Remove tattoo- Using Salabrasion

Salabrasion, a procedure which is centuries old, is a method still sometimes used today to remove tattoos. As with the other methods, a local anesthetic is used on and around the tattooed area after which a solution of ordinary tap water dipped in table salt is applied. An abrading apparatus such as the one used with dermabrasion, or an even simpler device such as a wooden block wrapped in gauze, is used to vigorously abrade the area. When the area becomes deep red in color, a dressing is applied.

Remove tattoo- Using Laser

In recent times, many physicians consider laser surgery one of the best methods of tattoo removal . Today, the Q-switched Nd:Yag, Q-switched Alexandrite and the Q-switched Ruby are among the most frequently used lasers today for the removal of unwanted tattoos. They are all employed in a similar manner. If necessary, a cream to numb the skin can be applied prior to the treatment. Pulses of light from the laser are directed onto the tattoo breaking up the tattoo pigment. Over the next several weeks the body's scavenger cells remove the treated pigmented areas. More then one treatment is usually necessary to remove all of the tattoo.

Tattoo removal - Using Dermabrasion

Dermabrasion

Another method of tattoo removal is called dermabrasion in which a small portion of the tattoo is sprayed with a solution that freezes the area. The tattoo is then "sanded" with a rotary abrasive instrument causing the skin to peel. Because some bleeding is likely to occur, a dressing is immediately applied to the area.

Methods of Tattoo Removal

There are several excellent methods of tattoo removal available today. The method that the physician chooses will depend upon the size of the tattoo and its location as well as the length of time it has been on the skin. How the patient heals may also be a factor in the decision.

Excision

Another popular method of tattoo removal especially when the dyed area is small is by excision. The advantage of this method is that the entire tattoo can be removed. With larger tattoos, however, it may be necessary to excise in stages, removing the center of it initially and the sides at a later date.Excision involves an injection of a local anesthetic to numb the area after which the tattoo is removed surgically. The edges are then brought together and sutured. With this procedure, there is minimal bleeding which is easily controlled with electrocautery. In some cases involving large tattoos, a skin graft taken from another part of the body may be necessary.

How to remove Your Tattoo using TCA

What is TCA?
TCA (Trichloroacetic Acid) is a popular non-prescription skin peeling agent commonly used by doctors, health spas and private individuals to remove fine lines, wrinkles and acne scars on the face. TCA has also been used to remove calluses, stretch marks, age spots, genital warts and much more. TCA has twice been medically tested and proven to fade and/or remove tattoos. Results were published in the British Journal of Plastic Surgery

In both studies TCA was found to be a safe, simple and effective tattoo removal agent with an 85% success rate. It was first mentioned as a possible tattoo removal agent in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 1928.

How does TCA work?
The process behind the most popular tattoo removal methods is actually very simple. A controlled inflammation is generated on the surface of the skin above the tattoo. This inflammation causes the pigment (ink) to naturally break apart and migrate to the surface with new skin growth. Your body actually does most of the work. Doctors agree that generating this controlled inflammation repeatedly over time is what it takes to fade or remove a tattoo. TCA is the gentlest way known to generate the controlled inflammation necessary for tattoo removal and it can be done in the privacy of our homes.

Does TCA hurt?
Some people say it has a mild sting, others say it doesn’t sting at all. It doesn’t hurt nearly as much as getting the tattoo and certainly not as much as laser tattoo removal. Ladies using TCA for facial peels will occasionally use a hand-held fan to cool themselves. If you are uncomfortable with the feeling, you can always stop it by applying the neutralizer.

Is TCA a tattoo removal cream?
No it is not. TCA looks and feels like water and is applied with a q-tip exactly where you want it to go. TCA has also been medically proven twice to remove tattoos and the creams have not. Many tattoo removal creams contain Hydroquinone, which is usually the active ingredient in skin bleaching creams.
Over the counter sales of skin bleaching creams containing Hydroquinone are banned in the UK, France, Australia, Japan and several other countries because Hydroquinone is known to cause cancer and a debilitating skin disease called Exogenous Ochronosis.

In August 2006 the FDA proposed a similar ban on over the counter sales of Hydroquinone in US markets. If/when the FDA’s proposed ban is made law, tattoo removal creams containing Hydroquinone will be taken off the market. There is no Hydroquinone in TCA.

How Much Does It Cost?
We sell one ounce bottles of medical grade 50% TCA for $49.95 (plus S&H). That should be more than enough to radically fade or remove most 3”x3” tattoos of any color. For larger or multiple tattoos we sell two ounces of medical grade 50% TCA for $79.95 (plus S&H). Please visit our store for more details.

Can I Use TCA If I’m Pregnant Or Breast Feeding?
While there are no medical studies we know of saying not to use TCA while pregnant or breast-feeding, we don’t recommend it. Even though TCA has been around over 165 years and it’s risks should be well known, we encourage you to wait until you are no longer pregnant or breast-feeding before using TCA.

Is It OK To Tan Or Workout When Using TCA?
While using TCA you should keep the treated area covered whenever you’re outdoors. New skin is photosensitive––meaning more subject to sun damage––so it should always be protected with a strong sun block and appropriate clothing while outdoors. Working out is not a problem as long as the treatment area isn’t getting rubbed on by clothing, exercise equipment or twisted/pulled by a particular movement.

Does TCA work on all colors?
Unlike laser tattoo removal TCA works equally well on all colors. We are not sure why this is, but the greens, blues, oranges, yellows and other laser resistant colors are not a problem for TCA users. TCA may also work better than lasers when removing ankle bracelet tattoos. It may have to do with the relative lack of blood flow and tissue in that region.

How Long Will It Take To Remove My Tattoo With TCA?
It’s impossible to know how long it will take until two possibly three treatments are complete. The depth the ink was applied, the type of ink used and the age of the tattoo all play a role in the removal process. Even our own bodies have a say in how long it will take. This is the most frequently asked question in tattoo removal and it can’t be answered with any precision.

Can I Use TCA Prior To Getting A Cover Up?
Yes, many of our customers use TCA to fade existing tattoos before getting their cover up. TCA users regularly fade black tribal tattoos to a lighter shade of gray, giving them a much wider selection of colors for the new tattoo.

Is It Harder To Remove Older Tattoos?
Generally speaking, newer tattoos will come off easier than older ones. However, some inks used today are highly resistant to any form of removal. Conversely, older tattoo inks sometimes come out very quickly with little effort. Some of our customers report they’ve successfully removed 30-35 year old tattoos using TCA.