Angelina Jolie erased her tattoo on Brad Pitt: these are the risks for the skin

The Rome premiere of Eternals, the new Marvel movie, was full of glamour. The red carpet was led (how could it be otherwise) by Angelina Jolie, the protagonist in the film. The American actress attended the premiere along with five of her six children, all belonging to the marriage that the Californian had with Brad Pitt. Jolie filed for divorce from the fellow actor in 2016, and has been stuck ever since, but what has become clear in Rome is that the 46-year-old actress wants to completely forget about her marital past. And it is that the cameras captured how Jolie erased from her arm the tattoo that she wore and referred to her ex-partner. It is a joint tattoo that includes the coordinates of the birthplace of the most important people in her life, namely her children and the actor, but he is no longer present. Of course, the tattoo ink was not 100% erased, which highlights the arduous process of removing a tattoo and the possible risks that it can involve.

Tattoo removal techniques are diverse: electrocoagulation, cryosurgery, saline abrasion, excision and laser. However, the most widely used today is laser removal, since it is the most effective, the one that produces the least pain, and the one that should not leave a scar if done correctly.

The technology used in this laser procedure is the same as for laser hair removal, but with different parameters. Through it, the skin cells absorb the laser energy, giving rise to a thermal reaction that, together with the action of the laser waves, allows the pigments to come out of the cells. This is how a tattoo like Angelina Jolie's is removed... although it takes time.

For the treatment to be effective, it is necessary to undergo between six and ten sessions, depending on the extension of the tattoo, the type of ink, the quality and the technique of the tattooist. Likewise, it is necessary to wait a time of up to three months between each session, in order to correctly eliminate the exploded ink. It should also be noted that green and blue tattoos are more complicated to remove than black ones.

Given the slight ink mark still present on Angelina Jolie's skin, it is likely that she still has several sessions to go before the tattoo completely disappears.

The risks of removing a tattoo

The patient undergoing tattoo removal undergoes topical anesthesia and the use of antibiotic occlusive cream. The cream is used the same day of the session and the next day, and also after the session the tattoo is covered with a removable dressing only two or three days later.

To ensure that the process is carried out properly, it is essential to ensure that the tattoo artist has the appropriate instruments and technology, or opt for an aesthetic clinic that specializes in this field. Whatever the choice, there are risks associated with this technique.

As pointed out by the Aliaga dermatological clinic, after each laser session, the treated area can become inflamed "significantly". Therefore, in order to avoid greater evils, these tips should be followed:

How much does it cost to remove a tattoo?

In addition to being a slow and painful process, it is also expensive. The size of the drawing decisively influences this aspect. If it is small and is removed in a single session, the price may be less than 50 euros. However, the figure can be around 400 euros (or more) for a treatment that involves between six and eight sessions.