Fixit: Consult dermatologist for tattoo removal

Q How do I remove a tattoo?

By Karen Youso, Star Tribune

Last update: April 16, 2007 - 4:38 PM

Q How do I remove a tattoo?

A This is not a do-it-yourself project. Consult a dermatologist. Get a referral from your doctor or check yellow-page directories for names of dermatologists or clinics that do tattoo removal. According to the Minnesota Department of Health website, tattoo removal methods include:

• Dermabrasion, in which a rapidly rotating, diamond-tipped, skin-sanding instrument removes the tattoo pigment under the skin. This method will always result in a scar.

• Surgical excision, which involves cutting the tattooed portion of the flesh away and, in some cases, grafting skin from another part of the body. This method will always result in a scar.

• Tissue expansion, in which a balloon placed under the flesh is inflated to let the skin stretch slowly. The tattoo is then cut out and the skin closed. This will always result in a linear scar and sometimes leads to other complications.

Many people now, however, turn to laser removal techniques.

Laser tattoo removal

The type of laser used depends on the size and location of the tattoo and the type and/or color of the tattoo pigment. Some options are:

• Carbon dioxide (CO2) lasers use infrared light beams to vaporize the skin and remove tattoo pigment. The resulting wound and scarring are similar to the dermabrasion technique.

• Q-Switched (rapid pulsed) Nd-YAT lasers explode or fragment pigment particles under the skin, where they are then removed by the body's immune system. This method is said to be superior in the removal of red ink. Results vary, with some sources indicating that the treatment produces virtually no scar and others indicating that it may generate a textural change in the skin. It has been known to cause tissue splattering and bleeding. This treatment requires multiple sessions and is costly.

• Q-Switched ruby lasers remove green and black inks very effectively. As above, some sources indicate little or no scar while others indicate a potential for breaking the skin, bleeding or tissue splatter.

• Alexandrite lasers are similar in principle to Q-Switched lasers and are particularly suited to removal of dark black, blue or green colors. Depending on the type and size of tattoo, it may take one or many visits to satisfactorily remove the tattoo. Local anesthesia is commonly used for the procedure. Any post-procedure pain is controlled with pain medication.

Send your questions to Fixit at fixit@star tribune.com. Sorry, Fixit cannot supply individual replies.