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6 things to know before you un-ink

Tattoo removal can be painful and expensive, so experts say people should think carefully and educate themselves before going under the laser.

Here are six factors to consider:

The process: Ask how much experience the operator has, and ask the person to explain the process in detail. “Make sure the person doing the treatment really understands exactly what’s happening and how it works,” said Steve Huntsberry, owner of the Immortal Images tattoo shop in Charlotte, N.C.

The portfolio: Ask to see a portfolio of the operator’s work. Make sure that before-and-after photos are actual photos of the laser operator’s patients.

The response: Consider how your tattoos will respond to the treatment, said David Goldberg, a dermatologist and lawyer in New York. Amateur tattoos come off more quickly and completely than do professional tattoos, and blue, black, red and green respond best. Yellow tattoos don’t respond to laser removal treatment, and white tattoos can become darker. Patients should have realistic expectations and know that multiple laser treatments will be required, Goldberg said.

The lasers: Different lasers are required for different colors of ink, so make sure the proper lasers are being used, said Roy Geronemus, a New York dermatologist and former president of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery. For instance, green tattoos can be laser-removed only by devices called Q-switched ruby or Q-switched alexandrite lasers; red tattoos, with Q-switched neodymium-YAG lasers.

The makeup look: Cosmetic tattoos — tattoos that serve as a permanent application of makeup — require special types of lasers and significant skill to remove. If you have those types of tattoos, make sure the laser operator is experienced in that area.

The skin types: Darker skin can pose challenges to laser operators because the increased pigmentation of the skin competes with the pigment of the tattoos. People who are Asian, Hispanic or black should ask about the laser operator’s experience working with people who have darker skin.

— USA Today