I got my tattoo of a sun emblazoned on my ankle at age twenty-one. After a few years, I was sick of looking at it; I felt like I’d been wearing the same pair of shoes day in and day out. I called about having it removed, something I assumed I would eventually do when I climbed into the tattoo artist’s chair.
The dermatology practice I consulted had some sobering news. First, tattoo removal is expensive. The cost varies depending on size and complexity. For my small but vibrant tattoo—that cost about $35— I was told to expect to pay $3,000 for removal.
The process is lengthy and can be painful. But here’s the worst part for me: certain light colors like yellow, pale green, and sky blue don’t respond well to laser treatment. Seeing as my randomly chosen tattoo is of a sun, it contains some yellow ink, as well as red, orange, and a black outline.
I decided to wait for the technology to advance and the price to come down. Recently, I called another dermatologist to get the current story. Keen scientific minds have brought about many advancements in science and technology, but sadly, tattoo removal is not one of them.
The Long, Painful Process
“Laser removal hasn’t changed,” Dr. Louis Cole, of Dermatology Specialists of North Atlanta, told me. Removal is still expensive and time-consuming. Results still vary, and yellow remains a difficult color to remove. “The lighter the color, the harder it is to remove,” he says. “With yellow, there is little for the laser to grab onto.”
Laser removal works by breaking up the ink into particles that are then removed by the blood stream. It’s a gradual process, with small, black tattoos taking three or four treatments and large, multi-colored tattoos taking up to fourteen treatments. Dr. Cole uses a laser with multiple wavelengths to attack various colors. “Gradually, the tattoo fades,” he says.
The process hurts, but a numbing ointment can take the edge off. More serious than the pain is the risk of scarring. People with African heritage are especially at risk and could end up with white patches.
