Decorative and traumatic tattoo biophysics and removal.

Decorative and traumatic tattoos represent foreign-body implantation into various depths of the dermis. Many methods of removal have been attempted with varying rates of success. Surgical excision with primary closure or grafts or flaps may be successful. Mechanical or chemical removal is useful as well. Thermic treatment including use of the argon and carbon dioxide lasers can remove tattoo pigment satisfactorily.