Tattoo and permanent makeup removal: an overview of methods
We solve the problem of removing low-quality micropigmentation
There are many ways to remove unwanted tattoos and PM, but they all boil down to one thing - mechanical or chemical destruction of tissues containing pigment.
The problem of removing low-quality tattoos and permanent makeup has been known for a very long time. There are many ways to remove unwanted tattoos and permanent makeup, among them there are methods that have been known for a long time, but they all come down to one thing - mechanical or chemical destruction of tissues containing pigment.
This material is devoted to an overview of methods for removing pigment from the skin - an exclusive translation of an article published on the website of the international journal for micropigmentation specialists PMU International. Magazine of Permanent Makeup . Original article link
Tattooing has become commonplace and is often used as permanent makeup. This is not just body art, but a real opportunity to improve the appearance. However, sometimes there is a feeling of dissatisfaction due to the poor quality of the artist's work, or the tattoo design can simply become boring. Removing a tattoo is a serious problem, but it can be solved. There are different methods of tattoo removal.
Physical methods include cryosurgery using freon canisters, carbon dioxide and liquid nitrogen; heat using electrocoagulation, with or without curettage, and ultraviolet light; laser therapy on carbon dioxide or argon. Complications associated with all of the previously mentioned methods include hyper- and hypopigmentation, atrophy, keloids, hypertrophic scarring, localized hyperesthesia, and failure to remove the pigment itself.
Salt abrasion involves the use of mechanically applied salts. Chemical methods are still in use today, typically including phenol, nitric acid, tannic acid, sulfuric acid, silver nitrate, and salicylic acid in combination dermabrasion with silver nitrate tannic acid. Today there are new tretinoin/retin-A chemistries – Eliminink™ and FADE™.
Surgical methods
Simple removal with primary closure is suitable for small tattoos, for large ones you can use the following:
- punch removal - with or without stitches (for small dark tattoos);
- removal with a dermatome blade - with or without anesthesia;
- dermabrasion - with a wire brush or diamond grit, with or without anesthesia.