Laser Tattoo Removal

Whether you have 1 or 100 tattoos, sometimes you fall out of love with them or wish you could amend a poorly-done tattoo. If you fancy creating space to fix or repair an existing tattoo or want it removed altogether, laser tattoo removal might be the answer.

Why is a tattoo so difficult to remove?

The tattoo pigment injected into the lower layers of skin (the dermis) becomes sealed away by a tough network of collagen fibres. It is very difficult to remove the tattoo pigment without affecting the surrounding tissue. The alternatives to laser treatment are, either to physically remove the pigment with the surrounding skin by surgical excision and skin grafting, or chemically destroy the pigment using concentrated salts or acid. Not only do these techniques cause considerable discomfort, they usually require a lengthy period of after-care and will typically replace the original tattoo with a scar.

How many treatments will be required?

Due to the very many variations in size, colour and type, there is no such thing as an average tattoo; every tattoo is different and every individual responds differently. As a guide, amateur tattoos can take anywhere from 1-10 treatments; professional tattoos from 8 – 15, although they may take more than this. Without seeing the tattoo it is impossible to be more accurate and even then, we will only be able to give an estimate.

What are the costs likely to be?

The actual cost of a single treatment will depend on several factors such as the size of the tattoo and the number of pulses required to treat it. The bigger the area, the more time it will take to treat and the higher the charge. Until we can see the tattoo, we cannot measure the area or price the treatment.

Do all tattoos respond to treatment?

Yes in the majority of the cases, although it is impossible to give an absolute guarantee as some pigments can resist treatment. Dark blues and blacks are generally the first to respond and usually all the pigment is removed. Bright colours especially greens are less predictable, they make take longer to fade and in some cases may not go entirely. The Nd:Yag laser is used to treat bright red and yellows tattoos in conjunction with the ruby laser. People who have experienced any allergic reaction to their tattoo(s) in the past should inform the doctor as this may be relevant to their laser treatment.

How long does the treatment take?

This depends on the size of the tattoo; a small tattoo might take 5 minutes, where a large, or multiple tattoos could take an hour or more of treatment. Again, the consultation will provide this information.

Does it hurt?

Yes, but the amount of pain felt will depend on the type of tattoo, the amount of treatment required and your own pain threshold. Some clients would describe it as no more than uncomfortable, where others would describe it as painful. Clients’ descriptions range from an elastic band flicked against the skin to splashes of chip fat: the truth is that you won’t know how painful you find it until you try it! Advice on pain relief will be given during your consultation.