Body art is something that people either meticulously plan for, or rush into. Obviously, it is better to do lots of planning, because body art is meant to be something that is meant to last for the rest of a person's life. Thus, the careful planners are the ones who do end up enjoying their body art.
As for those reckless people who choose to get body art on a whim, they are usually the ones who end up needing tattoo removal. A common story is in the form of people getting a tattoo while they are intoxicated, and that actually happens! However, tattoo artists are savvier than ever these days, and encourage their clients to make the right choices when it comes getting a tattoo.
Tattoo removal will still happen, however, so it is very important that those who went into the tattoo process improperly prepared actually do their research this time. This being said, some people who felt very strongly about the tattoos they got have them removed as well sometimes, especially if the tattoo contained the name of an ex lover.
Regardless of how the person got the tattoo that they now want removed, the person should have a basic understanding as to how the tattoo was applied in the first place. An electric needle is used to apply the tattoo, and with each point of contact that it makes with the skin, there is ink that injected into the upper epidermal layers. The tattoo then becomes permanent because the skin molecules bond with the ink.
There are two main methods of tattoo removal that are available. The first method involves applying a chemical substance to the tattooed area that is known as TCA. TCA is a clear substance that, although it should only be obtained from a dermatologist, is applied to the skin at home by the person who wants to get rid of their tattoo.
The TCA substance itself is a clear liquid that is applied to the skin with a q-tip. It is supposed to slowly remove the upper layers of the skin and break apart the skin molecules that have bonded to the ink. While some people choose TCA as their removal method, the person will need to strictly obey the rules in terms of when (once every few weeks) to apply it in order to avoid scarring.
The second form of tattoo removal involves a laser procedure. This procedure, which is done by a dermatologist who specializes in procedures of this type, is considered the safest way to remove a tattoo. What basically happens is that the dermatologist will apply a topical anesthetic to the area, and then use the laser device to permeate the upper areas of the skin.
The heat of the laser eradicates the skin molecule that bonded to the ink, while at the same time the light of the laser stimulates new skin tissue to grow. It is important to note that depending on the size and type of the tattoo, it will take several removal sessions over a period of weeks to months.
