Is it easier to remove a new or older tattoo?

we do a lot of laser tattoo removal in our office. We have not been able to make a blanket statement as to which is easier to remove. There are so many factors other than "age" of the piece that come into play. The skin type, the age of the piece, the the colors, the ink type, the artist, the depth of the ink etc. all these affect how the removal will work. Some of the newer ink may be more laser friendly while some older pieces may have faded already. in general if there are two similar pieces with no other variable the older pieces seem easier to remove 

There are many factors that effect how readily and completely a Tattoo can be removed in any individual.  These include type of ink, depth of ink placement in the skin, location of the Tattoo, color of the ink to mention a few.  Newer Tattoos are not necessarily easier or more difficult to remove.

Removing a tattoo has alot to deal with the amount of ink that was placed, how deep the ink was placed, the color of the tattoo, and how dark the tattoo is. All of these variable tend to alter the time frame it takes for a tattoo to be removed. I would speak with your doctor and have he or she look at it to get a good idea as to how easy it would be to remove and if they feel it is easier to wait a bit before removing it. 

It is much easier to remove an older tattoo. 
If the tattoo is less than one year old, I think it does take time and the tattoos over 3 years go a little faster. 
Colours make a difference but I am finding that the newer picosecond lasers we are getting better results. 
Best Wishes with your tattoo removal 

The truth is it depends on many factors. Type and color of ink, amount of ink, depth of the ink, etc. For older tattoos, the biggest factor I deal with is the ink depth. Some old military tattoos and gang tattoos were placed with very deep ink which is hard to remove. I also deal with people who have had quickly applied discount tattoos, or promotional tattoos. Despite being new, they are easy to remove because there is very little ink. So. . .it depends. Best of luck.

I cannot settle any disagreement between doctors’ opinions, but I can approach this question from an evidence standpoint.
First, I have observed (anecdotally, I know) that older tattoos can be removed more quickly and exhibit some subtle behaviors not seen in newer tattoos. There’s no evidence that ink “settles into deeper layers of skin” over time, probably because there are no deeper layers of skin, per se. The next anatomical layer is subcutaneous fat, and migration there doesn’t happen except in the case of blowout. Different issue.
When a tattoo is newly implanted, there is a gradient of ink density, with the densest nearer to the skin surface, fading away to nothing has you get deeper. (Think of the ink getting “wiped off” of the needle as it penetrates.) This gradient probably lessens, becomes more consistent, over time. When a tattoo is new, the dense end of the gradient is harder to get through in laser removal.
I draw the age line at somewhere around 10 to 15 years, but it ultimately comes down to the tattoo itself: The fineness and consistency of the pigment particles during the ink’s manufacture, variations in skin location and complexion, extent of scarring if present, and probably a host of smaller factors relating to individual skin traits.
When all is said and done, natural fading over time probably accounts for the difference.