Tattoos can be removed, but the process can be more complicated than you might imagine. It’s important to consult with a skilled dermatologist and cosmetic surgeon like Dr. Joel Schlessinger to determine the best way to remove your tattoos and what results to expect.
The picture above of a recent patient is an excellent example of the technology and treatments that Dr. Joel Schlessinger can use to remove unwanted tattoos.
The patient, a 41-year-old woman, had the name of her husband put on her wrist. She now finds that it interferes with her professional job and came to see Dr. Joel Schlessinger to get it removed. This result was after 5 laser treatments, at a cost of approximately $200 a treatment.
Cost for removal varies according to the size, location, and quality of the tattoo. Tattoo removal often depends more on the color of the tattoo rather than on the design and size.
“Not all tattoos respond this well,” Dr. Joel Schlessinger says. “Larger ones become nearly impossible to treat in this manner due to size. Certain colors, especially green, are tough to treat as well.”
As the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reports, complete tattoo removal without scarring may be impossible.
At-home remedies can be unsafe and are invariably ineffective. Tattoo removal at home is unlikely to lead to complete removal of the ink and may cause burns or other unwanted skin damage. Remedies such as creams or bleaching agents found on the Internet are ineffective and can cause more damage than help.
As an additional caution for people considering getting a tattoo: the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has reported a new type of bacteria that has caused infections in people getting tattoos. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention discovered that the infection came from bacteria found in tap water used to dilute the tattoo ink.
It’s best to consult with a specialist to examine your needs and decide on the best course of tattoo removal.
Skin Specialists, under the guidance of board-certified dermatologist and board-certified dermatologic cosmetic surgeon Dr. Joel Schlessinger, offers award-winning consultation and treatment for tattoo removal. For more information, contact Skin Specialists toll-free at 1-800-364-7583.
What tattoo do you have that you’d like removed?
Responses to “Dr. Joel Schlessinger’s latest laser treatments for tattoo removal”
March 20th, 2012 at 12:16 am
Probably the best choice is either going to be Dermablend or Jane Iredale. If you give our website a call at 877-754-6222 they can give you a direction on which one is best. Good luck and congratulations! Dr. S
October 29th, 2014 at 1:45 pm
Hello Doctor,
Wanted to ask if you ever considered doing some work for kids trying to get out of gangs and removing gang tattoos? Just curious.
October 29th, 2014 at 4:26 pm
Yes, you can contact Felisha@LovelySkin.com to ask. We have strict criteria and need to have a case worker involved to make sure that the situation is one they feel comfortable with as well. Thank you.
March 13th, 2012 at 6:11 pm
Dr- if I want to cover a tattoo for a wedding, what product best covers? I have tried several, but no luck so far. I am looking for something that covers well over several colors.