Tattoo Removal
Laser Tattoo Removal New Jersey
There are many reasons you might decide to remove a tattoo. For example, your tattoo might have:
- Lost its meaning as your life has progressed
- Aligned you with organizations or people with which you no longer associate
- Prevented you from getting a job
- Faded and become less attractive during the aging process
In the past, tattoos were removed by sanding the skin (dermabrasion) and rubbing the tattoo with a high-salt solution to remove overlying skin and leech out the dye (salabrasion). Today, color-tuned lasers remove most or all of the ink from under the skin. They deliver highly concentrated light in short bursts that break the ink into tiny fragments. Your body then clears the fragments away.
Newer laser technologies amke it possible to remove tattoos with minimal or no scarring; however, scarring depends on your skin type and tattoo.
Your Consultation
A consultation for laser tattoo removal includes a thorough discussion of your desires, expectations, and concerns. Your Summit Medical Group doctor will review your medical history and carefully examine your skin and tattoo. He or she will estimate how many treatments you will probably need to partially or completely remove your tattoo.
Be sure to let your doctor know if you have allergies to iron or dyes. Breaking up the tattoo might release pigments that can cause an allergic reaction.
The Procedure
During tattoo removal, a laser is applied to the tattoo to break up the ink. Laser tattoo removal is usually performed under local anesthesia in our outpatient surgery suite. The procedure usually lasts 90 minutes or less, depending on the size of your tattoo.
Most patients need several treatments over a period of months to fully remove a tattoo.
Recovery and Results
You will be given thorough written instructions to prepare for and recover from your laser tattoo removal procedure. The instructions will include aftercare instructions and when to follow up with your doctor.
You should be able to return to normal activities immediately, as long as you avoid disrupting the treated area. Most patients report some discomfort and inflammation after tattoo removal. You can take oral over-the-counter medications if necessary.
Patients are generally advised to:
- Gently cleanse the treated area with a mild soap and pat it dry
- Apply antibiotic ointment and a nonstick bandage
- Apply a cool mask or pack to reduce inflammation
- Avoid exposing the treated area to the sun
The pictures below show laser tattoo removal before and after pictures.
Our Surgeons
Peter Hyans, MD, FACS, is Director of the Plastic Surgery Center and Chief in the Department of Surgery and Surgical Specialties at Summit Medical Group. Dr. Hyans has 15 years’ experience in plastic surgery. He is board certified. Dr. Hyans is listed in Castle Connolly’s Top Doctors in America.
In addition to his position at Summit Medical Group, Reza Momeni, MD, FACS, is Chairman of Plastic Surgery at Overlook Hospital in Summit, New Jersey. He has been listed in New Jersey Monthly’s “Top Doctors.” The Consumer Research Council lists him in “Top Plastic Surgeons in America.”
Call Summit Medical Group today at 908-277-8759 to make an appointment or for more information about how laser tattoo removal can safely rid you of unwanted tattoos.
