Healing After a Tattoo Excision

Tattoos have been a rage from past few years. Be it the regular masses or the celebrities……its’ in for everybody. People go for tattoos which suit their style or represent their attitude or the names of their loved ones and what not.

With the ever changing trends and mood of people, it is no wonder that they might get bored with their present tattoo and might want to remove it. People might also want to remove the tattoo if it reminds them of an unpleasant past or it is possible that the tattoo might be a foolish decision while they were young and they regret it later. Unlike the past…tattoo removal has become somewhat easy now.

Today, there are several processes of removal and excision tattoo removal is one of them. It is generally used for the removal of a small tattoo. In this process, the entire tattooed area is removed through surgery. A skin graft might also be taken from another part of the body. This process is most highly efficient and frequently used for small tattoos.

It is also possible to remove larger tattoos through excision. For tattoos covering a large area of the skin, several surgeries are required. The centre of a large tattoos is removed in the first sitting while are sides are dealt with later. This process involves the removal of both the epidermis and the dermis of the skin.

It is very important that the surgery should be carried out by a qualified surgeon. Once the tattoo is removed, special care is required for the skin to heal. The first thing which needs to be taken care of right after the surgery is to avoid excessive movement of the part from where the tattoo has been removed. Exaggerated movements may cause the tearing of the skin and even bleeding. Exercising should be avoided as exertion as well as sweating might hinder the healing process.

Special lotions or creams might be suggested to you by the physician. Application of any type of glycolic acid or any exfoliation product should be avoided. If possible, avoid sun exposure. Usage of a sunscreen is recommended.

The area from where the tattoo has been removed should not be disturbed at any time. Any kind of rubbing, peeling or scratching should be avoided.


In case of excessive irritation, a skin specialist should be consulted immediately. Any sort of infection may also lead to permanent scarring.

The area should only be touched with clean hands and sterilized fabric.

There is also a possibility that one may develop hypopigmentation (lack of melanin in the area from where the tattoo is removed) or hyperpigmentation (too much melanin in the area from where the tattoo is removed. so it would be best if you visit your surgeon, physician or skin specialist regularly.

Blisters, whiteheads, scars etc also appear after the surgery. People with sensitive skin need to take special care while undergoing tattoo removal. It is important you must have a proper discussion about the surgery with your surgeon before you opt for it. Your surgeon must be aware of your medical history, allergies etc. It is also necessary for you to know the risks involved, probability of success, possible after effects, expenses etc. antibiotics should be taken before as well as after the surgery. It is better to avoid tattoo removal in case one is suffering from unstable diabetes or auto immune disorders.

Though excision is one of the most trusted and accepted process of tattoo removal, the risks of infections is highest in it. Studies have found that smoking may hinder the healing process so it must be avoided.

Scabs might start to appear on the skin after the surgery. They do not look appealing and so one may have the urge to remove them. This may, however disturb the healing process. So it is very important to leave the skin undisturbed.

The tattooed part of the skin is a site which has actually gone through pain in the past and so it becomes all the more necessary to take special care of that area after the surgery.

Following are the few things that might go wrong during or post surgery:

The tattoo might be engrafted deeply and might require a deeper incision which is rather more painful and will take longer to heal. It is possible that the anesthetic might not suit you. An infection may lead to exceeded expenses and excessive pain. Too much exposure to the sun may lead to pigmentation and excessive itching. Inflammation and bruising of the area is also possible which may make it difficult for the wound to heal. The antibiotics and other drugs recommended might lead to side effects. In very rare cases electrocautery (used to minimize bleeding) may not work leading to bleeding.

There are many benefits of tattoo removal through excision. Firstly the success rate in this surgery is as high as 95 per cent and the results are immediate. The tattoo is completely removed. There is minimum blood loss in this process due to electrocautery. Once the anesthesia is given, the process becomes painless. The scars left behind mostly go away with time. The process is quite affordable. Special care is required only for few weeks after the surgery and then you can continue with your daily life activities.

Along with the many benefits, there are also a few disadvantages of tattoo removal through excision. It is possible that the subject might be allergic to anesthesia. In few cases the scars might be there for a life time. Larger tattoos can lead to excessive treatment and surgeries and highly increased expenses. Physical activities might be retarded for quite a few days.

You may find many do-it-yourself processes of tattoo removal on the internet. If you are thinking of going for it, it is important that you think again. Excision is a proper surgery which should be performed only by qualified surgeons. Any mistake may lead to ugly and unwanted scars which may be there for a life time. It may also result in painful bruises or wounds or infections. It is best that you go to a surgeon or a skin specialist for the job and don’t try to remove the tattoo yourself.

The ever growing popularity and craze of tattoos has its own adverse effects. Danger of an infection is there both during getting a tattoo made and during removing it. It is necessary that anyone who is going to get a tattoo made or going for the removal of an already existing tattoo should know about the respected processes in detail. It is also recommended to avoid tattooing large parts of the skin as it will be difficult to remove and would look rather ugly once the skin begins to sag with age.

It is important that a trend should only be followed to the extent where its adverse effects do not overweigh its benefits. Once that line is crossed, it is best to avoid it.

Who should carry out surgical excision tattoo removal?

Only fully trained and qualified surgeons with experience attained in a prestigious and reliable establishment registered with the healthcare regulatory authorities should perform surgical excision tattoo removal. The cost of the procedure may vary and is chiefly dependent on reasons like whether it is a small, simple removal involving a couple of stitches, or a major operation involving skin grafts.

Getting a tattoo removed can be expensive, painful, and enforce risks that you must consider deeply before going through with it. If tattoo removal surgery is something on your mind then before going into any major decisions it is advisable that you discuss all of the issues mentioned here in greater depth during a consultation with a cosmetic surgeon. The best way to cope with tattoos and their removal is to avoid getting them in the first place, especially if there is any uncertainty in your mind that you may not want them later on.

Things That Can Go Wrong

While excision as a technique of tattoo removal is tried and tested and widely accepted by people around the globe, it comes with its own fair share of risks. Sometimes things can go wrong and create unnecessary complications. Some of these include:

If not judged properly, the tattoo may be deeply imbedded and may require a larger, deeper incision, which will take longer to heal and be more painful.

Reactions and allergies to the anesthetic used during the process may create impediment and thus lead to unnecessary problems. Infection may set in if the wound is not cared properly which may require hospitalization and additional expenses. The antibiotics can also cause side effects.

Pros and cons of excision must be weighed carefully before taking any decision. It is evident that several people have opted for this process of tattoo removal and so can you, to get rid of the unwanted tattoo.

I hope that this post has been able to give you a further insight into exactly what is involved in tattoo excision. If you are still not convinced that excision is the right method for you. Then this ebook may provide some further food for thought.
Well congratulations on taking the first step in having your tattoo removed and I wish you the best of luck as you continue on this journey.

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