Chances are, if you’re reading this you may be experiencing “tattoo regret.” You’ve come to the right place to make that regret a thing of the past.
Many other types of skin conditions have similar treatments. To undo the ink, there are products and processes that range from those that downright don’t work to those that are highly effective on even the most stubborn tattoos, including:
- Tattoo removal creams
- Dermabrasion
- Surgical excision
- Laser surgery
Let’s start with the store-bought creams that claim they can fade or lighten your tattoos. There is no evidence to support that these creams do anything, other than to potentially irritate your skin.
Think back to when you first got your tattoo. You didn’t want it to fade, right? You probably wanted a quality product. Since tattoos are meant to be permanent, there is no “magic in a bottle.” Effective measures penetrate the top layer of skin, as the ink resides under that outermost layer.
Dermabrasion has traditionally been used for tattoo removal, because the abrasive devices sand down under the deeper levels of skin. In theory, the tattoo ink is supposed to leach out of the skin. However, over time as better science and technologies have emerged, this method has inferior outcomes and results, and the treated area can be quite raw and sore for several days post-treatment.
Many of you may cringe when you hear the word “surgery.” Indeed, this treatment from the outset may not be on your wish list, simply because it is more invasive. Surgical removal typically involves numbing the area with local anesthetic, so the tattoo may be removed with a scalpel. Afterward, the edges of skin are sewn back together. As you might guess, there is a chance of scarring. Since it is invasive, you have to heal from it, a process that may include use of an antibacterial ointment. Plus, even if you aren’t afraid of the scalpel, if you have anything larger than a small tattoo, this option may not be practical.
California Skin & Laser offers what’s considered in the industry to be the “preferred tattoo removal treatment”: lasers.
Like with surgical excision, we’ll numb the area to be treated with local anesthetic if you wish (it’s not always needed). Then a powerful pulse of energy from a laser beam is applied to the tattoo. The heat from this laser energy “shatters” the ink. Dr. Bock has been able to eliminate at least 95 percent of the ink in most cases. Furthermore, you don’t have to worry about unsightly scars. You want the tattoo gone, not just another version or reminder of it.
There are many factors that will help us determine the best course of treatment for you. Dr. Bock, your dermatologist for tattoo removal in Stockton, will assess and discuss with you features that may influence the outcome of the procedure, such as the color (or colors) of the tattoo, its size, and your complexion.
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