What is tattoo removal?

Tattoo removal can be achieved in a number of ways, ranging from laser treatments, chemical peels, dermabrasion and surgical excision.

How does tattoo removal work?

Laser tattoo removal

Lasers are the most common method of tattoo removal performed today. 纹身由数千个悬浮在皮肤上的纹身墨水颗粒组成. 正常的人体免疫系统通常会清除皮肤上的小异物. 纹身墨水颗粒太大，无法通过该系统去除，因此被认为是永久性的. 激光的使用有助于将这些粒子分解成更小的碎片，可以被免疫系统清除.

激光疗法的工作原理是用高度集中的光波将皮肤中的墨水颗粒加热，使其破碎成更小的颗粒，然后被人体的免疫系统清除.

一次激光治疗通常无法完全去除纹身. 激光纹身去除通常需要多次治疗，以减小墨水颗粒的大小，使它们更容易被免疫系统分散.

根据纹身的设计、大小和颜色，可能需要1-10次激光去除纹身墨水. 有些颜色的墨水比其他颜色更难去除，可能无法完全去除. 每次激光治疗之间应该有六个星期的时间间隔，以使伤口愈合，并使身体尽可能多地吸收墨水.

Laser tattoo removal is somewhat painful. 许多病人形容它就像一个沉重的橡皮筋在皮肤上反复断裂. Topical skin numbing medications can be used. Most of the time laser tattoo removal is tolerated very well.

手术后，病人将有一个开放的伤口，将需要处理. 典型的术后护理包括每天用肥皂和水清洗伤口, 在伤口上涂上抗生素软膏，然后用某种敷料覆盖伤口，直到伤口愈合. 通常情况下，手术完成后5天左右痊愈.

其他去除纹身的方法比激光去除更具侵入性，因此现在很少使用. 这些方法包括磨皮、化学换肤和手术切除纹身.

擦皮法 tattoo removal

磨皮术是一种去除纹身的手术方法，涉及使用医用研磨工具，以受控的方式去除皮肤外层. 这样做的目的是去除皮肤中含有墨水颗粒的那一层, thereby removing the tattoo.

This procedure is painful and because of this, is typically performed with either a local, regional or even a general anesthetic.

Like laser tattoo removal, 一段时间的磨皮手术将导致一个开放性的伤口，需要在手术完成后进行护理. Daily cleaning of the wound with soap and water, 通常建议使用抗生素软膏并用敷料覆盖伤口.

磨皮造成的伤口通常比激光纹身去除造成的伤口需要更长的时间来愈合. These are likely to take somewhere around 10-14 days to heal.

也, like laser tattoo removal, 可能需要多次磨皮来去除特定的纹身.

磨皮术会导致严重的惊吓，因此只能由经过适当技术训练的医生进行.

Chemical peel tattoo removal

Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) peels can also be used to remove tattoos. TCA是一种温和的酸，用于去除皮肤的外层, and with them, the tattoo ink.

This type of procedure may be mildly painful, but typically does not require the use of an anesthetic.

Like the other types of tattoo removal, TCA剥离会导致开放性伤口，在手术完成后需要进行护理. Daily cleaning with soap and water, 使用抗生素软膏和敷料是必要的. These wounds will typically heal in approximately 5-7 days.

Surgical excision tattoo removal

Tattoos may also be removed by direct surgical excision. This involves simply cutting out the skin that contains the tattoo. 这种技术最适用于小的纹身，可能不适用于非常大的纹身. The skin surrounding the tattoo is then brought together and closed.

This type of tattoo removal will likely require the use of a local, regional or even a general anesthesia depending on the size of the tattoo. A surgical scar will be created by this type of tattoo removal.

Post-procedure bandages should be left in place for 48 hours. 一旦绷带被拆除，手术部位应该每天用肥皂和水清洗. 手术后的第一周，可以用敷料覆盖伤口.

Does tattoo removal hurt?

There is some degree of discomfort when getting a tattoo removed, although the pain is relatively manageable. Sometimes, skin numbing can be used to help make the pain more tolerable.

Tattoo removal healing

It will take some time for the skin to heal after tattoo removal. Most side effects are temporary, with the most common reactions being redness, 肿胀, 瘀伤, scabbing and tenderness. Most of the time these reactions resolve within a week.