There are many options available for getting an unwanted tattoo removed with today’s technology. Many of the tattoo removal methods are similar to and use some of the same chemicals or procedures that are used for facial peels or acne scar treatments. Some of the creams and chemicals can be applied in the privacy of your own home. Others must be done at a clinic or tattoo removal business. Removing a tattoo is a process that will take several treatments to completely remove or fade a tattoo.
Most treatments work in the same way. Layers of skin cells are removed in order to remove or flush out the tattoo ink little by little. After several treatments the tattoo will start to fade away until it’s gone.
Laser tattoo removal is one of the most high-tech and effective methods to get rid of a tattoo. It’s also the most expensive. Most small tattoos will take between 6 and 12 sessions spaced four to six weeks apart. The time between sessions allows your skin to grow new ink free cells to replace the ones that have been removed during the procedure. Laser sessions can cost more that $200 each making the complete cost $1200 to $2400 to remove a small tattoo. Large tattoos can cost up to $10,000 to remove.
Chemical methods like TCA (Trichloroacetic Acid) work to remove the layers of skin by causing them to peel off. Wrecking Balm cream uses a gentle active ingredient called Salicylic acid along with a buffer device to gently remove the layers of inked skin cells fading the tattoo a little at a time. This is an in home kit that will fade a tattoo with about 72 three-minute treatments completed consistently over a six month period. These methods are much more affordable than laser treatments costing less than $200 for the complete kit.
If you are willing to spend the money and can tolerate a little pain the laser treatment might be right for you. However if you are on a tight budget you may want to try one of the in home methods.