Getting rid of a tattoo is often associated with being a painful process. Newer technologies offer various methods of removing an unwanted tattoo including several options also used to remove unwanted hair.

Two tattoo removal options that are now being used to help people rid themselves of unwanted ink are:

1. Laser technology

2. Light-based technology

Both of these options are technologies that are commonly used to get rid of unwanted hair.

With both technologies, light energy is used to destroy the tattoo ink. The ink absorbs the light energy, the ink breaks up as a result of being hit by the ink, and the ink ends up exiting your body through filtering.

Similar to its use a hair removal option, a practitioner who provides the service holds a wand up against the area of skin to be treated and pulses of light are aimed at the tattoo to be treated.

Typically the feeling that you will experience is often describe as being similar to flicking an elastic band against your skin. Certainly, some people might experience more discomfort of pain as it could depend on how big the tattoo is and where the tattoo is located on your body.

I have experienced laser and light-based treatment for hair removal purposes and mostly the snapping elastic band analogy held true but in some cases - especially when the treatment was near my bones or on an area of my skin with more hair - the feeling was more intense.

With laser and light-based treatment, the practitioner providing the treatment might first apply a cooling gel to the area being treated to help conduct the light energy and cool the skin.

These are but two options to consider for tattoo removal.