Tattoos are more popular today then
ever before, however, it is estimated that between
17 – 50% eventually regret having a tattoo.
Tattoo removal is a confusing step, and a rather new
one. Tattoo removal has only been an option for the
last 20 years.
Tattoo Removal
Surgical Removal
Why would you want the tattoo removed?
Largely it’s through regret. Many people have a tattoo on the
spur of the moment, or have something inscribed which no
longer has the meaning it once had. Tattoo removal is also
required for professional reasons as some occupations, such as
the military, have rule regarding visible body decoration.
What kind of anaesthetic is used?
Usually local anaesthetic but a very large tattoo may require
general anaesthetic.
Surgical Excision
If the tattoo is small it can usually be excised in one stage but
if it is large it may have to be excised in more than one stage
(serial excision). This means multiple operations three months
apart until the whole tattoo is removed.
Occasionally a very large tattoo that distresses the patient will
have to be excised and the area resurfaced with a skin graft.
This, however, leaves the patient with a donor site scar or a scar
from where the skin graft has been taken from. The patient may
however prefer this to that of a tattoo.
Why not laser treatment?
Laser therapy is also used for tattoo removal and in
a good number of cases very effective with minimal
scarring. However, some patients try laser removal
and find it unsuccessful or partially successful hence
they come for surgical excision.
Did you know!
Did you know!
The advantage of this
method is that the entire
tattoo can be removed.
What are the risks of the operation?
Similar to any surgery, there can be hematoma (blood clot
collection), infection, wound breakdown. In the long term there
is a risk that the scars, as with any scar, can become stretched,
raised (hypertrophic or keloidal).