Tattoos, once a taboo in America, are now big business. A Harris Interactive online poll conducted in 2008, revealed that about 14% of adults have at least one tattoo.

Unfortunately many people who get tattoos regret it at a later time as a result of breakups or countless other reasons. As a result tattoo-removal services are booming.

In the last 30 years, removal of a tattoo was performed using unsophisticated surgical techniques that resulted in scarring. Medical technology has now advanced and the standard procedure for tattoo removal is laser therapy.

In laser tatoo removal, highly-concentrated light beams are directed toward the ink within the skin. Patients wear protective eye shields and a test is conducted to determine the level of energy to use. Rapid pulses from the laser beam, usually between 10 and 30 per session, break up the ink into tiny fragments. The body’s own scavenging cells remove these fragments.

Ice is placed on the site for about 30 minutes to minimize swelling. An antibiotic ointment and sterile dressing are then applied. The area around the tattoo must be kept dry for a few days and treated as though it was a sunburn.

Typically, between two and 10 sessions are necessary to completely break up the ink. The exact number of sessions depends on the depth and concentration of the ink as well as the size of the tattoo. Each session typically lasts between 10 and 30 minutes and sessions are conducted over eight-week periods.

For a few months after the laser was used, the area will likely appear sunburned. The skin might have hyperpigmentation, or excessive color, or hypopigmentation, or excessive fading, in the area where laser tatoo removal was used.

Since tattoos are supposed to be permanent, some tattoos can not be removed without some minor scarring or a faint outline of the tattoo. The ink used in tattoos is improving all the time in an effort to limit fading and tattoo artists are constantly improving their techniques.

Considered a cosmetic procedure, most medical insurance plans will not cover the removal of a tattoo. Unfortunately, the tattoo itself was much more inexpensive than the removal of it. The cost of the procedure is determined by the location, type and size of the tattoo, as well as the number of sessions necessary to remove it. Large tattoos can cost thousands of dollars to remove.

For more information, visit Center for Smart Skin.

Tags: Cosmetic Skin Care, Laser Tatoo Removal, Laser Treatment Philadelphia, pa, pennsylvania, philadelphia, skin care