Does tattoo Excision come with longer-term side effects?

Question

I got a black 1"x2" tattoo on my ankle 18 years ago. I've read that laser removal can cause discoloration of surrounding lymph nodes, and taxes the auto-immune system. For this reason, as well as for speed and efficacy, I'm interested in surgical tattoo excision. How long would it take for the ankle skin to stretch sufficiently to not be tight after removal? Beyond short-term infection risks, are there long-term impacts to be aware of with excision?

Glenn Messina, MD · Answer

Laser tattoo removal does fill the nodes with ink but they already have flecks of ink in there just from having the tattoo and the immune system picking at it. Depending on the size of the tattoo and skin the surgeon may have to remove it in sections several weeks apart. Most times the cut out the tattoo and suture the 2 open ends together. If they cant then the take part of the tattoo, close the skin, wait then resect the remaining tattoo

James McMahan, MD (retired) · Answer

Thank you for your question.  The ankle generally does not have much excess skin so even a small tattoo is difficult to excise. If it could be surgically remove, it will leave a permanent scar that is likely slightly depressed.
If you have a tattoo, you already have ink in your lymph nodes.  Probably more so than what you would get with laser removal as the tiny fragments that result from laser treatments are minimal compared to the large ink particles that were put in when you got the tattoo.  Laser tattoo absolutely does not "tax the immune system."  That is completely false.  
In the long run, you are much better getting the tattoo remove with a laser.

Does tattoo Excision come with longer-term side effects?

Answers (2)