In the United States, an estimated 17% of people experience some regret with their tattoos. Many of these people are also looking for an effective method to remove their unwanted ink. Tattoo dermabrasion is one such method that can help. But does it work and is it really worth the pain? Let's find out.

What Is Dermabrasion?
Dermabrasion is a cosmetic surgery procedure in which the epidermis of the skin is removed. The process involves sloughing off the upper layers of the skin to remove the appearance of the ink and encourage new skin growth.

The Procedure
Because it is a very painful procedure, the area to be treated is first anesthetized with a local anesthetic such as lidocain. After numbing the area, it is then frozen with a skin refrigerant such as liquid nitrogen or carbon dioxide snow. This is to ensure that the skin to be worked on will be harder than normal skin texture and consistency. When the area is frozen and hard, it is much easier to sand down the various layers of skin to get to the ink pigment. Next, an abrasive tool such as a wire brush, electric sanding disc or a fast spinning diamond fraise wheel is used to slough away skin layers and sand down the tattoo.

Does It Work?
Tattoo dermabrasion can be quite costly when it comes to removing unwanted ink. Including anesthesia and surgeon fees, it can cost up to $4000. Furthermore, this method is not always entirely successful as it cannot always completely remove the color from the tattoo. It should be noted that dermabrasion is not recommended for the face or when ink has been injected into the subcutaneous fat, as is the case with tattoos done by non-professionals. It is also not recommended on older tattoos as the pigment may have moved deeper into the skin, making it more difficult to slough off.

The Risks
Dermabrasion is a "brute force" tattoo removal method. The procedure is invasive in that it exposes raw skin layers, and with it comes risks. Not including a fairly lengthy recovery period, bullae (blisters), milia (small whiteheads), infection, thicker scar tissue of the treated area, hyperpigmentation as well as hypopigmentation can occur.

While it can be said that tattoo dermabrasion can get the job done, there are less invasive methods worth looking in to. They don't involve any pain, and what's even better, they are also less costly.