Can you have partial laser tattoo removal on a tattoo and still have the rest not affected? (photos)

Question

I have a wonderful tattoo artist and I love his work, including the tattoo that I’m talking about in this post. I have a sleeve, and on a part of it he added some designs that weren’t a part of the original tattoo, and just don’t fit the vibe. They’re on the outside of the tattoo and it is all black, can I cleanly have these design features removed without the good parts of the tattoo being faded or damaged? I’ll post some Photos to show you what I’m talking about. The red circle is what I want removed.

Harold J. Kaplan, MD · Answer

Hi Sarah.  The answer is yes and no.  Yes, the areas can be removed, but with their proximity to other areas, you will have some patching or fixing required at the end of the day.  The cleanup should not be extensive, but because laser tattoo removal is not exact, you will need to be prepared for small fixes once complete.

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

It would be difficult to remove part of the tattoo, but tattoos should be removed with q switched or pico lasers. It will take a series of treatments. I recommend getting a formal evaluation with a laser tattoo removal expert to discuss your desired results. Best, Dr. Emer

Kory Kitagawa, MD · Answer

Removing a tattoo with the PicoWay laser allows your dermatologist great precision in removing just parts of your tattoo. The rest of your tattoo and your skin will not be affected. Be sure to find  board-certified dermatologist who is an expert at removing tattoos with the PicoWay laser.

Mark A. Blair, MD · Answer

Hello, thank you for your question and for including photos.  Here is the challenge, the laser spot size is round, it can range from 2mm to 10mm in size.  Because the spot is round, it is impossible to create an exact straight line of energy.  The smaller the spot size, to closer it will be able to get to the surrounding ink without effecting the remainder of the design. You can easily remove the areas that you have indicated, but it may be necessary to have your tattoo artist perfect the surrounding images.Good Luck!

Jean M. Casello, MD · Answer

It is very difficult to remove part of a tattoo especially if if it a small area that is being treated. The surrounding ink may be removed as well.  You may be able to have some of the tattoo removed and than re ink  any parts that you did not want to have treated.

Can you have partial laser tattoo removal on a tattoo and still have the rest not affected? (photos)

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Answer: Can a tattoo be partially removed by laser?

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Can you have partial laser tattoo removal on a tattoo and still have the rest not affected? (photos)

Answers (6)

Answer: Can a tattoo be partially removed by laser?

Answer: Can a tattoo be partially removed by laser?

Answer: Partial removal of tattoo

Answer: Partial removal of tattoo

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Tattoo Removal

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.