Tattoos have been around since before recorded history. There is evidence that the ancient Egyptians practiced tattooing, and primitive tribes today use tattooing for various tribal rituals as well.

Tattoos are created by making deep holes in the skin and filling them with pigment of some kind. Today’s tattoo artists use a tattoo gun with a fast moving needle that applies the ink as they move over a design drawn on the body.

Tattoos are fairly permanent once they are applied, so be sure you want one before you walk into the tattoo parlor. If you really want one, think carefully about the design you’re getting.

If you are determined to get a tattoo, choose the parlor carefully. It should be licensed by the state and keep hygienic standards.

Keep the design simple, up to three colors is still fairly easy for a doctor to remove if you find yourself disliking the tattoo in the future.

Think carefully about where you want the tattoo, try to choose someplace that will heal quickly, and is easy to conceal when you need to, like in the workplace. If you suspect an infection, see your doctor as soon as possible before it gets worse.

So, you have your tattoo, and down the road you decide to get it removed. Your doctor will probably refer you to a dermasurgeon for the procedure.

The doctor’s choice of removal procedure will depend a lot on the size of the tattoo, the location of the tattoo, and how long you’ve had it. How your body heals may also factor into his or her decision.

Most tattoo removals will leave at least minor scarring, and maybe color variations in the skin. The success of the removal will depend on the size of the tattoo, the location, the evenness of the pigment and the age of the tattoo.

Excision is used on small tattoos, or in several stages for larger ones. The site is anesthetized, and then the tattoo is excised, or cut away.

The edges of the incision is then brought together and stitched. If this method is used for a large tattoo removal, a skin graft may be needed.

Dermabrasion is a procedure where a solution is sprayed on the tattoo which freezes the area. It is then “sanded” off with a rotary abrasive tool that makes the skin peel.

A dressing is applied afterwards, since some bleeding will happen.

Laser is considered the best method of tattoo removal by many physicians. A cream is rubbed on to numb the skin, and then pulses of laser light is applied, breaking up the pigment.

The healing process will remove the broken up pigment. Laser treatment usually takes more than one visit.

Salabrasion is a centuries-old technique to remove tattoos. A local anesthetic is used to numb the area. Then a solution of water and table salt is applied.

An abrading tool, like the one used in dermabrasion is applied, or sometimes a simple little block of wood covered in gauze is used to abrade the area. When the area turns red, a dressing is applied.

Most people go into the process of having body art done with the intention of it remaining permanent. However, there are other people who are initially very enthusiastic about the idea of having body art done, but then they decide they are not thrilled with it anymore. There are two main reasons for this, the first being that the artist did not apply the body art the way that the person wanted. The second reason is that the body art has to do with an ex relationship.

Regardless of the reason, the person will need to start thinking about having tattoo removal done. In order to have a better understanding as to what tattoo removal entails, it is important for the person to understand what is supposed to make the tattoo anatomically permanent in the first place. When the tattoo is applied, the tattoo ink is injected into the upper epidermal layers, and it then bonds with the skin molecules.

So, in order for the tattoo removal to be successful, the upper epidermal layers will need to be gradually dissolved, and the ink clad skin molecules to be broken apart. This is where laser tattoo removal (which is considered to be the safest removal method) usually comes in. The heat of the laser eradicates the ink clad skin molecules. At the same time, however, the laser light itself works to stimulate the production of blood flow, which acts to repair the damaged skin tissue. The person will need several treatments in order to see optimal results.

In life, circumstances are always changing. What we think is good today may be a wrong for tomorrow. This is especially true when it comes to major decisions like getting a tattoo. However, in recent times, the available options for removing a tattoo are growing, and so are advancement in the methods used.

• Changing body types – Your weight is no longer what it used to be. You have either lost a lot or gained a lot. It can also be that you have been working out and put on a lot of muscle. On the other hand, perhaps you have just simply gotten older and your skin has loosened, wrinkled and/or sagged.

• Breakups – We all know someone, or a friend of a friend who tattooed “Jessica” on his shoulder only break up with her a month later.

• Changing views – Maybe you were a rebellious teen making a fearless statement on a positive issue, but since then you’re older and have changed some of your views. That symbol you tattooed on you arm is no longer an issue.

• Bad tattoo design – Hopefully you are not one of the unlucky ones and the tattoo artist messed your tattoo up and left you with an unappealing design.

• Job or “society” issues – If you have a large or easily visible tattoo, certain jobs or even certain individuals may look down on you and deny you certain opportunities.

Should you find yourself in any of the above situations, don’t panic; there are various options you can look into for tattoo removal. Let’s begin with the cheapest methods then discuss some of the more costly procedures.

• Creams – When looking to remove a tattoo, you will hear about tattoo removal creams that are on the market today. While the cost of these creams are relatively low (about a hundred bucks), compared to other methods, you will probably get what you pay for. Some people claim that the creams worked for them. Others say the cream faded their tattoo over time and others say they saw no effect. If you’re willing to roll the dice, tattoo removal creams may be worth looking into. Just keep in mind that results can vary.

• Cover-ups – A tattoo cover-up involves getting a new, fresh tattoo over your old tattoo. This is not always possible, and is not always done well. For example, you cannot expect to cover up a thick, black tattoo with light ink, or get rid of a large, intricate design, without getting a large, block-like design over it. Some tattoo artists are very good at doing cover-ups. However, you should consult a highly regarded artist to see if he thinks it would be successful. Here, the cost of tattoo removal (via cover-up) is just the cost of the new tattoo itself.

Apart from those two options for tattoo removal there are several types of medical procedures.

• Salabrasion – Salabrasion is a rather old technique that actually involves sanding off your tattoo covered skin. Anesthetic is administered to the area and then salt water is applied while your skin is vigorously rubbed. Yes, this is as painful as it sounds and is likely to cause scarring.

• Dermabrasion – With dermabrasion you are again basically sanding off your skin. Anesthetic is also used in this type of tattoo removal. Following that, a solution is applied (or simple ice packs are applied) to the tattooed skin that freezes the area. A hand-held rotary instrument is then used to scrape away the top layers of skin on the area. Due to the nature of the procedure there will likely be bleeding as well as scarring.

• Excision – Excision is a procedure where the tattooed skin is cut off. This is easiest with small tattoos however it is a tattoo removal procedure that can be used for even larger tattoos. With larger tattoos, you may undergo several the procedure several times. First cutting away the center of the tattoo and then following up with the outer portions later. After cutting away the skin and the tattoo, your skin is brought back together; in some cases with large tattoos a skin graft is used to cover the removed area. Local anesthetics are also used in this tattoo removal procedure.

The most common form of tattoo removal today is the use of a laser to remove the tattoo. A focused laser is used to break apart the tattoo ink under the surface of your skin. The rest of your skin remains unharmed and there will not be scarring. Different wavelengths are used for different ink colors which means the more colorful your tattoo, the more complex and costly your laser tattoo removal will be.

While laser tattoo removal is very successful (although not always completely), the cost of tattoo removal from laser procedures can be quite expensive and time consuming. For a small, single-color tattoo, the cost of tattoo removal may be one hundred to several hundred dollars.

For larger, thicker, more intricate and more colorful tattoos, you may have to have up to 10 sessions to get your tattoo completely removed. Sessions can range in cost anywhere from $100 to over $1,000, most likely falling in the $400-$500 range. With laser tattoo removal a numbing agent can be used beforehand if necessary, although most say it is a rather painless tattoo removal procedure. One downside to laser tattoo removal is obviously the cost of tattoo removal itself, as well as how long the complete process can take. Individual sessions need to be spaced out to allow proper time to heal.

As you can see there are various methods for getting your tattoo removed. You can find a method to suit your budget and tolerance to discomfort and pain. Just remember to do your research an make an informed decision.