Laser tattoo removal is definitely safe and effective on darker skin types, as long as the Q-switched Nd:YAG laser is used. The safest tattoo color to treat is black (as depicted in your photo). The Q-switched Nd:YAG laser is safe because the wavelength of this laser (1064 nanometers) is longer than that of the Q-switched Ruby (694 nm) and Alexandrite (755 nm) lasers. The longer wavelength of the Nd:YAG laser has relatively little effect on melanin pigment within the epidermis. The other two lasers are safe on lighter skin types but carry a risk of pigmentary change in darker skin.
Only Q-switched lasers can remove tattoos without causing scarring. In my book "Understanding Cosmetic Laser Surgery" (University Press of Mississippi, 2004) there is an extensive discussion of Q-switched lasers used to remove tattoos.
Tattoo removal with the Q-switched laser requires several treatments (six or more for a professional tattoo). Black color tattoos can generally be 100% removed. The fee depends largely on the size of the tattoo; for the tattoo pictured the fee would likely be $300-400 per treatment.
