Tattoo Removal Statistics on the Rise

Posted January 17, 2018 in Laser Tattoo Removal

For the past several decades, the tattoo industry has been nothing but a booming one. Everywhere you go, in every walk of life, colorful and elaborate tattoos grace the arms, legs, and backs of many men and women. And while there are a significant number of people who are happy with their ink for years and years to come, it is not the case for everyone. As they say, tattoos are a permanent representation of a temporary feeling. And for a growing number of tattooed individuals, their artistic expressions don’t hold up the way they want them to, which often results in an increased desire for tattoo removal. The most common reasons given for removal are the tattoos limiting employment opportunities, aging and weight gain/loss has changed the appearance of the tattoo, the artist did a less than superior job, or their tattoo no longer represents them (whether the tattoo is the name or image of an ex, an interest they no longer have, etc.); the possibilities are endless. The only sure thing is that more and more individuals are deciding to say goodbye to their ink.

What Do the Statistics Say?

The recent improvements in tattoo removal over the past two decades have made tracing the popularity of removal statistics difficult. Twenty years ago, statistics on this procedure weren’t even documented. However, a yearly study from the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) has reported that over 50,000 tattoos were removed in 2016 alone, a 13 percent increase from 2015. Of those tattoos removed, more than 60 percent of the tattoo removals came from women, and almost 50 percent of them represented the 19- to 34-year-old age demographic.

Laser Tattoo Removal

While the increase of tattoo removal can be contributed to the fact that more and more people are getting tattoos, another reason is the technological advances in laser tattoo removal. Laser tattoo removal is quick and somewhat painless and leaves little to no chance of scarring. Before lasers, tattoo removal was something to cringe at. Dermabrasion or other chemical procedures were used that would strip the skin to remove unwanted markings. This process was painful, risky, and led to undesired scarring.

Tri-Lase™

At Careaga Plastic Surgery Center, Dr. Careaga uses the Tri-Lase™ system to remove unwanted tattoos. The Tri-Lase™ uses intense pulses of light to break down the tattoo pigment while leaving the surrounding cells untouched and healthy. Your body will then get rid of this pigment naturally and safely. Multiple sessions may be required depending on the extensiveness and coloring of the tattoo; however, once completed, you can enjoy your tattoo-free skin.