Tattoo removal

Tattoo removal is a procedure to eliminate or significantly lighten a tattoo from the skin. People pursue removal for many reasons, including changes in personal taste, social or professional considerations, or a desire to relocate a tattoo. Modern techniques include laser removal, dermabrasion, surgical excision, and other methods. The process of tattooing generally creates permanent markings in the skin, but people have attempted many methods to try to hide or destroy tattoos.

The standard modern method is the non-invasive removal of tattoo pigment using Q-switched lasers. Different types of Q-switched lasers are used to target different colors of tattoo ink; depending on the specific light absorption spectra of the tattoo pigments. Typically, black and other darker-colored inks can be removed completely using Q-switched lasers, while lighter colors, such as yellows and greens, are very difficult to remove. Success depends on a wide variety of factors including skin color, ink color, and the depth at which the ink was applied.

Recent research has investigated the potential of multi-pass treatments and the use of picosecond laser technology.