BERLIN (dpa) – Tired of your tattoo? Body art can pose a problem, not just when a person tires of a lover whose name is embossed on his or her shoulder. Tattoos are taboo behind many office decks, bank counters and hotel receptions.
But the art that gets under the skin is a lot more difficult, expensive and time-consuming to remove than to apply, say experts.
“Dispersal by laser is the most elegant way to remove a tattoo,” said Professor Hans-Peter Berlien, senior consultant of the laser clinic at Neukoelln Hospital in Berlin.
The short wave laser light bores into the upper layer of the skin, where the laser creates a mini-explosion. The shock waves thereby destroy the colour pigments, turning it into “rubble” that sinks into the lower layers of the skin and is transported away by the immune system.
But sometimes in laser treatment, the pigmentation forms poisonous substances or leaves traces of heavy metal.
Anyone who has already developed an inflamed allergic reaction to a tattoo cannot have it removed by laser. In such cases Professor Berlien recommends a laser treatment that vaporises the upper layer of the skin, thereby rubbing out the tattoo. But this process often leaves scars.
“An operation is the alternative in cases of serious inflammation, because you have to remove not just the tattoo but also the inflamed tissue,” he said.
But whether by laser or by scalpel, tattoo removal always leaves a mark. Just how noticeable this is depends on the removal method, on the type of colour used, and the depth of the tattoo. Amateur tattoos are easier to remove than professional work. Water colours disappear well, inks hardly at all.
Laser removal is also expensive and time-consuming. Specialists work on an area the size of a tea saucer per appointment. It takes five to eight appointments in intervals of six to eight weeks to remove the colour from this area.
The laser treatment feels like fine pins and needles on the skin. Afterwards, the skin remains red for a few days, like a light sunburn.
Klaus Fritz of the German professional association of dermatologists, recommends patients to consult a dermatologist before deciding what sort of removal treatment to choose. He or she will then refer the patient to the correct specialist.
Fritz warned against unqualified laser treatment centres. Unprofessional laser treatment can result in burns, brown marks on the skin, inflammation, infection or allergies, he said.
