TATTOO REMOVAL

Pros

• You can get rid of an embarrassing, unsightly, or conspicuous tattoo. 
• Downtime is minimal. You’ll have just some mild redness, swelling, and blistering. 
• You can have anesthesia to minimize the pain, which is similar to how it felt to get inked in the first place. 

Cons

• There’s no guarantee that your tattoo can be completely removed. In some cases, it will be lightened but not be entirely erased, and the results of your tattoo removal process are dependent on a variety of factors, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgery.
• Removing a tattoo requires multiple sessions and can take up to two years for complete elimination. 
• Laser tattoo removal is expensive—all those treatment sessions can really add up.  
• Laser removal can be risky on some skin tones. Fitzpatrick skin types IV, V, and VI are at a higher risk of burning, scarring, and hyperpigmentation than lighter skin tones, so it's especially important for patients with olive to deep skin tones to find a provider who has lots of experience with tattoo removal on their skin tone.

• Average Cost:
• $544

• Range:
• $200 - $1,750

The cost of a tattoo removal procedure depends on several factors, including the experience level of your provider, the size of your tattoo, the color of its ink, and the type of laser your provider uses. Some providers charge by the size of the tattoo, while others charge a flat fee for per treatment session.

This is an elective cosmetic treatment, so insurance won't cover it. Most providers offer financing options, and some offer seasonal discounts or special pricing for removing multiple tattoos.

See our complete guide to tattoo removal costs

The tattoo removal photos in our gallery have been shared by the provider who performed the procedure, with the patient's consent.

Some tattoos are easier to remove than others. Here’s a breakdown of things to consider before undergoing your tattoo removal process.

• Older tattoos are easier to remove since they are typically already faded. Tattoos that are less than a year old are much more challenging to eliminate.
• Size matters. As you might imagine, small tattoos are easier to remove than tattoos that are spread across a large portion of the body. The size of the tattoo may impact the number of treatments needed to eliminate it completely.
• Color makes a difference. There aren’t any lasers that can remove every tattoo color at once. Different dyes respond differently to various wavelengths. Black tattoos are the easiest to fade because the laser can target the black pigment easier than it would red or blue shades. Green ink is notoriously difficult to remove.
• Fading is generally slower for tats located further down the arm or leg (where blood supply is weaker). 
• Amateur tattoos can be much more difficult to remove than professional tattoos performed by an experienced tattoo artist.  
• Skin color is also a big factor. People with fair skin and dark tattoos tend to have an easier time fading their ink than others, since the laser can specifically target the tattoo pigment more easily.
• Layered tattoos (including cover-ups that are placed on top of an original, unwanted tattoo) and tattoos with a lot of detail are much more difficult to remove than ones with a simple design. This is because the volume of ink in the skin tends to be much higher.
• Studies show that smoking makes laser tattoo removal nearly 70% less successful, so put down the cigarette if you want to undergo successful laser tattoo removal.
• Keep your body's immune system healthy. A healthy immune system that’s working at its peak will speed up the tattoo removal process since they’ll break down the ink pigments easier than a compromised immune system.

Most tattoos can be completely removed in six to eight sessions. Once they’re removed, they’re gone. 

However, complete removal for some tattoos, such as those with purple ink, is nearly impossible to do and may take many more sessions to significantly fade. 

If you’re left with a faint, blurry image after your removal sessions, another option is to hide it with a new cover-up tattoo.

“My advice to anyone getting tattoo removal would be to have reasonable expectations going into the process and be patient. If you have unrealistic timelines, you're probably going to be unhappy with the process.”—joneill0721, RealSelf member

Your provider (ideally a board-certified dermatologist) will first clean the area and likely photograph your tattoo to document progress along the way.

They may apply topical numbing cream 30 minutes before the treatment—or, if the tattoo isn’t too large, they’ll inject lidocaine to anesthetize the area, says Dr. Amy Paul, a dermatologist in Grand Junction, Colorado. They may also use ice or a cooling machine to numb the area. 

Some providers use a Describe PFD patch, a small silicone patch that protects your skin from heat injury, making it possible to perform more passes with the laser in a single treatment session and reduce the number of office visits you’ll need. 

Whatever laser is used on the treated area, you’ll first be given a pair of protective goggles to wear during the procedure. As your doctor applies the laser light to your skin, the ink will absorb the laser energy, heating up and breaking down into small ink particles. Your body will flush out the ink particles over the next few weeks, and the tattoo will slowly begin to fade.

Providers sometimes use more than one laser, since different lasers offer unique benefits (such as removing specific ink colors) and can be more powerful in combination. For example, a study published in the Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery shows that pairing a Q-switched laser with a fractional laser may eliminate tattoos faster, in fewer sessions and with reduced side effects.

A removal session can take anywhere from a few minutes for small tattoos to more than an hour for larger, brightly colored ones.

Most dermatologists on RealSelf say that the typical course of treatment for is four to six sessions, but the number of sessions you’ll need “largely depends on the depth of the tattoo, the types and colors of ink used, the color of skin to be treated, and the types of lasers used to eradicate it,” says Dr. Russell W. H. Kridel, a Houston facial plastic surgeon. 

Removal sessions don’t typically happen back to back; you’ll have to wait eight weeks between appointments to allow proper time for the skin to heal.

“I usually make people wait eight weeks between treatments,” says Dr. Paul. “Waiting only four to six weeks between appointments raises the risk of scarring—and sometimes you’ll get a lot of fading in the last two weeks of an eight-week cycle, so fewer treatments might be needed.”

After your first laser treatment, your tattoo should appear slightly faded. More often than not, the surrounding skin will swell, itch, appear red, and possibly blister. 

“Immediately after treatment, there should be a ‘slight frosting’ on the area that is treated,” says Dr. Mark A. Blair, a Phoenix dermatologic surgeon, in a RealSelf Q&A about aftercare. “Redness and swelling at the treatment site can occur and may last up to two hours or longer. Pinpoint bleeding may also occur.” 

Small blisters in the treatment area are also not an uncommon reaction during the healing process, according to Dr. Green.

An occlusive ointment (like Aquaphor, bacitracin, or even Vaseline) will be applied to the treated area and covered with a bandage. To speed healing, the ointment should be applied a few times a day for several days. 

To reduce the chance of hyperpigmentation, avoid sun exposure (and wear a high-SPF sunscreen) while the skin heals.

The most common risks are scarring or the ink turning a different color. 

A more serious (but rare) risk is an infection, such as a staph infection. You can mitigate this risk by going to a reputable provider, like a dermatology office, where they follow strict protocols for cleanliness. 

People with olive or brown skin may find it more challenging to remove a tattoo, and they may be at a higher risk for complications like blistering, infection, and scarring. 

Lasers are attracted to dark pigment in the tattoo ink, and they can also be attracted to the pigment, or melanin, in the skin. This can cause burns, hyperpigmentation (an abundance of pigment), or hypopigmentation (a lack of pigment).

Hyperpigmentation can be treated with skin lightening creams, but to avoid triggering these side effects in the first place, most laser specialists use lower energy settings on people with brown or deep skin tones.

If you had any allergic reactions while getting your tattoo, you can also have an allergic reaction to its removal. The particles of pigment that are broken up get carried to the lymph nodes, which spread the reaction and can trigger anaphylaxis (a rapid drop in blood pressure that blocks your airways, making it difficult to breathe).

Research published in JAAD Case Reports even shows the potential for allergic reaction from tattoo removal without an allergic response to the tattoo itself, though this is very rare.

There are a few alternatives, such as dermabrasion, excision, cryosurgery—a form of dermatologic surgery to freeze away the unwanted tissue—chemical peels, and tattoo creams. None of these options are as safe or as reliable as laser tattoo removal, according to the Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery. 

Noninvasive methods include covering an old tattoo with a new tattoo, or concealer specifically formulated as tattoo cover-up, such as the Dermablend Tattoo Coverage Set.

Whatever option you’re considering, it’s smart to check with your doctor before you do it and find a reputable provider, rather than just going with the one offering the best deal.

Getting a tattoo removed via laser does have some level of pain, but it’s not usually excruciating. Most people say it feels very much like the pain of the initial tattooing process.

Your provider can offer you a topical anesthetic, like numbing cream, to help improve your comfort during the procedure.

Ho, Stephanie Gy, and Chee Leok Goh. “Laser Tattoo Removal: a Clinical Update.” Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery, Medknow Publications & Media Pvt Ltd, 2015.

Khunger, Niti, et al. “Complications of Tattoos and Tattoo Removal: Stop and Think Before You Ink.” Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery, Medknow Publications & Media Pvt Ltd, 2015.

Reiter, Ofer, et al. “Download Citation Share Request Full-Text Picosecond Lasers for Tattoo Removal: a Systematic Review.” ResearchGate, June 2016.

Shah, Swapnil D, and Sanjeev J Aurangabadkar. “Newer Trends in Laser Tattoo Removal.” Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery, Medknow Publications & Media Pvt Ltd, 2015.

Shannon-Missal, Larry. “Tattoo Takeover: Three in Ten Americans Have Tattoos, and Most Don't Stop at Just One.” The Harris Poll, 21 Apr. 2018.