What You Need to Know About Tattoo Removal

Roughly 30% of Americans have at least one tattoo — and that number has been on the rise in recent years. But there is a problem with tattoos: Nearly one-fifth of people with a tattoo regret it. 

Whether you have a tattoo of something that’s no longer meaningful to you, your tattoo hasn’t aged well, or it’s in a spot you don’t like, you’ll be glad to know that you have options. 

At SINY® Dermatology, our expert providers are available to explore tattoo removal with you. At our New York City offices in Bayridge, Park Slope, and the West Village, we offer specialized laser technology to remove the pigment of your tattoo from your skin. We can use this treatment to reduce the visibility of any size of tattoo located anywhere on your body.

Are you interested in having a tattoo removed? Keep reading to learn what you need to know about tattoo removal. 

How tattoo removal works

When you visit our office for FDA-approved tattoo removal, we apply a specialized laser to your unwanted tattoo.

We adjust the wavelength of this laser to focus on certain colors of pigment. It picks out the pigment of your tattoo from your surrounding skin, sending the laser energy into it. As the pigment absorbs the laser energy, it starts to break up. 

Once the pigment is disrupted in this way, your body can start to safely absorb it and process it out. 

Because black pigment can absorb all laser wavelengths, it’s the easiest color to remove from your skin. That said, we can adjust our laser to remove any colors in your tattoo. 

What to expect during and after tattoo removal

Getting a tattoo removed can be uncomfortable, but not so much so that you’ll need anesthesia. 

The length of the treatment depends on the size of your tattoo and the amount of pigment you want removed. 

Most tattoos require more than one treatment to fully fade and become invisible. If your tattoo is very old and light, one session might be sufficient. Otherwise, expect a series of laser treatments for the best result. 

After each laser treatment, it’s important to keep the area clean and protected. We’ll give you specific aftercare instructions to follow. 

Get your tattoo removed today 

Come visit any of our offices so our team can give you an idea of what to expect for your specific tattoo. We can help you understand how many treatments you’ll need and how long each one should take.

Ultimately, laser tattoo removal gives you a very effective, safe way to get unwanted ink off your body. 

To learn more about tattoo removal and how it could work for a specific tattoo of yours, call the SINY Dermatology office closest to you or schedule your appointment online today.