Tattoos: surgical removal

Specifically requesting surgical tattoo removal: are deep personal motivations involved?

“…These include mechanical (dermabrasion, salabrasion, cryosurgery, surgery), chemical (introduction into the dermis or application to the skin of various caustic products) and thermal (Q-switched laser, infrared coagulation) methods. 6,16,17 None of them is perfect and all expose the patient to the risk of adverse events and incomplete tattoo removal. 6 Nowadays, the laser is the most popular and widely used treatment.…”

“…The techniques vary according to the location and size and the surgeon's experience. 16 However, surgery remains somewhat controversial because it exposes healthy individuals to numerous immediate and late complications of surgical procedures. Scarring is not avoidable and pigmentary skin changes may occur in some subjects.…”

“…Scarring is not avoidable and pigmentary skin changes may occur in some subjects. 16 Informing patients about the side effects and possible complications of the planned surgical procedure, as well as obtaining written informed consent, is necessary.…”

“…6,[13][14][15] An alternative is surgical removal, i.e. excision of the skin containing tattoo pigment, 16 which completely removes the tattoo. Surgery can be used for small tattoos located in areas of adequate skin laxity.…”

Tattoo preservation during surgical procedures

“…Surgery is a valid option, particularly for small tattoos located in areas of adequate skin laxity. 30 However, the depth of the pigment in tattoos varies. Excision, as deeply as possible, with closure by suturing or skin grafting, or a combination of both, is probably the method most likely to achieve radical removal of all the pigment.…”