How to get that tattoo removed

Many celebrities have undergone an inking, and Cheryl Cole is no exception. The 30-year old's rosy derrier was on show recently after her tattooist Instagram'd the finished product.

But should the Geordie lass live to regret her decision we've investigated tattoo removal for her. You're welcome, Chez!

It may have seemed like a good idea at the time, but according to The Cosmetic Surgery Guide, many people go on to regret getting a tattoo.

There are a number of different options available to remove tattoos, but the most successful and popular treatment is laser tattoo removal.

This procedure has been carried out for over 20 years, the laser projects a beam of light that targets pigment in the skin – the pigments in the tattoo ink are ‘exploded’ into small particles, which the body absorbs.

A course of treatments are needed to remove a tattoo and can cost from £50-£500+ depending on the size and/or ink colour used. Something small like Victoria Beckhams, above should be easy.

A local anaesthetic cream is applied to the skin before treatment commences. As the laser is fired at the tattoo there is a stinging sensation, similar to be being flicked by an elastic band.

This procedure, depending on the size of the tattoo, can last anything from five minutes to an hour. Though Katy Perry's little strawberry shouldn't take long.

Repeat procedures are required in almost all cases and can run to 20 sessions. It is usually necessary to wait at least four weeks between sessions to allow the skin to recover.

The area may be a little tender and may need a dressing for up to a week post treatment but most patients can return to work immediately. 

In addition there may be some residual redness, swelling and discharge but this should only last a few days and the skin will scab or crust over.

The most important thing is not to pick at the scabs as this might result in scarring, says Laura Casewell, Editor of The Cosmetic Surgery Guide. So maybe Angelina Jolie has it right, a tattoo on your  back is out of sight, out of mind.

The risk of scarring is minimal after a laser tattoo removal as the skin is not heated up to any great degree. Any scarring is usually because the patient has picked at the scabs that form post treatment.

A more common side effect is hypopigmentation as the laser targets the natural melanin in the skin. Patients can be left with a ‘bleached’ look following treatment and in some cases the skin might never recover its normal tone.

Those with darker skin colour need to be aware of this complication before embarking on treatment. Hopefully, Megan Fox's ankle tattoo is out of eyeline so would be less noticeable should the mother-to-be choose to get it removed.