Tattoo Removal

Skin damage is one of the most common reasons people decide to remove a tattoo. If the pigment is removed too quickly, your skin can become irritated and sore. There are also risks of scarring and the possibility of the pigment migrating to other areas of the body. Skin infections after getting a tattoo removal are also possible.

Laser treatments can cause pain.

There are risks to any type of laser treatment. The most common side effects are redness, swelling, tenderness and pain at the spot where the laser was applied. These symptoms usually subside within a few days. Rarely, the skin can blister or look a little sunburned. Most of the time, the results are quite good. Sometimes the skin discoloration does not fade at all.

There is a small risk of scarring.

One risk of laser tattoo removal is scarring. Scars can look unsightly, especially on the face, hands, or chest. Scars are less likely to form when the pigment is lifted as opposed to the deeper pigment that is more common in black and dark colors. However, regardless of whether the pigment is pigment or blood, scarring is still possible.

Infection is possible.

The biggest risk is that the pigment may remain after laser removal and may be darker or irregular. This is known as hypopigmentation. The darker the color of your existing tattoo, the more likely it is that pigment removal is not possible. In addition, skin discoloration and scarring can occur.

Laser treatments can burn the skin.

Getting a tattoo is a personal choice, and no one can force you to have one. However, the possibility of scarring is one risk of getting a tattoo. Laser treatments are very safe, but they can cause some skin burns if you’re not careful. This is especially true if you have a darker skin color or a large area to cover with a single tattoo.

Laser removal is expensive.

The possibility of scarring is one risk that you may face if you decide to remove a tattoo. A trained and experienced dermatologist can usually provide you with a detailed aftercare plan that outlines the best way to care for your skin after laser removal. For example, the doctor will advise you to use a topical cream and follow a strict bathing and skin-scrubbing routine.

It can take several sessions.

Your doctor will discuss the potential risks of laser tattoo removal with you. While these are generally very rare, you may want to consider what risks you’re willing to take. Some laser techniques use a pigment-removal solution, so if there is scarring in the area, pigment particles may seep into the skin. This is unlikely to affect your results but may require scar revision to even out your skin tone.

Laser removal can cause discoloration.

Although laser removal is generally safe, there can be some potential risks. In rare cases, scarring or pigment clumping can occur after laser treatments. The most common side effect is redness, which is temporary and fades within a few weeks.

Conclusion

The biggest risk with any form of laser removal is scarring. The laser works by targeting pigment, so scarring happens when pigment is removed from the skin in the wrong area. Laser scarring is usually red and raised and looks like a burn. It’s also possible for the pigment to scatter into the surrounding skin and cause a discoloration. For these reasons, a doctor will usually recommend that you follow up with a laser procedure if the first one is not successful.

Are there risks to tattoo removal?