Getting Tattoos Removed

Tattooing may be on the rise, but so is tattoo removal. In a recent survey, the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS) found that laser tattoo removal procedures were up 17% between 2001 and 2005. Approximately 55,000 procedures were performed in 2005.

Both Phelps and Carlton say removing a tattoo is much more difficult -- and expensive -- than getting one in the first place.

That's true, says Ariel Ostad, MD, assistant clinical professor at the NYU School of Medicine and a New York dermatologist who does tattoo removal. But new advances in lasers have made removing a tattoo easier than it once was. Before lasers, says Ostad, the only options were dermabrasion and excision, neither particularly effective. Now pigment-specific lasers can get rid of more colors than before (although some -- like black, blue, red, and purple -- are easier than other colors; yellow and green are particularly difficult). The reality though is that the tattoo cannot be completely removed; there will always be a faint shadow, although probably not visible to those who never saw the tattoo in the first place, says Ostad.

It takes about five to seven (depending on size and color) in-office treatments to remove a tattoo, says Ostad, who first applies an anesthetic cream or injection to the area to minimize the discomfort. Each treatment takes about 15 minutes and can cost anywhere from $250 to $500 per session (not covered by insurance).

"What cost me $45 to put on, is now costing me over $2,000 to get taken off," says Phelps, who has already had four laser treatments and still needs another 12 to 15 to get rid of the four-leaf clover over her heart.

Though Phelps is having her tattoo removed, she still thinks they're "really cool." "I just don't want one forever on my body!"

Most of Ostad's patients are men and women whose spouses don't like the tattoo, who are in careers where visible tattoos are considered unprofessional, or who, as Phelps says, have simply outgrown the novelty.

The Dos and Don'ts of Tattoos

If you want to get "inked" yourself, there are several dos and don'ts to consider before getting a tattoo, says Jeffrey Dover, MD, dermasurgeon and fellow of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery.

Do:

• Choose a facility carefully: Make sure the establishment is reputable and licensed to perform these procedures.
• Keep things simple: A small tattoo or one with two or three colors is the easiest to remove, as well as conceal.
• Choose an appropriate location: Because outlandish tattoos in unusual and sensitive areas can leave scars when removed, you may want to think twice about where to place these items on your body. Also, think carefully about where you want it and how big it should be. A good tip is to place it in an area that can be covered by clothing traditionally worn in the work place.
• Remember what's "hot" today may not be tomorrow: Today, the latest fad may be tribal or flower tattoos, but tomorrow's trends may be different. So, think about down the road and what you'll be happy with in the years ahead.