The term “dermabrasion” describes a general cosmetic procedure where a doctor or trained medical specialist removes the outer layers of the skin for both aesthetic and medical purposes. Dermabrasion is most popularly known as a skin care technique used to rejuvanate the outer layers of the skin. This typically relates to improving the skins appearance from things such as wrinkles, scars, skin spots, and discolorations, often related to sun damage.

In regards to tattoo removal, dermabrasion is a technique for removing the layers of the skin that contained the tattoo ink, and thus, in this way removing the tattoo as well. It’s a tattoo removal technique with somewhat of a shady past, whose performance often lead to scars and unwanted skin conditions left in place of where the tattoo used to be.

Currently it’s still possible to consult and work with a doctor who is trained in this technique and have your tattoo professionally removed via dermabrasion, but, it’s availability has been overshadowed by superior techniques and developments in ***laser tattoo removal*** methods.

Before laser tattoo techniques took off, in the past – as in, decades ago – dermabrasion was one of the main removal techniques available, as it really was one of the only methods available that was offered by trained medical professionals.

Compared to more modern tattoo removal methods, dermabrasion runs a high risk of scarring on the skin. This is simple due to the fact that the technique itself involves rubbing the skin and removing the layers of the skin itself. This naturally presents a risk of skin scarring. In literal terms, dermabrasion removes these skin layers via sanding (also called abrasion, and hence derma (skin) abrasion (sanding) The term “skin sanding” is righly frightening!

Additionally, dermabrasion for tattoo removal is a very painful method. Individuals receiving dermabrasion treatments usually also receive medication to deal with the pain. (However, patients are never unconscious during the procedure.)

The pain involved coupled with the risk of scarring makes the dermabrasion of a tattoo a hard sale to most people wanting to get tattoo removal!

While dermabrasion techniques are better now than they were in the 1970′s, this technique is largely considered outdated. Instead of dermabrasion, a person is better off investing in rejuvi tattoo removal or laser tattoo removal.

Ironically, the evolution of dermabrasion techniques has led to the use of lasers (such as Co2 and the Erbium YAG laser) to perform the dermabrasion itself, instead of the aforementioned sander. While promising, the validity of these newer dermabrasion techniques for tattoo removal has not been proven yet.