Surgical Management of Tattoos

Objective: To study patients coming for surgical removal of their tattoos with regard to treatment outcome. Methodology: It is a descriptive and observational study, conducted at Plastic, Reconstructive & Micro-Surgery Department of Dow Medical College & Civil Hospital, Karachi over a period of one year. Twenty four patient, 18 males and 6 females, who came for tattoo removal and were found to be psychologically fit, were included in the study. After explaining the treatment consequences they were subjected to either simple excision, serial excision, Dermabrasion or excision and skin grafting. Results: Fourteen cases underwent serial excision, four had simple excisions and closure, three had dermabrasion and three cases excision and over grafting. Infection occurred in one case, dehiscence in one case and incomplete removal of tattoo by dermabrasion in one case. The long term follow up, of up to six months was available only in eight out of twenty four patients. Out of these eight, five developed hypertrophic scars. Conclusion: Though tattoo removal is a simple procedure in the hands of experienced plastic surgeon, it is not free form complications. Though scar is inevitable, patient’s satisfaction was quite high as they got rid of stigmas, which was haunting them.