Once upon a time tattoos were reserved for bikers and motorcycle owners who wanted to show their allegiance to one gang in particular. Now it appears as though every college coed from New York City to Los Angeles is sporting a tattoo. While it seems like a good idea now, in five years or ten years it might not seem like such a good idea. For those people tattoo removal might just become a reality. There are a number of ways in which tattoo removal works. There are some ideas that have been around for years, while others are just beginning to gain prominence. Each of the tattoo removal options will be painful, and some claim that it is just as painful as getting the tattoo itself. This is because the tattoo reaches down into several layers of skin, and each of these layers must be removed. The different procedures must reach into each layer of skin to fully remove the tattoo. The first type of tattoo removal involves the use of lasers. Laser tattoo removal is the most popular form available today. It has been around since the 1980's, but its popularity has only grown in recent years. There are even offices that exist only to use this type of laser technology. With this type of tattoo removal, a low level laser is pointed directly at the skin. The pulsating laser then slowly sloughs off the tattoo until it disappears completely. This may take several sessions spread out over several weeks or even months. If the tattoo is larger it may take even more time for the process to work. Another type of tattoo removal is dermabraison. Many people know this procedure as a cosmetic procedure that takes away layers of dead skin to make the skin look younger and more healthy. As a form of tattoo removal, it works in much the same way. A numbing salve or cream is applied directly to the skin in the location of the tattoo. A small machine that looks similar to a small sanding belt is then rubbed against the skin. This slowly breaks up the ink of the tattoo and sands off the layers of skin where the tattoo was. In some cases the doctor may freeze the skin first before doing this tattoo removal procedure. One of the more extreme forms of tattoo removal is known as excision. With this procedure the tattoo is literally cut off the skin. The skin is then sewn back in place and allowed to heal. This only works with very small tattoos, and in people with very elastic skin. Tattoo removal can easily be found by looking in the phone book or online. The cost of such procedures depends on the colors used in the tattoo, the size of the tattoo, and sometimes the location of the tattoo. The person who handles the removal process can offer more information as well as an exact cost of the procedure.