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While tattoos are considered permanent, it is
possible, to varying degrees, to remove them. Complete removal,
however, is often not possible, and the expense and pain of
removing them typically will be greater than the expense and
pain of applying them. Some jurisdictions will pay for the
voluntary removal of gang tattoos.
Tattoos removal is most commonly performed using lasers that
react with the ink in the tattoo, and break it down. The broken-down
ink is then absorbed by the body. This technique often requires
many repeated visits to remove even a small tattoo, and may
result in permanent scarring.
A newer method of removal is by tattooing glycolic acid into
the skin with a tattoo machine: the acid pushes the ink to
the surface of the skin in the scab, which is later removed.
This method purportedly scars less than laser techniques.
Glycolic acid is also used for facial peels; when used for
tattoo removal, a lower percentage mix is used.
Some wearers opt to cover an unwanted tattoo with a new tattoo.
This is commonly known as a coverup or cover-up. An artfully
done cover-up may render the old tattoo completely invisible,
though this will depend largely on the size, style, colours
and techniques used on the old tattoo. Some shops and artists
use laser removal machines to break down and lighten undesired
tattoos to make coverage with a new tattoo easier.
Overall, green-based ink is the most difficult to remove.
Black ink is most readily broken down by the laser, and unprofessional
tattoos done at home are the easiest ones to remove, due to
the low quality of ink used, as well as the ineffective manner
in which they were applied.
More on Tattoos
Removal
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