Can tattoo removal leave a scar?

**Collaborative post**

There are a number of reasons why people choose to get rid of their tattoos. Whether it brings up painful memories or just no longer suits where you’re at in life right now, finding an effective solution for tattoo removal can be a big priority for a lot of people, but the information on these topics can be a bit confusing.

Here, we look at some of the main tattoo removal techniques, focusing in particular on whether or not they leave scarring as a result of the procedure.

Laser removal

Laser tattoo removal works by zapping the ink located in the lower layers of your skin. The heat that results from that laser zap breaks up the ink particles, and these smaller fragments can then be removed by your body’s immune system.

While it is highly effective, laser tattoo removal is not an instant process, and it can take months and multiple sessions until you achieve a result that you’re happy with. Even then, there is a chance that your tattoo will be lightly visible after you’ve completed all of your sessions. 

It’s important to keep these kinds of expectations in mind when you start the process, so that you’re not left disappointed. Ask the technician who’s doing it for you for a more detailed outlook based on your exact tattoo and skin type.

Scarring

Done properly, when the right lasers are operated by an experienced technician at the right power, laser tattoo removal shouldn’t leave scars. It’s extra important that you choose a reputable service provider such as LaserHQ, so that you’re not left with a mark that’s even worse than what you originally wanted to remove.

However, if aftercare procedures aren’t followed properly, or if you pick the scabs that the procedure can leave behind, it can result in some scarring. 

Surgical excision

While laser removal is very popular, and is often the most effective solution for larger tattoos, some people choose to go with a method known as surgical excision. 

As the name suggests, with surgical excision, rather than targeting the ink below the skin, the entire tattoo – skin included – is removed with this technique. As a result, surgical excision is only appropriate for much smaller tattoos. 

It is much quicker than laser tattoo removal – it only takes a single session, and the tattoo will be removed straight away in its entirety.

Scarring

The main drawback of surgical excision is that it does pretty much always leave a linear scar. Whether this fades in time or not depends on a lot of factors, but it’s likely that it’ll be around for quite some time. 

Getting a tattoo removed isn’t quite as easy as getting one in the first place. It’s important that you’re aware of the limitations of each removal tactic, and that you care for the skin during the removal process. Whether you choose surgical excision or laser removal, what you do after the session(s) will have a big impact on how intense the scarring will ultimately be.