Tattoo Removal or Covering Up Techniques

It is not that easy to remove a tattoo, as it is meant to be a permanent procedure. There is a saying in the tattoo community, “think before your ink!” If you do this, you will avoid trouble of trying to remove a tattoo.

There are different reasons a person may have for wanting to remove a tattoo. One of the most common types of tattoo removal requests are name tattoos. You were madly in love with him/her, so much so, you had to immortalize your love with permanent body art.

Unfortunately, that tattoo may last a lot longer than your love. After a painful breakup many people can’t stand to look at the name of the one that promised to love them forever...not! Now you have to find a way to remove the name.  New tattoo removal will be easier, so as soon as you decide you no longer want your tattoo, take action.

Tattoo removal can be expensive, painful and time consuming. There are several methods that can be used to get rid of a tattoo, here are a few:

Using a fade cream will help in you attempt to remove your tattoo. Fade creams work by breaking down the ink under the skin. As the ink breaks down it begins to be reabsorbed into the body.

Apply fade cream to your tattoo. This method takes a very long time, but it is a start, especially if you can’t afford the more costly methods. Use fade creams designed to be used on tattoos.

The main ingredient in tattoo fade creams such as Tat B Gone and Wrecking Balm is a skin whitener called hydroquinone. and an abrasive.

These products need to be used carefully and as directed to prevent skin irritation and scarring. Results when using these fade creams varies, depending on the age of the tattoo.

Laser tattoo removal is another way to remove a tattoo. With modern laser therapy a tattoo can be removed. Laser tattoo removal is not a one shot deal, but will take several secessions to complete the job. Of course, the larger the tattoo, the longer the procedure will take.

Consult a laser surgery practitioner to discuss the removal of your tattoo, what it will cost and how long it will take. Using laser therapy to remove a tattoo also has a possibility of scarring depending on the sensitivity of your skin.

Dermabrasion is a method of exfoliating top layers of the skin by the use of abrasives. If you ever used facial cleaners which promised to remove dead layers of skin, they contain small abrasive particles that remove dead skin with when scrubbed.

Dermabrasion is a similar procedure on a higher and more intense level. Dermabrasion is not as effective a laser removal.

A chemical peel is another option for removing your tattoo. A peel is a process of burning away the top layers of the skin. This procedure is also used for cosmetic reasons the purpose of diminishing facial scarring and imperfections.

This is not a quick fix and also takes several sessions to fade your tattoo. Chemical peels are also painful and causes blistering and peeling of the skin.

Surgery

The most sever method of removing a tattoo is surgery. I would not suggest this as it involved cutting the skin to remove the tattoo and you will be left with scarring which is worse than the tattoo itself.

Another creative way of getting rid of a tattoo, is to cover it up. This process is where your tattoo artist or you will come up with another design that will blend with the original. The hopeful outcome is that, the original tattoo become less noticeable or disappear into the new tattoo.

Check out this before and after shot to the left!