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Pete Davidson has made huge strides in his tattoo removal process, stepping out for the first time on October 23 with mostly bare arms — a stark contrast to his previous ink-covered look. The Saturday Night Live alum, 30, first revealed in 2020 that he was embarking on a long-term journey to remove his tattoos in order to pursue more acting jobs. At the time, he shared that “burning off” his tattoos was a worse process than getting them done.
Davidson isn’t the first celebrity who’s spoken about getting their tattoos removed. Other stars include Eva Longoria, Mark Wahlberg, Tallulah Willis, Sarah Hyland, Khloé Kardashian and more.
A Pew Research study found that 24% of Americans regret getting one or more of their tattoos.
While the process is known to be extremely painful and can also come with a number of risks, here’s everything to know about the tattoo removals.
Tattoos are removed through licensed dermatologists or surgeons that specialize in tattoo removals. Experts can help determine which method is best to pursue.
Laser tattoo removal is the most common method. The laser breaks down the permanent ink into smaller particles that the immune system can clear over time. The process requires multiple sessions with about six weeks in between visits, giving the skin enough time to heal and absorb as much ink as possible.
The number of total sessions depends on the size and color of the tattoo. It can take up to 10 visits — sometimes more — before results are seen, per the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
According to the FDA, colors like green, red, and yellow are the hardest to remove and dark blue and black are the easiest. Additionally, flesh-colored tattoos can be difficult to remove because the pigment in these colors can oxidize and turn black when treated by laser. The agency warns that oxidized pigment is no longer treatable by laser.
Less common methods of tattoo removal are surgical excisions and dermabrasion.
Surgical excision is a procedure that involves cutting out the area of skin that contains that tattoo and stitching the remaining skin together. This is only an option for smaller tattoos and typically leaves a scar.
Dermabrasion is another surgical method that involves using a high-speed rotary device that “sands down” the outer layers of skin that contain the tattoo, allowing the ink to leach out of the skin. The process leaves an open wound that will heal over time. Recovery takes about two weeks and like laser tattoo removal, multiple sessions are needed.
Tattoos are permanent and it can be difficult to achieve a complete tattoo removal. There is typically scarring and/or skin discoloration after removal. The process and results will also vary from person to person.
Some patients will get tattoos removed in order to get another tattoo as a coverup to the original. There is a level of discomfort during the tattoo removal process, which varies depending on each individual’s pain tolerance. Oftentimes, experts will use skin numbing or other anesthesia to make the pain more tolerable.
