Medical Questions » Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery Questions » Question No. 245
| Question: | I have a small tattoo on my wrist that I would like to have removed. Could you please tell me the methods available, and whom I should contact to have it done? |
| Answer: | A small tattoo is probably best removed by cutting it out (excision). This is done in the same way as cutting out a mole, and may be performed by your general practitioner or a plastic surgeon. Tattoos up to 2 cm across can be removed this way, but the maximum size will depend where on your body the tattoo has been placed, and its shape. Obviously, a larger tattoo can be cut out from the back than the face, and a long thin tattoo is easier than a round one.
Larger tattoos may be excised in two or three stages. After each excision heals, another area can be removed.
This technique involves a local anaesthetic injection, then the tattoo is cut away without any pain, and the resulting wound is stitched. The result will be a long, thin scar, about twice as long as the tattoo is wide.
For larger, or extensive tattoos, you should be referred by your general practitioner to a plastic surgeon or dermatologist who specialises in this type of problem. There are a number of techniques that they can use, including laser burning of the tattoo, or dermabrasion (simply grinding away the tattoo). Both these techniques leave scars, but the new Q-switched lasers being used by some dermatologists seem to be very effective.
There is no way of returning your skin to its pristine natural state.
|
|
|
