You were positive you wanted that tattoo at the time. But as the years have passed, you’ve grown into a completely new person and outgrown your ink. You’re not alone; many people change their views or preferences over time and come to regret tattoos they once loved. That’s why laser tattoo removal exists — allowing you to remove tattoos without surgical intervention or painful skin resurfacing.

At Lipogenex Anti-Aging Center in Scottsdale, Arizona, Dr. Emmanouil Karampahtsis can remove old tattoo ink and reveal a brand new you. He uses safe, effective laser tattoo removal treatments to erase the stamp of old relationships or outdated world views from your skin, letting you emerge with a clean slate.

The permanence factor of tattoos

Part of the appeal of tattoos is the factor of permanence, but this also means it’s tough to get rid of them. That permanence comes from chemical inks injected under the top layer of skin (epidermis) and into the second layer of skin (dermis).

Former methods of tattoo removal involved basically sanding away layers of skin or excising the tattoo completely. Both methods were painful and likely to leave scars. Laser tattoo removal completely revolutionized ink breakdown and dissipation, making it the preferred method of tattoo removal today.

How laser tattoo removal works

The safest method of getting rid of tattoos is laser removal. Modern lasers can target and dissolve tattoo inks deep in the dermis.

Tattoos naturally fade over time as your body’s white blood cells attack the invasive inks and your lymphatic system carries them away as waste to be eliminated from the body. Laser treatment targets the inks directly, breaking them into smaller pieces to help those white blood cells do their work much faster.

After a series of sessions — how many depends on the ink colors and the complexity of your tattoo — the tattoo eventually is removed.

The laser tattoo removal process

Dr. Karampahtsis examines your tattoo and estimates its compatibility with laser removal. He can give you an estimate of treatment complexity, number of sessions expected, and your projected healing time.

During treatment sessions, you receive eye covers for visual protection from the laser. You may have some mild discomfort during the procedure, but nowhere near the pain of getting your tattoo in the first place.

Aftercare

After each treatment, soothe the area with an ice pack, apply an antibiotic ointment, and protect the treatment site with a clean bandage. It’s also important to keep the area protected from the sun while it heals.

Ready to get rid of that old tattoo? Book a consultation at Lipogenex Anti-Aging Center today by calling 480-664-2288 or requesting an appointment online.