ABC 7 Medical: Tattoo Removal|ABC 7 News

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ABC 7 Medical: Tattoo Removal

posted 5:40 pm Tue August 28, 2007 -

tags: tattoo • medical • folwer

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SO YOU'VE OUTGROWN THAT ONCE -TRENDY TATTOO - AND YOU WANT IT REMOVED??? WELL, IT'S NOT SO EASY!

BUT HERE'S SOME ENCOURAGING NEWS. SCIENTISTS FROM TWO MAJOR MEDICAL SCHOOLS ARE WORKING ON AN EASIER METHOD TO REMOVE TATTOOS.

MEDICAL REPORTER KATHY FOWLER JOINS US WITH THE STORY.

Kathy on Set:

LASERS ARE USED TO REMOVE TATTOOS BUT IT TAKES 8 - 10 SESSIONS AND STILL THE TATTOO DOESN'T GO AWAY COMPLETELY.

BUT NOW SCIENTISTS AT HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL AND DUKE UNIVERSITY ARE STUDYING A NEW TYPE OF INK THAT'S BOTH A SAFER DYE AND ONE THAT CAN BE REMOVED USUALLY WITH ONE TREATMENT.

Story:

Anne Miller: "I probably have like 15."

WITH 15 TATTOOS , ANNE MILLER IS NO STRANGER TO THE NEEDLE.

Anne Miller: "It commemorates who I am and who other people have been to me."

"So here we go."

BUT TODAY SHE'S HERE FOR HER SIXTH TREATMENT TO GET PART OF THIS TATTOO REMOVED - RIGHT ABOVE THE WOMAN'S HAIR. IT'S A TEDIOUS AND PAINFUL PROCESS WITH A LASER.... AND WITH IT STILL SHOWING - IT SIGNIFIES JUST HOW PERMANENT TATTOOS REALLY ARE.

Dr. Sandy Tsao, Harvard Medical School: "Patients are really very surprised when they find out how difficult it is to get a tattoo removed, because it only takes between an hour to an hour and a half to get a tattoo placed depending on the size of that tattoo."

NOW SCIENTISTS FROM HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL AND DUKE UNIVERSITY HAVE TEAMED UP TO CREATE A NEW KIND OF INK. IT'S BIODEGRADABLE - AND CONTAINED IN TINY PLASTIC POLYMER CAPSULES. DURING LASER REMOVAL, THE CAPSULE BURSTS OPEN AND THE BIODEGRADABLE DYE IS ABSORBED BY THE BODY.

Dr. Sandy Tsao, Harvard Medical School: "Initial studies definitely show a much easier and more effective removal of that ink."

HERE'S A PICTURE BEFORE - AND HERE'S A PICTURE AFTER JUST ONE TREATMENT.

EVEN THOUGH ANNE LIKES THE PERMANENCY OF HER TATTOOS.

Anne Miller: "It's something that I want to last."

SHE'D WELCOME AN EASIER OPTION IF SHE EVER WANTS SOMETHING REMOVED AGAIN.

Kathy on Set:

THE FDA ESTIMATES AS MANY AS 45 MILLION AMERICANS HAVE A TATTOO. AND ACCORDING TO A RECENT POLL 17 PERCENT OF AMERICANS REGRET GETTING ONE.

THIS NEW INK SHOULD BE ON THE MARKET BY THE END OF THIS YEAR.

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