Tattoo removal, is it painful?

Question

I'm thinking of getting a tattoo removed. Can anyone tell me if it's painful or HOW painful it is? What methods do they use for this?

Would it be better to just leave it alone? I did this when I was younger and wish I would not have.

Answer 1

I did that myself! About25 yrs ago I had a dermatologist attempt to remove some homemade tattoos from my arms. I was not all that painful because he deadened it. First they deaden with needles all the around the area. Then they spray this stuff on the area that freezes it hard like wood, then my doc took a tool similar to a dremmel tool and sanded the areas. It didn't take all that long and I went home with bandages and cleaned it with peroxide and antibiotic creme. Although you can still see the tat toos because they were from a homemade needle and the depth of the ink is not even like a machine tattoo. It actually looks like thick burn scars on the little areas. It is better than the tatto though!! Here are some photos of removed tattoos.

http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images?p=tattoo%20removal&fr=yfp-t-501&toggle=1&ei=UTF-8&fr2=tab-web

Answer 2

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Answer 3

Tattoo Removal Pain? The more energy used and the more ink absorbing the laser energy the greater the shock wave that is felt. The Ink shatters and that is what you are feeling. If there is no ink in the area then you will not feel any pain from the laser. Getting a tattoo put on takes a long time. Laser treatments are very fast in comparison so people can deal with the pain for a few minutes. Numbing cream or injections help a lot. Chilled cool air also helps. So do certain herbs and homeopathics. Certain areas hurt more than others. Areas close to bone hurt more than areas that are very fleshy. Many people get laser removal treatments with ice put on to cool the area and or a chiller cooling the area and avoid the time cost and added expense of numbing. Numbing takes the edge off but does not eliminate all the pain. Another factor is a persons tolerance to pain. I thought lasering the head would be very painful, but one guy said it was "not bad" Certain dietary habits and foods make people more sensitive to pain. Being tired, dehydrated, a woman having her period all tend to increase the feelings of pain. Keep in mind the less dense the ink is the less it will hurt. So if you are thinking that you may want to put a tattoo on and later take it off, choose black and have it put on lightly or only in outline form. Then it will be faster easier and less painful to have removed. It possible have the artist use inks without metals in them, too. Hope this helps. I work in Brooklyn Laser Tattoo Removal.

Answer 4

Home Based Tattoo Removal

Answer 5

I'm going through the same thing and have met with a doctor who does laser removal and she said that regardless of what most of the websites tell you it is painful but they do sedate you or give you something to numb the area so you don't feel anything. The other options are the various lotions that remove the tattoo or fade it over time. When I called some of these companies and asked them what their main ingredient is they all had the same answer: oatmeal or tea tree oil and none of them gave me a logical explanation as to how in the world these two ingredients are going to remove my tattoo. Hope that helps

Answer 6

Yes, it is very very painful. I haven't had it, but I have heard and seen on t.v. that it is MUCH more painful than having the tattoo put on...I think someone said it was like 10 times more painful. And it doesn't happen at all once...you have to go in for multiple sittings to have it removed.

Answer 7

from what i've learned, removal is more painful than the initial tattoo and tends to leave a scar. also, not all of the ink is guaranteed to be removed completely. i would suggest finding a good artist that is skilled in cover-up tattoos.

Answer 8

It's very painful, because the surgeons use laser treatment to remove the dyes. You might want to think twice before geting a tattoo because it's painful when it comes off.

Answer 9

YES! Depending on the size and location on your body, it can be pretty painful to remove. Remember that somebody put that under several layers of your skin with a needle. So it's not going to be simple or easy to get rid of. I don't know of all the methods but the last one I heard of was basically they sand-blast through several layers of the skin to get to that ink. Not very pleasant. Have you considered a special kind of makeup that you can buy to cover it up? I can't remember the name of it but my friend swears by it!

Answer 10

lazor removel is the best and most painful way to remove a tattoo. you may want to talk to a artist in your area and see if you can cover it with something you like.