Gone are the days when tattoos only decorated the biceps of misfits. This practice has since shed its bad reputation. The proof by the figures: according to an Ifop survey for “La Croix”, 18% of French people (and 29% of those under 35) were tattooed in 2018, compared to 10% in 2010. Even if it means going, sometimes, a little too quickly in action. And when we are not – or no longer – happy with the result? Some choose to live with… some don’t. A priori indelible, tattoos can actually be erased, even if this process is not a long calm river.
Laser tattoo removal, instructions for use
“The laser is a light that will ‘break’ ink drops which have been deposited in the skin by the tattoo artist’s needles,explains Dr. Marie Jourdan, dermatologist. The energy of the laser is absorbed by the ink, over a very short time, and this will make it “explode”: it will be fragmented, like a rock that has been pulverized using a sledgehammer. The body and its macrophage cells will then eliminate this ink dust.” The session is quick, from 5 to 30 minutes. But it will have to be repeated.
A tattoo fades gradually. It’s necessary count, on average, from three to ten sessions, depending on its seniority, its color, its size, and even the experience of the tattoo artist. A pattern designed by a professional, richer in pigments, is also more difficult to remove.
Laser tattoo removal: what are the advantages?
The old generation of lasers, used for about twenty years, is called nanosecond, the new picosecond. The difference ? The pulse duration is much shorter with picos (on the order of a thousandth of a billionth of a second) than with nano (on the order of a billionth of a second). What changes?
“Picosecond lasers ‘explode’ ink, but in such a fast way that there is even less collateral damage.”The skin recovers faster after the treatment, there are generally fewer scabs than with nanosecond lasers, although blisters are frequent.
The minimum time between two sessions is therefore reduced: one month for the pico, against two months for the nano. An incompressible delay so as not to be exposed to “overheating” of the skin, and therefore marks.
Picos are also extremely effective on very resistant colors, such as blues and greens. The price of success, they are also more expensive.
Tattoo removal: what are the risks?
The laser is today the reference technique for erasing tattoos. But it is not infallible and the result cannot be guaranteed for sure. If red and black fade quickly, some colors are very difficult to remove, such as yellow or orange. In more than 90% of cases, the tattoo ends up disappearing from the surface of the skin, as if it had never existed. But it can also happen that a “shadow” takes the place of the drawing. The treatment can also result in skin burns, even scars, if the operator is not seasoned, even if this remains very rare today.
Tattoo removal: the surgery option
“It is interesting for very small tattoos”,advocates Dr. Jourdan. Under local anesthesia, the piece is removed as a mole would be. The surgeon removes the piece of skin adorned with the tattoo, before suturing the wound. A trivial operation.
But to be possible, the drawing must be located on an area where the skin is supple and fleshy, such as the belly or the buttocks. On the wrist or the neckline, the laser will often be more appropriate. If the surgery has the advantage of being extremely fast – only one session is necessary – it leaves a small scar.
Tattoo removal: how much does it cost?
“It’s not nothing to get tattooed” insists the dermatologist. The process already requires you to be extremely patient. “Between 6 to 12 months on average, sometimes up to 24 months if you’re unlucky.” In addition, “It hurts more than the tattoo itself. The pain is that of a burn. That’s why we recommend applying a thick layer of anesthetic cream 1 hour 30 minutes before the session.” And if, after these warnings, some people still want to part with their works of art on the skin, you should also know that it is expensive.
“On average, it takes 250 to 500 € per session.” Multiplied by 5, 7, 10 sessions, this can deter more than one. Especially since this medical act having a purely aesthetic objective, it is not at all reimbursed by Health Insurance.
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- Clever tattoos that can save our lives
- Tattoos: the inks move in the body
