Tattoo Removal: A Guide for a Regret-Free Choice

Hello. I am Dr. Lee Sang-do, a dermatologist at Yonsei Star Dermatology Sinchon. Looking at the trends of the 20s and 30s these days, there are many individuals full of personality. In particular, the number of people getting tattoos to express themselves has significantly increased. Various types of tattoos are performed, from semi-permanent makeup tattoos on eyebrows or eyeliners to tattoos for covering scars and fashion tattoos for expressing individuality. However, among those who get tattoos, surprisingly many regret their impulsive choices. Occasionally, there are unfortunate cases where one might wonder, 'How could they have thought of getting such a tattoo?'

Over 20 years, I have performed more than 19,000 laser tattoo removal procedures. Among them, some cases stand out.

• Impulsive Couple Tattoos: A young woman who had even studied abroad surprised me with her ex-boyfriend's name tattooed on her buttocks. Another man wanted to remove only a few letters from his ex-girlfriend's name tattooed on his arm because it was similar to his new girlfriend's name. Unlike typical tattoos, couple tattoos are often placed in intimate, unseen areas like the buttocks, which can make the situation more delicate and embarrassing.
• Skin-colored Tattoos for Stretch Mark Cover: Some people get skin-colored tattoos to cover stretch marks. However, as skin color changes with the seasons, a difference between skin color and tattoo color is inevitable over time. Eventually, the skin-colored tattoo becomes more noticeable than the stretch marks, leading patients to seek its removal. Moreover, skin-colored tattoos are difficult to remove, often worsening the situation.

Patients who come for tattoo removal want it to be perfectly removed in a short period. However, tattoo removal is a more complex procedure than it seems. If strong laser intensities are used repeatedly to remove tattoos quickly, it can lead to side effects because the laser is applied strongly to the skin. Especially in cases where scarring must be avoided, such as for young women, a more cautious approach is necessary. It is important to use the strongest possible laser intensity without causing scars and to combine it with scar prevention treatment.

Generally, laser tattoo removal causes bruising, so only one session can be performed at a time. You should expect black tattoos to require at least 10 sessions and color tattoos at least 15 sessions for removal.

At our clinic, we use a specialized procedure called R-Zero Technique that can shorten the tattoo removal period.

There are chemical, surgical, and laser methods for tattoo removal, but the most effective method currently known is using lasers.

PicoWay Laser is the most effective laser for tattoo removal. The shorter the pulse width, the better it can break down tattoo pigments, so the treatment results are better when good equipment is combined with skilled treatment techniques.

Many people worry about pain during tattoo removal. Our clinic uses cooling and pain control methods to minimize discomfort. We help patients who gave up on tattoo removal at other clinics due to severe pain to receive comfortable treatment.

The cost and time required to remove a tattoo are much greater than getting one. Also, the possibility of scars or side effects remaining after tattoo removal must be considered. Please do not regret getting a tattoo for various reasons, and think carefully once more before getting one.

This has been Dr. Lee Sang-do from Yonsei Star Dermatology Sinchon. Thank you.