Lasers are the safest and most effective way to remove a tattoo

Usha Rajagopal, MD answers: TCA tattoo removal work to get rid of tattoo?

I am using TCA (currently at 20%) to fade/remove a tattoo on my arm. My question is, do these peels go deep enough to fade/remove a tattoo? If not (other than laser) is there another approach with minor risk of scarring?


Usha Rajagopal, MD
13 months ago
By Usha Rajagopal, MD - San Francisco Plastic Surgeon

The TCA peel probably won't work because it only effects the superficial dermis and does not target the pigment of the tattoo.

Older methods that didn't produce scarring include:

  • excising the tattoo and putting a skin graft on it
  • dermabrasion

Lasers are the safest and most effective way of removing tattoos even though they can cause skin discoloration.

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