Tattoos are part of the mainstream. For about 10 million Germans tattoos are body jewelry and expression of individuality at the same time. The rest is distanced from the matter and from the camp of tattooed various want to break out again and again. If, for example, the colorful tattooed name of a long-time ex or a youthful “tramp stamp” becomes an emotional burden, the tattoo should be removed again. US studies prove that primarily women have the desire to let their tattoos disappear again. On the one hand, they want to distance themselves from a past phase of their lives. In addition, they are tired of negative comments from their environment, to which women are exposed much more often than men.
What is tattoo removal?
The removal of tattoos is mainly done with laser beams. It involves risks and also raises certain costs. Removing tattoos is predominantly done with laser beams. It involves risks and also raises certain costs. It depends on the size of the particular tattoo how expensive the removal is. Between 70 and 400 euros are due per session. If 6 to 10 sessions are necessary, the removal is significantly more expensive than tattooing. Tattoo removal is not considered a medical procedure and health insurance companies do not pay for it. Because it is legally classified as a cosmetic and aesthetic procedure, any tattoo studio operator or beauty salon can offer the service in addition to dermatologists. No one has to prove appropriate qualifications. Accordingly, it is advisable to obtain comprehensive information in advance of the laser treatment. Before tattoo removal, any knowledgeable medical professional (usually the dermatologist) will conduct a comprehensive consultation. He will give all the information about the procedure and equipment and estimate what treatment success can be expected, especially since the removal of colored tattoos is more demanding than black. The duration of the treatment will also play a role. Before the laser treatment, the skin should not be tanned. The sun is also taboo. You should also not go swimming, because the skin will be strained and sore after the laser treatment due to the resulting abrasion. Until this slight abrasion heals, it must be protected and disinfected.
Functions, effect and goals
Within the treatment, a laser beam will hit the tattoo. The colored pigment bodies in the skin integrate the energy of the laser to shatter overflowing as a result. The fragments of the colored pigments are then flushed out through the skin. They are transported away through the lymphatic channels of the organism. This is how the colors fade. The tattoo becomes lighter and lighter until it finally becomes invisible. The success of the treatment is relatively good. Particularly amateurishly stung tattoos can be removed without complications, because they are predominantly monochromatic and consist of few blue or black color pigments. Garishly colored professional tattoos are comparatively more difficult to remove. In this case, the removal of the tattoo takes longer than the stitching. As a rule, between 6 and 10 treatment sessions are required for laser removal. In between, breaks of about 4 to 6 weeks are taken to give the skin an opportunity to recover from the treatment stress. After 10 to 12 laser treatments, the treatment becomes counterproductive, as the skin loses its own ability to produce pigment and begins to react with additional hardening.
Risks and side effects
Pain is also unavoidable. They are even greater than they generally occur during tattoo piercing. On the skin, the laser will feel hot and shock waves are formed. They run through the skin and irritate the nerves. Local anesthetics, ice-cold air and painkillers if needed are used against the pain. In addition to laser treatment, other removal methods are offered, but caution is advised. Thus, some providers handle lamps that are supposed to be able to flash away the tattoo. However, this method damages the skin, which can lead to scarring. The use of lactic acid in liquid tattoo removers often causes massive irritation and inflammation of the skin – the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment expressly warns against the use of these liquids.
