Laser Tattoo Removal

How it works

A Q-switched or picosecond laser breaks tattoo ink into particles small enough for the body to clear. Black ink is usually easiest. Colors such as green, blue, yellow and red often need particular wavelengths and may take longer, and some inks may not clear fully. Sessions are spaced about six to eight weeks apart so that the skin can heal. Cost is shaped by the size, the pigment, the device and the number of visits. Results vary by person.

Who it may suit

• Fading or removing unwanted tattoos before a cover-up
• Small to medium dark-ink tattoos
• Eyebrow or lip tattoo correction when the doctor judges it suitable
• People who can commit to many months of treatment

The treatment day

1. Assessment. The doctor evaluates ink color, depth, size and skin type and gives a likely range of sessions.
2. Numbing and cooling. Numbing cream is applied and the area is cooled.
3. Laser pulses. Pulses are delivered over the whole tattoo, which can feel like hot snaps.
4. Dressing. An ointment and a dressing are applied and instructions given.

Aftercare

• Keep the area clean and covered as directed
• Do not pick at crusts or blisters
• Apply the ointment the doctor recommends
• Avoid sun, swimming and saunas until healed
• Report signs of infection such as spreading redness or pus

Things to know first

• Blistering, crusting, temporary or lasting pigment change and scarring can occur
• Some colors and old, heavy ink may not clear completely
• Darker skin has a higher risk of pigment change
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding are usual reasons to wait
• Results and the number of sessions vary by person

What the price of tattoo removal depends on

Size usually sets the unit, often through size bands such as the area of a palm or a card. Ask which band your tattoo falls in and whether the price is per session within that band. Size changes mid-course are possible if the tattoo is layered.

Color and density affect how many sessions you need. A simple black outline might need fewer visits than a dense multi-color design. Because no one can predict exactly, ask whether a package covers a fixed number of sessions and what happens if more are needed.

Devices and wavelengths also affect cost. Some colors require a different laser, and the clinic may bill for each. Ask about numbing cream, ointments and dressings, and whether tax is included. The honest figure is a range for the full course, not a single session.