Tattoos are designed to be permanent, so removing one is a process rather than an appointment. What follows is what actually happens, what affects how long it takes, and what nobody tells you until you're sat in the chair.
How laser tattoo removal works
Tattoo ink sits in the dermis, the layer of skin below the surface, in particles too large for your body to carry away. A laser fires very short pulses of light that the ink absorbs and the surrounding skin largely doesn't. That energy shatters the ink into fragments small enough for your immune system to gradually clear.
The laser doesn't remove the tattoo. Your body does. The laser just breaks the ink into pieces small enough for that to become possible, which is why the work happens in the weeks between appointments rather than during them.
Why colour matters
Different pigments absorb different wavelengths of light, so they don't all respond the same way.
- Black and dark blue absorb across the broadest range and usually respond best.
- Greens and bright blues are more stubborn and often need more sessions.
- Reds, oranges and yellows vary enormously depending on the pigment used.
- White, pastels and skin-tone cover-ups are the most unpredictable. Some contain titanium dioxide, which can darken on contact with laser light rather than fade.
That last point is one of the reasons a patch test isn't optional. It's far better to find out how a pigment behaves on a small test area than across an entire piece.
What affects how many sessions you need
Anyone who quotes you a number before seeing your tattoo is guessing. The honest answer is that it depends on a list of things, most of which have nothing to do with the laser:
- Professional or amateur. Amateur and stick-and-poke tattoos often sit shallower and less densely, and can clear faster.
- Age of the tattoo. Older ink has usually faded a little already.
- Ink density and layering. Heavy black work and previous cover-ups mean more pigment to break down.
- Where it is on your body. Areas with strong circulation, like the chest and upper back, tend to clear faster than the hands, feet and lower legs.
- Your own health. Clearance depends on your immune and lymphatic system. Hydration, sleep, general health and whether you smoke all make a measurable difference.
- Your skin tone. Settings are adjusted for skin type to treat safely, which can affect pacing.
Fading for a cover-up is a different job to full removal, and usually a shorter one. You only need to lift enough ink for your artist to work over it, which is why it helps that the artists at Degenerate Art Studios are in the same building. The fade can be worked to what your artist actually needs rather than to an arbitrary end point.
Why sessions are spaced out
Your body needs time to clear the shattered pigment, and your skin needs time to recover fully before it's treated again. Rushing that doesn't speed up removal, it just raises the risk of a poor result or a mark that stays.
Spacing is set at consultation and reviewed as you go, because the right gap depends on how your skin responds rather than on a calendar.
What it feels like
Most people describe it as a hot elastic band snapping against the skin, with a heat that lingers for a few minutes afterwards. It's brief. A small tattoo can be over in a couple of minutes.
It is uncomfortable. Anyone who tells you otherwise is selling something. It's also short, and most people find it more manageable than getting the tattoo in the first place.
Afterwards
Expect redness, some swelling and a white frosting on the skin that settles within the hour. Blistering and scabbing are normal parts of the process for some people and not a sign anything has gone wrong.
- Keep the area clean, covered and dry for the first few days.
- Don't pick, scratch or burst anything. This is the single biggest cause of scarring.
- No swimming pools, saunas, sunbeds or heavy sweating while it heals.
- Keep it out of the sun and use a high SPF on the area once it's healed, for the whole course and beyond.
You'll be shown all of this in person rather than handed a leaflet, and you'll have a number to ring if anything worries you between appointments.
Who it isn't suitable for
Laser isn't right for everyone, and there are times when it needs to wait. Tell us at consultation if any of these apply to you:
- You're pregnant or breastfeeding.
- You're taking medication that makes your skin sensitive to light, including some antibiotics and acne treatments.
- You've taken oral isotretinoin, often known by the brand name Roaccutane, in the last six months.
- You have a history of keloid scarring.
- You have an active skin condition, infection or sunburn in the area.
- You've had a recent tan, whether from the sun, a bed or a bottle.
This page is general information, not medical advice. What your skin and your tattoo will realistically do can only be assessed in person. If you have a health condition or take regular medication, speak to your GP before booking.