Tattoo Removal

I was in the process of having two tattos removed and it turned out to be my worst nightmare. They end up getting infected really bad and I had to have surgery just to get the infection out and some of the ink is still visible not to say how I have a very ugly scar from it. The scar is black and purple it look worst than the tattoos. What can I do to do away with the scars and what is the safest way to get the rest of the ink out my skin.

[Howard Rosenberg, MD]

You did not indicate what technique was used for your initial tattoo removal.  Use of a laser is the most popular method.  It require multiple sessions and may not completely eradicate the pigment.  Surgical resection is another method.  This will completely remove pigment that is excised, but will leave some type of scar.  Since you already have a scar from your infection, consult with a plastic surgeon to determine if additional scar revision would be appropriate to both imporve the scar and eliminate the remaining pigment