The amount of scarring depends on the laser

The proper tatoo laser can often remove the tattoo with very little scarring.  We use the Spectra pulsed dye Yag laser from Lutronic.  Unfortunately, this laser is more expensive than some other lasers that are in use and some unscrupulous providers use these lasers or even use modalities such as dermabrasion which will definitely leave a scar.  As a pateint you need to do your homework, look at before and after pictures and don't choose only based on price - you might be sorry if you are left with a scar worse than the tatoo!  P.S.  It can take several treatments, we tell patients that with our laser, they should expect 50% improvement in the tatoo with each treatment.