Tattoo Removal

Tattoos have become very popular over the last decade. As their popularity has increased, so has the demand for tattoo removal. There are several methods to remove unwanted tattoos. These include surgical removal, dermabrasion (sanding), and laser removal. The latter is the most commonly used method because it is less invasive, painful, and leaves less scarring.

Lasers remove tattoos by fracturing the ink molecules that are lodged deep in the skin. The body's immune system then removes the small pigment pieces. This process usually needs to be repeated several times for the full removal of the tattoo. Some inks respond well to this technique: blue and black, while some respond poorly: metallic greens, reds. Dr. Buhac will advise the patient at consultation as to the likelihood of successful removal, based on her extensive clinical experience with laser tattoo removal. She might actually recommend to "leave it alone." It can take 6-10 laser sessions to remove most of the tattoo, and sometimes not all of the image can be removed. Occasionally, there remains a "ghost" image, a white outline of the tattoo.

A session of tattoo laser is relatively quick, however it is somewhat painful, and topical anesthetics are usually used. The treated area can blister, and is treated like a superficial burn after treatment.

Pricing is variable, and is based on the size of the tattoo.