Question: I have a tattoo that I'd like to have removed, but am worried about laser removal. Is there any other alternative?
Dr. Hibberd's answer:
Beware. Tattoo removal can be tricky, depending upon the location of the tattoo as well as the colors involved. Generally laser removal is the best-tolerated technique, though this sometimes is not perfect either. Usually serial treatments are needed.
Other tattoo removal techniques such as dermabrasion or surgical excision will leave scars in some people, and are not nearly as popular as laser techniques. Remember that some tattoos cannot be fully removed, even in the best of circumstances.
Another concern is that some tattoo inks contain metallic or iron compounds that may cause severe burns if you enter an MRI machine for imaging. Anyone planning to get a tattoo should know that that blood-borne disease transmission is possible with any sharing of instrumentation or needles.
Do not expect to have a tattoo removed without significant expense (often in the thousands of dollars). A residual scar is possible even in the best of cases.
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