Getting a tattoo always seems like an cool idea at the time

. Maybe you were on the town with some friends and dared each other to get a tattoo

. Or maybe someone in your background inspired you to make a canvas out of more of your skin than you are unhappy with now

. Perhaps proving your emotions to your last girlfriend by tattooing her name on your arm was not the cleverest move you ever made

. No matter the reason, there are multitudes of people out there who now want to get rid of their body art

. If you have a tattoo with which you are not fond, you do not have to keep it

. Tattoo removal is a common cosmetic procedure

. Not every method has an equal success or safety record, however

. Some leave scarring, which is not the end result you are hoping for

. The most successful treatment is the use of modern laser technology

. Lasers are a safe way to obtain the results you wish with no scarring

. A laser removes a tattoo by aiming either a unbroken beam of light or pulses of light onto the desired area, depending on the color being removed

. Starting with black, one ink color is removed at a time

. The ink particles are broken up by the light and absorbed into the body where natural defense systems take care of it

. Numerous sessions are required to remove a tattoo

. The size of the area involved has the most to do with the number of sessions needed to obliterate the tattoo

. There is no downtime associated with this procedure, healthy skin cells are never harmed, and side effects are minor

. There may be a little redness and irritation and possibly some inflammation, but nothing involving major care

. If lifestyle changes prompt you to have an unwelcome tattoo removed, make sure you choose a very trustworthy surgeon and remember: not all lasers are equally good for tattoo removal

. Your doctor should use a state of the art laser with multiple modes for removing colors one at a time

. Do not put yourself in the hands of someone who promises a quick fix

. When the goal is perfect, healthy skin, make sure you know you are getting the most excellent care possible

.