Tattoos: Getting Inked

Tattoos are on the body forever, making the decision to get one should take as long as it stays on your body. A tattoo is a commitment. When it comes to getting a tattoo that is regretted there is always the option of getting it removed. .
             There are many methods in removing a tattoo. The first method is laser surgery. Laser surgery is the most common of all tattoo removals. How it works is pulses of laser light penetrate the skin and break the pigment in the tattoo into tiny fragments, then the body's own processes then begin clearing away the fragmented ink and the tattoo fades over time ("How Does Laser Surgery Work?"). The second method is excision. In this case, the tattoo is surgically cut out, then the skin from either side is sewn together ("How Does Laser Surgery Work?"). The last method is dermabrasion. Dermabrasion is a process where the skin is scraped off in layers so that it is allowed to grow back from the layers below it. The top layers of skin tend to scrape off and be replaced by the layers below them ("Process and Cost of Dermabrasion"). Getting a tattoo removed no matter what the method can be painful and expensive. Of course costs vary on size but on average for laser removal treatment starts at $100 ("Bassichis"). .
             Another thing to consider before getting a tattoo is the risk of infections. When going to the tattoo parlor make sure it is clean. The artists should always wear gloves and open a brand new pack of needles in front of the client. If this isn't happening then that isn't a safe place to get a tattoo. The artist should also rub the client's leg with sterile water. A tattoo is an open wound and with an open wound there are risks of infection. .
             Some infections that tattoos can catch are Hepatitis C. Hepatitis C is an infection caused by a virus that attacks the liver and leads to inflammation ("Hepatitis C"). People who are first timers with tattoos should also be cautious about allergies.