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In the past, getting a tattoo meant having that tattoo forever. Recent progress in tattoo removal techniques makes it possible for a person to successfully remove an unwanted tattoo. There are several methods available, in a variety of price ranges, and success rates.

Tattoo Removal Creams

There are several companies who market tattoo removal creams. In general, the intent behind these creams is to fade the ink from the tattoo over time. Most require daily application, and may take many months to see any results. Several brands include an exfoliating product, to encourage the skin to renew during the fading process. This process is the least intrusive. It is generally the least expensive, although the results may vary, depending on the placement of the tattoo, and the types of inks used in the tattoo.

Surgical Excision

This type of removal is best performed on small tattoos. It involves the surgical removal of the tattoo, followed by stitches to close the incision. If the tattoo is larger, this process involves the surgical removal of the tattoo, followed by a skin graft to cover the area where the tattoo has been removed. This method is likely to leave at least some scarring, but is very effect in many instances.

Laser Removal

The laser removal process involves a highly concentrated laser beam directed at the tattoo in short blasts. The laser blasts literally break up the ink particles, which eventually are absorbed by the body, or shed with normal dead skin cells. This does not work on every tattoo, in some instances, leaves an outline or shadow of the old tattoo. With multiple treatments, many patients, however, see great results. This type of removal works especially well on patients with fair skin.

Chemical Peel

Chemical peels can be done at home, but it is recommended that this process be done by a trained professional. A popular type of chemical peel is called a TCA Chemical peel. It involves applying trichloroacetic acid, which causes the skin to peel. It causes peeling to a medium depth of the skin, so may require multiple treatments to be deep enough to effectively remove the tattoo. As with any chemical process, it can cause some scarring.

When the decision is made to remove a tattoo, it is best to talk to a professional for advice. Success rates vary, depending on a person’s skin tone, the type of inks used in the tattoo, as well as other factors. Doing the proper research is more likely to result in a successful removal.

With so many people getting tattoos now a days, there are more and more people needing tattoos removed as well. However, there are many choices to have a tattoo removed.

Laser Removal

Lasers are used to create a high amount of heat to break down the ink in the tattoo. The ink is then removed through the bodies own functions. Laser tattoo removal may cause blistering of the skin, because of the high temperature. The skin is numbed, but laser removal can still be uncomfortable. Multiple laser treatments may be necessary to remove the tattoo depending on the size and color of the tattoo.

Dermabrasion

Dermabrasion entails taking a sanding disk or wire brush and removing the top layers of the skin. Dermabrasion has been around for years and the process can be very painful and does usually scar. The area is numbed and the skin is brushed and sanded away until all the ink is gone.

Intense Pulsed Light Therapy

Intense Pulsed Light Therapy, also called IPL, is another laser version of tattoo removal. The source of light is different and it is less painful than standard laser treatment. Fewer treatments are needed to remove the tattoo, however it is mush more expensive to have done.

Surgical Removal

The tattoo is surgically cut away. Once the area has been removed, the skin that surrounded the tattoo is sewn together to cover the opening. However, this only works on small tattoos. Larger tattoos can result in a skin graph to cover the removed skin. This procedure is very painful and is usually used as last resort.

Scarification Peels

A chemical peel is when an acid solution is used on the tattoo area, which results in the skin peeling away. Trichloroacetic acid is used when doing a chemical peel. The acid damages the skin, which results in the peeling. This does require a few treatments and as the top layer of skin peels away, the layers below with the ink began to peel away as well. However, it is not always very effective and many times the tattoo can still be seen and is only faded.

Removal Creams

Tattoo removal creams have Hydroquinone in them and can be risky if used for a long time. Hydroquinone can result in the darkening of the skin. These creams can take a year or more to remove the tattoo and and does become costly.

With inflation and job losses I know people are looking at ways to save money. I even asked Dominos if they had any 2 for 1 deals on last night’s takeaway pizza but you have to draw the line somewhere and this goes way way beyond. Our lawyer advised us to advise you not to try any of this at home before you have undertaken medical training or at least put the scissors in a jug of hot water first.

Injectable Treatment – Recycle that deep fat fryer waste oil.
DIY can take many forms, but the most extreme self plastic surgery I’ve ever heard is a case of a Korean woman who had been paying for plastic surgery for years, was forced into treatment for a mental disorder, but was able to find a surgeon who let her give herself her own injections. When she ran out of silicon she took to injecting cooking oil into her face.

Abscess - Roll up your sleeves and dig in
You are on a Round the World Yacht Race stuck in the middle of the ocean and you have an abscess on your arm. This was the problem Russian sailor Viktor Yazykov faced and if he did not do something quickly he was going to lose his arm. He did what we would all do and emailed an infectious disease specialist at the New England Medical Center who told him how to drain the abscess and he carried on his race finishing 10th. Rather you than me Viktor!

Mole Removal – This guy slices like a pro.
Apart from being a little furry mammal that has big paws and dig holes in our lawns they also grow on our skin. That looked a pretty big mole and to be even considering doing it yourself is insane and one of those things really are best left to the professionals. I wonder what he did with it…yeeeeeew!!!. I have a strong stomach and even I had to have two go’s at watching the actual slice.

WARNING THIS VIDEO IS NOT FOR THE SQUEEMISH AND MAY CAUSE YOU TO SEE YOUR BREAKFAST AGAIN

Ear Correction - Superglue has many uses, sticking body parts together is not one.
Using superglue was never going to be permanent solution for correcting prominent ears. Yes I sympathize with those who suffer from this, you must think everybody is going to flick them and have heard every big ears joke under the sun.  I have accidentally attached two fingers together with superglue whilst trying to squeeze the last out of a dried up old tube and it burst out the sides, but with enough hot water and chewing it will come undone. Your life must be very cruel to drive you to think that your bat ears are going to stop flapping with nothing more than a household glue. We have found worrying number of cases reported in medical journals of this going on and I guess as the recession hits a couple of dollars for a tube of glue versus several thousand dollars for surgery is an attractive option for some.

Brain Surgery - Just one question..Why?
We have all heard the expression “She/he is no brain surgeon” well this is taking it too far to prove a point. Heather Perry from Gloucester in England attempted to cure her chronic fatigue syndrome by travelling to the US for her “brain surgery” . It seems it all started following an email exchange with a guy in Pennsylvania who said he did his own. All we know is that it consisted of drilling two holes in her own head. It is said that a film crew filmed her DIY brain surgery but we have been unable to locate it (okay we didn’t try that hard to find it) To her surprise it all went wrong and she drilled too deep and needed to have emergency surgery to repair damage to severed membrane that protects brain tissue.

Tattoo Removal – Desperate people do desperate things.                                                     
No home DIY surgery kit is complete without power tools and an electric sander is a must for removing that “Bubba & Crystal Forever” tattoo.  It does make you wonder what other extremes people will go to rid themselves of their body art. Anyone for a wire brush and a sheet of sandpaper?

Chicken Bone Nose Job - All you need is a chisel and a KFC
Not many people will have looked in the mirror and thought “If only I had chicken bone for a nose I would be happy.” According to Dr David Veale who is a psychologist at the celebrity Priory Hospital in London the unnamed patient “pushed a chisel up his nose and then replaced the cartilage he had taken off with a chicken bone” and continued “These are people who can’t afford to go to a surgeon.” Did anyone ask if he calls it his nose or his beak?

Yacht photo by S Parker
Nose Photo by Leina Simpson