A tattoo is no longer the permanent body modification it once was. With laser technology, tattoos can be removed simply, easily, and effectively. If you’re wondering how something that was once thought to be permanent can be removed, it’ll help to first know what tattoo ink is and how your body tries to deal with it.
Tattoo ink is injected into dermis layer of your skin. It’s the layer that contains blood capillaries, nerve endings, sweat glands, and hair follicles. What is tattoo ink made of? That’s tough to answer, since tattoo ink recipes are considered proprietary information, and ink makers can keep them private.
What you can reasonably be sure of is that the color (or pigment) of tattoo ink commonly uses various heavy metals and metal salts. Common coloring agents include:
Your immune system tries hard to remove foreign agents—and that includes tattoo ink. While the smallest particles can be transported to the liver for disposal, the vast majority of the ink particles are too large, and so the tattoos remain.
However, tattoos tend to lose their sharpness over time because your body has flushed out the smaller ink particles.
Now that we have all that out of the way, we can finally get to the main question.
Specialized lasers are the most common tattoo removal tool. When directed at a tattoo, the laser bombards ink particles with such focused energy that the particles break down into smaller pieces—small enough for your body’s immune system to remove.
Since ink particles are relatively large, tattoo removal requires several sessions. Lasers can also target specific ink colors, so rest assured that your multi-colored tattoo can be removed.
If you’re in New Jersey, you can visit the Dermatology Associates of Central New Jersey to get your tattoo removed. At any of the three locations in Old Bridge, Union, or Freehold, you’ll be treated effectively and expertly by an experienced dermatologist or physician assistant over several sessions six to eight weeks apart.
While laser tattoo removal is effective, you may experience some discomfort, and you may develop small temporary blisters or scabs from the treatment. However, your caregivers at Dermatology Associates of Central NJ will guide you throughout the healing process to ensure that you get the results you want.
If you want to fade or even eliminate a tattoo, call the office closest to you or book online to schedule your consultation.
