Tattoo Removal Terms and Phrases

There are a lot of terms used in tattoo removal, whether it is laser tattoo removal or other forms of removal. So here is a list of some of the more common terms used in tattoo removal.

Absorption: This is your body’s ability to take something into the system. This is often used when referencing a tattoo removal cream.

Adverse reaction: side effects from a procedure. Usually unwanted ones.

Atypical tattoo: a non typical tattoo, such as location.

Cosmetic tattoos: a form of tattoo that is designed to cover something up for cosmetic purposes; some people get tattoos to cover up scars or something of the like.

Cover up: This is not quite the same as a cosmetic tattoo. This type of tattoo is often to cover up an old tattoo, most likely because it was a bad job.

Dermabrasion: This is a form of tattoo removal that involves using some sort of sanding tool to rub away the tattoo; you rub away the skin that contains the ink.

Dermis: This is the layer of skin that contains the ink of the tattoo, it resides below the top layer of skin AKA the epidermis.

Epidermis: The top layer of skin that resides on top of the dermis layer.

Excision: the removal of a tattoo via surgery.

Hyperpigmentation: This is when the pigment in the skin is darker due to increased activity that can be an adverse reaction post laser tattoo removal.

Hypopigmentation: this is the opposite of hyperpigmentation; with hypo, there is less or even no pigment in that area due to the laser.

Hypertrophic scar: This is a scar that is confined to the affected area of the tattoo removal. It is an overgrowth of tissue.

Ink: The stuff in the tattoo that enables you to see there is a tattoo. It is similar to ink from a pen, if you want to think of it that way.

Laser: you might not have known that laser is actually an acronym; it stands for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation.

Keloid: this is a kind of scar that can be an adverse reaction from laser tattoo removal; it is hard and smooth and will actually grow beyond the affected area of the removal.

Anthony