Tattoos have experienced a great increase in popularity in many parts of the world. For many people their tattoo can be beautiful and inspiring work of art, often a reminder of something or someone special, but it can also become a mistake. Many people make the decision about getting a tattoo on the spur of the moment, without thinking about consequences of such action. Later on they often decide they don’t like it any more and want it removed. It is estimated that close to 10% of Americans have some sort of tattoo, and up to 50% of them say they’ve considered having their tattoo removed.

While tattoos are meant to be permanent, it is possible to remove them with treatments, fully or partially. The expense and pain of removing tattoos, however, will typically be greater than the expense and pain of applying them.

So, how to remove a tattoo and what are the available tattoo removal options?

Common methods of tattoo removal include dermabrasion (removing the surface of the skin by abrasion), chemical peels (a chemical solution is used to scrape away the outer skin layers until the tattoo pigmentation is reached), tattoo removal creams (a do-it-yourself option, effectiveness of this method is often questioned, though), cryosurgery (application of extreme cold to tattooed area of the skin), and excision (surgical removal) which is sometimes used along with skin grafts for larger tattoos.

While these methods are still used, laser tattoo removal is quickly becoming the most popular procedure for removing tattoos.

Laser surgery is one of the most effective tattoo removal options and causes least damage to the skin. The laser beam reacts with the ink in the tattoo and breaks down tattoo pigmentation without damaging the surrounding skin. The broken-down ink is then expelled by the body, mimicking the natural fading that time or sun exposure would create.

Depending on the area of the body treated and skin color, up to 8-12 laser removal sessions may be necessary to remove the tattoo. At $200-$500 per session, this makes the laser treatment very costly. The procedure is not covered by insurance, so a tattoo that may have cost a couple hundred dollars to get, may cost a lot more to remove. Keep in mind that laser removal may be expensive, but it is the most effective tattoo removal method available right now. Some other methods may be cheaper but they may not offer the desired results.

Regardless of which type of tattoo removal method you choose, you should ultimately consult your doctor before making the final decision. Ask for a free consultation - you’ll surely have questions, and the doctor removing your tattoo should also see your tattoo to make sure you are a good candidate for the procedure. After looking at all of the options, some people simply decide to keep the body art, or even add to it, in order to change whatever they didn’t like about it in the first place.