ointment helps promote healing.

Surgical tattoo removal is effective — but it leaves a scar and might be practical only for small tattoos. During dermabrasion, the tattooed area is typically chilled until numb. Then the tattooed skin is sanded down to deeper levels with a high-speed rotary device that has an abrasive wheel or brush. Having a tattoo removed is usually safe if it's done by an experienced and suitably qualified practitioner. Check the person removing your tattoo is on a register to show they meet set standards in training, skill and insurance.

Read more about choosing who will do your cosmetic procedure. On the day, you'll be given special goggles to protect your eyes. A local anaesthetic cream may be used to numb the skin. A handheld device will be pressed on your skin to trigger a laser. Some people say this feels like an elastic band snapping against your skin.

Your skin may be red with a raised rash for a short while after treatment.