Tattoo Removal in Berkeley CA
Tattoo removal
Tattooing is done by injecting colored pigments into skin. Once tattoo pigments are injected in skin they usually become permanent. The majority of tattoos are created by professionals at tattoo salons or parlors. At the same time, many tattoos are applied by amateurs with the help of India ink and a needle or a toothbrush. Besides the obvious reasons of removing tattoos for career enhancement, there are aesthetic reasons why many people elect to remove tattoos. As skin ages, tattoos tend to fade and deform. A tattoo that once was shown with pride may lose its attractiveness and, in some cases, even become an embarrassment The amount of time it takes to remove your tattoo will depend largely on how your tattoo was applied. If you have a newer tattoo or one that has been retraced, it will most probably be more difficult to remove because the pigment will be denser than an older tattoo.
The color used to create your tattoo also has an impact on how easy or difficult it will be to remove. A tattoo made with many different colors is usually more difficult to remove than a tattoo made with just one color. Be prepared to undergo several treatments in order to completely remove your tattoo. This is especially true if your tattoo contains unusual colors. Each of these tattoo removal treatments is usually spaced about six to eight weeks apart.
Laser tattoo removal is a safe and effective method. It is less painful than getting a tattoo. Lasers remove tattoos by breaking up the pigment colors of the tattoo with a high-intensity light beam. The pigment is then absorbed by the body. The more laser treatments you have, the more the laser can penetrate to wipe away the ink. The number of treatments required will depend on whether the tattoo is professional or amateur. Amateur tattoos are more easily removed; however, with any tattoo you will see a lightening after every treatment. Once the tattoo has been successfully removed the result is permanent. Overdoing the laser treatments can cause damage to your skin and eventually lead to scarring. The laser type, number of sessions and the patient's body ability to rid itself of the ink are factors that can determine the outcome of the procedure. Sometimes there are no traces of scarring but it really depends on the situation. Depending on your tattoo, you may need anywhere from 1-10 sessions. Each laser treatment takes only a few minutes to complete. Furthermore, the pigment will never return after it is removed. After laser tattoo removal, there is some redness and mild blistering like a sunburn. This resolves in 3-7 days.
To prevent infection, clean the area with soap and water every day. In addition, be sure to cover it with non-stick bandages and ointment when going outside in order to protect it from the sun. The wound should be completely gone seven to ten days after the procedure. It can take a few weeks or even a few months, however, for the pigment of the tattoo to fade away completely. You will be able to resume your usual activities immediately following treatment.
Working with low energy lasers minimizes the risk of burning, scarring or pigmentation. Conclusive research shows high levels of tattoo removal and high patient satisfaction. The laser's light energy is absorbed into the artificial ink of the tattoo. This breaks it down into particles whereby the cells carry it away. With each treatment the tattoo becomes successively lighter and is gradually removed.
The length of the procedure is 5 - 10 minutes, depending on the size of the tattoo.
No anesthesia is needed, and the procedure is done on an outpatient basis.
Temporary Side Effects:
The sensation is unique to each individual; some describe a slight warm sensation while others notice a warmer hotter stinging feeling. Any discomfort felt ceases at the end of the treatment. Occasionally patients may notice mild blistering that usually fades without scarring.
Recovery:
A mild reddening & warmth is the most common effect. This normally lasts a few hours to a few days. Occasionally red spots are visible that fade completely and do not scar.
Risks:
Mild tracking or hypo-pigmentation of the skin.
Intense Pulsed Light Therapy (IPL)
IPL, or Intense Pulsed Light Therapy is an effective tattoo removal treatment that targets intense light onto the upper layer of the skin basically burning it off. The treatment stimulates new skin growth, and when the treated area heals, the tattoo is usually much less noticeable than before. This method is said to be not as painful as laser therapy, and more effective, resulting in less treatment sessions. It usually takes 10-12 months after the treatment for full results to show. The cost of IPL is based on the number of pulses your tattoo requires to be removed.
Excision
Excision involves removing the tattooed area of skin and then stitching it closed. This method is more ideal for smaller tattoos, however can still be used on larger ones. Excision method of tattoo removal helps in complete removal of smaller tattoos. For larger tattoos, the skin is removed and a skin graft from another part of the body is used to cover the area. In this method local anesthesia is applied to numb the area after which the tattoo is removed surgically. The edges are then brought together and stitched and there is minimal bleeding.
Dermabrasion or Salabrasion is a surgical procedure where the surgeon uses a sanding tool to go over the skin in order to rub off the top layers of the skin to reveal fresh skin beneath. Local anesthesia is used during the treatment. When the procedure is over, the skin appears to be red in color and is tender. It usually takes the skin a few weeks to heal. This procedure is not recommended if the patient is prone to scarring. If the patient is prone to hyper or hypo-pigmentation as well, then this procedure is not highly recommended. This technique often does not remove all of the pigment from the skin.
It is important to note that many cases of tattoo removal have resulted into scars, skin diseases and wounds. All this depends on several factors including size, location, individual's healing process or system, how the tattoo was applied and how long the tattoo had been on the skin. Methods chosen by the physician depends upon many factors. The method that the physician chooses will depend upon the size of the tattoo and its location as well as the length of time it has been on the skin. Usually, fading of the tattoo is the best result that can be accomplished. Sometimes the tattoo will disappear.
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Berkeley By plane
Oakland International Airport (OAK) is preferred. Take the AirBART shuttle to the Bay Area Rapid Transit Oakland Airport station, and then take a Richmond-bound train to the Downtown Berkeley station. Alternatively, you can use a rental car and drive up Interstate 80 to the University Avenue exit.
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is also convenient but will take a little longer. Similarly, take a BART train to Berkeley. Driving is a bit tougher, but is possible: take the US Highway 101 north and then Interstate 80 east across the San Francisco Bay Bridge. Stay on 80 east and exit University Avenue.
San Jose International Airport (SJC) is in the region but tougher. A rental car will probably be easiest, but public transit is possible.
Berkeley Understand Berkeley has a reputation for being perhaps the most liberal city in the United States. Rooted in the Free Speech Movement of the 1960's, visitors will find an eclectic mix of cultures and viewpoints. Berkeley's free-thinking environment has seen the birth of quality attractions, great food from many cultures, and of course the 30,000-person University of California, Berkeley.
Plastic Surgery News...
- Dutch researchers have examined the discontinuation rate of maintenance antidepressants (AD) in recurrently depressed patients in daily clinical practice and the associated risk of recurrence.
They used data on 172 patients with recurrent depression from the DELTA study, who were in remission on various types of treatment. Use of AD before recurrence (non-users, intermittent users, continuous users) was examined and related to recurrence over a 2-year follow-up period. The researchers found that:
• 42% of the patients used AD continuously.
• Based on minimal effective dosage (20 mg or > fluoxetine equivalent), only 26% of patients used AD as recommended by international guidelines.
• Despite continuous use of AD, 60.4% relapsed in 2 years; this was comparable to the rate of the intermittent users (63.6%).
• In patients who stopped taking AD after remission and who received additional preventive cognitive therapy, the recurrence rates were lower than in non-AD-using patients treated with usual care (8 vs. 46%).
The researchers conclude from these findings “the majority of recurrently depressed patients treated with AD discontinue maintenance AD therapy in daily primary and secondary clinical practice. AD seems to offer poor protection against relapse in this patient group.” They recommend that alternative maintenance treatments should be evaluated.
- The incidence of myocardial infarction (MI) in Britain has fallen markedly in recent years. Data from the British Regional Heart Study was examined to determine whether this decline could be explained by concurrent changes in major cardiovascular risk factors. The study had followed a socially and geographically representative cohort of middle-aged men (n= 7735) in Britain over 25 years from 1978, and collected information on time trends in risk factors and CHD incidence. The following findings were noted during this time period:
• Age-adjusted hazard of MI decreased by 3.8% (95% CI, 2.6% to 5.0%) per annum, corresponding to a 62% decline over the 25 years.
• At the same time, after adjustment for age, cigarette smoking prevalence, mean systolic BP, and mean non– HDL cholesterol decreased, whereas mean HDL cholesterol, mean BMI, and physical activity levels rose.
• No significant change occurred in alcohol consumption.
• The fall in cigarette smoking explained the greatest part of the decline in MI incidence (23%), followed by changes in BP (13%), HDL cholesterol (12%), and non-HDL cholesterol (10%). In combination, 46% (approximate 95% CI, 23% to 164%) of the decline in MI could be explained by these risk factor changes.
• Physical activity and alcohol consumption had little influence, whereas the increase in BMI would have produced an increase in MI risk.
The researchers conclude “modest favourable changes in the major cardiovascular risk factors appear to have contributed to considerable reductions in MI incidence. This highlights the potential value of population-wide measures to reduce exposure to these risk factors in the prevention of coronary heart disease.”