How to Remove a Tattoo With Dermabrasion
Removing tattoos is a big business these days. Many people who have gotten tattoos in their teens and twenties decide in their thirties and forties to have them removed. There are different tattoo removal techniques, one of them is dermabrasion. Dermabrasion removes the layers of skin on the tattooed area containing ink and lets the skin regenerate so the tattoo is no longer visible.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Easy
Instructions
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1
Find a board certified plastic surgeon that performs dermabrasion for tattoo removals.
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2
Set up a consultation with your surgeon to talk about the pros and cons of dermabrasion as a tattoo removal technique. Ask to see before and after pictures of prior tattoo removals using dermabrasion.
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3
Make an appointment for your procedure. Choose a time that will allow you a few days to recover from the procedure. You may want to do it at the end of the work week or take a day or two off after the procedure.
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4
Apply a local anesthetic to numb the area of your tattoo. Your surgeon will apply the anesthetic as well as ice packs to numb the skin and make it firm. A spray will also be used to freeze the skin in that area.
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5
Remove the top layers of the skin over your tattoo with a special abrasive instrument. Your surgeon removes the skin with a rotary instrument with an abrasive brush specially designed to peel away layers of skin.
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6
Put antibiotic ointment and clean gauze over the affected area. Immediately after your dermabrasion procedure, the area where your tattoo was will look severely brush burned and will be bleeding.
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7
Clean the affected area gently several times a day and reapply ointment and gauze for approximately five to eight days until skin regrowth has happened. Return to your doctor for a follow up appointment to ensure the healing process is progressing normally and that you are ready to let your skin be exposed.
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Tips & Warnings
Talk to your surgeon about different tattoo removal techniques to determine if dermabrasion is the right procedure for you. Laser removal and excision are other popular and effective procedures used to remove tattoos.
Professional tattoos are usually easier to remove with dermabrasion because the ink was applied evenly and your surgeon can more easily remove all the layers of skin affected by the ink.
The sun can cause discoloration of the affected area, so avoid direct sunlight and wear sunscreen when in the sun.
Scarring and discoloration of the skin is a very possible side effect of dermabrasion treatments.
Infections can easily start after dermabrasion, so follow your surgeon's orders for caring for your newly removed tattoo and attend follow up appointments so your surgeon can keep close track of your recovery.
