Home tattoo removal or do-it-yourself tattoo removal has become a viable option for everyone who wants their tattoo removed. In fact, it has become an industry on its own. If you are thinking about getting rid of a tattoo, make sure that you consider some of the at home, do it yourself options that can be quite effective.

When you are considering getting rid of ink that you have come regret, you will find that there are a few things that you should keep in mind. The first thing is that you should figure out what factors are involved that might affect the success of your tattoo removal. In the first place, think about the size of the tattoo and the vibrancy that it retains. Remember that an older tattoo that is already looking fairly faded will be much more difficult to remove than one that is still fresh and bright. Similarly, keep in mind that some colors are significantly easier to remove at home than others.

Seriously assess your tattoo and think about what you are going to be willing to invest in making it disappear. Most home tattoo removal methods will take time and a fair amount of commitment to being able to repeat them, while others are going to be more painful while also needing to be done over and over again. Are you interested in a solution that will be less painful, but might take longer and have lesser results, or are you more than willing to take on a little more pain in order to get that tattoo gone?

Another thing that you should keep in mind before you start exploring do-it-yourself tattoo removal methods is that you need to consider is your own health. How healthy are you, and how prone are you to skin infections and allergic reactions? When you are considering any of these methods of tattoo removal, keep in mind that you will be applying foreign chemicals to your skin. If you are someone who breaks out at the site of wool, you will want to make sure that you research the ingredients list very, very thoroughly.

Glycolic Acid Peel Tattoo Removal

With this method, you are basically going to be irritating the skin so that it will start to reject any foreign matter that is in it, including ink. This is a method that is gaining more popularity, howevr, inappropriate usage of this method can lead to pain and scarring. In this method, a type of acid is used to induce you to shed the skin that is affected by the tattoo; it can take a few sessions, but over time, it will fade inks on your body. When considering this method, think about how you react to strong chemicals and whether you are willing to deal with the consequences and side effects.

Tattoo Creams

If you are don’t want to risk using strong acids, you may find that you are more interested in looking into tattoo removal creams. There are several different creams that will make your tattoo design seem less vivid, or even make it completely invisible. If you are thinking about trying a tattoo removal cream, there are a few things to keep in mind. First remember that black and red inks will be significantly easier to remove than blues or green. The biggest advantage that tattoo creams have over other methods is that it is painless and does not risk scarring as you can simply apply directly over the tattoo. Do keep in mind that many tattoo creams will contain Hydroquinone which is used to bleach the skin and has been suspect of causing various skin problems, even cancer, and therefore it has been banned in several countries.

Trichloroacetic Acid (TCA)

When you are looking for something that is somewhere between a cream and the use of glycolic acid, you may wish to turn your attention to TCA. TCA was originally used as essentially an intense method of exfoliation; this is a substance that is occasionally used to remove fine wrinkles and lines on the face. As such, it is quite simple to apply and relatively safe. Essentially, the application of TCA will cause the skin to become inflamed and for the ink to move to the top layer of skin, which will then be shed. This is a treatment that will invariably take several repetitions before any progress can be seen, but it is effective. This process is recommended, at a lesser concentrations, for blacks, Asians, Hispanics or of Middle Eastern descent, due to the fact that it can cause complications regarding pigmentation.

Take some time to really consider your options when it comes to making sure that that tattoo that is giving you so much grief gets taken care of. There are plenty of options open to you when it comes to this regard, so make sure that you consider which one is going to be best for you!
 
Learn more about tattoo removal on Tattoo Removal Blog. Read my posts about laser tattoo removal, and tattoo removal dermabrasion and other tattoo removal options.

Tattoos have experienced a great increase in popularity in many parts of the world. For many people their tattoo can be beautiful and inspiring work of art, often a reminder of something or someone special. People choose to be tattooed for cosmetic, sentimental, memorial, and religious reasons, and to symbolize their belonging to or identification with particular groups, such as ethnic groups or gangs. It is estimated that close to 10% of the U.S. population has some sort of tattoo. Eventually, as many as 50% of them say they’ve considered having their tattoo removed.

People may regret getting tattoos for all kinds of reasons, the most common being: “I was too young when I got the tattoo,” “it’s permanent”, “I’m inked for life,” and ” I never really liked it”, or I “don’t like it anymore.” Many people get their tattoos in their late teens or early twenties. They may had been drunk or under peer pressure when getting their tattoo. Some people make the decision about getting a tattoo on the spur of the moment, without thinking about consequences of such action. Later, when their life changes, they often decide they don’t like that star on their ankle or dragon on their bicep any more. They often feel embarrassment – for example, on a new job, during significant life event (wedding, divorce, baby), or in other social situations.

While tattoos are meant to be permanent, it is possible to remove them with treatments, fully or partially. The expense and pain of removing unwanted tattoos, however, will typically be greater than the expense and pain of applying them.

So, how to remove a tattoo and what are the available tattoo removal options?

If you want to have your tattoo completely or partially removed you have several options.

• Laser Tattoo Removal
• Removal with Light Therapy through Intense Pulses (IPL)
• Chemical Peels
• Tattoo Removal Creams
• Dermabrasion (Sanding the Skin)
• Salabrasion (scrubbing the skin with salt)
• Surgical Removal (Excision, removal by cutting)

Laser Tattoo Removal

Today tattoo removal is most commonly performed using laser tattoo removal procedure. Laser surgery is the most effective tattoo removal options and has least damage to the skin. The laser beam can be selectively set up to remove tattoo pigmentation without harming the surrounding skin. The healing duration is much shorter with laser surgery except the treatment cost is very high.

Lasers react with the ink in the tattoo, and break it down. The broken-down ink is then absorbed by the body, much like the natural fading process that time or sun exposure would create. All tattoo inks have specific light absorption spectra. A tattoo laser must be capable of emitting adequate energy within the given absorption spectrum of the pigment in order to provide an effective treatment. Certain tattoo inks colors, such as yellows, greens and fluorescent pigments are more difficult to remove than the darker blacks and blues. This is because their absorption spectra fall outside or on the edge of the emission spectra available in the respective tattoo removal laser. Black is the easiest color to remove.

Laser tattoo removal requires several repeated sessions to remove even a small tattoo, and may result in permanent scarring. Areas with thin skin will be more likely to scar than thicker-skinned areas. A new brand of ink, called InfinitInk, has been created that possible to remove a tattoo just one laser treatment session. The newer Q-switched lasers are effective at removing different ranges of the color spectrum. They can effectively remove black, dark blue, purple and red tattoo ink. Other new lasers – RevLite and MedLite – have an ability to remove even broader range of tattoo pigments so – in addition to black, dark blue, purple, and red – they can treat sky blue and green pigment, which are typically the hardest colors to get rid of.

The healing process is much shorter with laser treatment than with other methods, however the cost is very high. Depending on the area of the body treated and skin color, up to 8-12 may be necessary to remove the tattoo. At $200-$500 per session, this makes the laser treatment very expensive. The procedure is not covered by insurance, so a tattoo that may have only cost a couple hundred dollars to get, may cost a fortune to remove.

Laser Tattoo Removal Before and After Photos

Tattoo Removal Using Dermabrasion and Salabrasion

Dermabrasion (or microdermabrasion) is a mechanical procedure in which a hand-held machine with a rotating metal wheel, diamond fraise or a wire brush is used to remove the layers of the skin that hold the tattoo pigments. The body will replace the injured skin surface with new and healthy cells. Some dermabrasion instruments are in the form of polishing wheels to “sand off” the tattoo skin layers. The pain during this procedure is within bearable limits, but it can be performed using a general or local anesthetic, depending on area.

Similar to dermabrasion, is salabrasion. This is the oldest method of tattoo removal. The tattoo is removed by scraping the tattooed area vigorously with salt water and a sanding device. The treated area is numbed with ice or a local anesthetic and it usually requires multiple sessions. This method is painful and often leaves a scar.

Tattoo Removal Using Chemical Peels

In this procedure, a chemical solution and sometimes acid is used to scrape away the outer skin layers until the dermal layer with tattoo pigmentation is reached.

Tattoo Removal Creams

There are also tattoo removing creams on the market which are not proven to work. If you want a painless removal, you can give it a try. However, keep in mind that they are not as effective as other procedures. At best, tattoo removal cream may fade or lighten tattoo. The cream causes the pigment to gradually break down over time and the tattoo fades away. There is no guarantee that the tattoo will completely disappear, after all, tattoos are meant to be permanent. One of the up side of using tattoo removal cream is that it makes the tattoo removal process painless, and there will be no scarring. It takes several months for the tattoo to disappear.

They are thought to assist with sloughing off skin cells and thus the tattoo layer by layer, which usually takes a long time and still may not reach the depths of the tattoo ink.

Tattoo Removal using Freezing (Cryosurgery) Method

Removing a tattoo with cryosurgery involves application of extreme cold to tattooed area of the skin. A localized frostbite is created at tattoo areas with liquid nitrogen spray. The frostbite with tattoo pigmentation will peel off in the next 3 to 4 weeks after the treatment. Scars may develop with this method.

Surgical Tattoo Removal (Excision Surgery)

Surgical tattoo (excision surgery) removal may be a suitable option, but only if your tattoo is small. For large tattoos, several treatments are usually required together with a skin graft to cover up the skin. Excision involves a local anesthetic to numb the tattoo areas, and skin layers with tattoo pigments are cut out of the skin. This method leaves a scar behind.

Tattoo Cover Up

After looking at all of the options, some people decide to keep the tattoo, or even add to it, in order to change whatever they didn’t like about it in the first place. Covering an unwanted tattoo with a new tattoo is commonly known as a cover-up. Whether your tattoo cover up is a success or not, depends highly on your tattoo artist and the tattoo itself. A skillfully done cover-up may render the old tattoo completely invisible, although this will depend on the size, style, ink colors and techniques used on the old tattoo. Some shops and artists use laser removal machines to break down and lighten undesired tattoos to make coverage with a new tattoo easier. Since tattoo ink is translucent, covering up a previous tattoo necessitates darker tones in the new tattoo to effectively hide the older, unwanted piece.

Tattoo Removal Cost

The costs of tattoo removal depends mainly upon the type of procedure. Unfortunately, in any case, the price of having a tattoo removed is a lot more than the price of getting the tattoo. Prices can vary depending upon the size of the tattoo and its colors. For laser removal, according to the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, treatment varies from $100 for a small, single-color tattoo with removal in one to two sessions to $500 per treatment to remove larger, multicolored body art in as many as eight visits. Costs also vary depending on whether anesthesia is used or not, the geographic location of the procedure, and other associated costs.

Questions You Should Ask Your Surgeon About Tattoo Removal

To gain a more thorough understanding about tattoo removal, and help form realistic expectations, it is recommended that the patient view before and after photographs of the surgeon’s previous patients and speak with them. It is also important for patients to ask questions about anything they do not understand about the procedure. Here are some recommended questions:

1. Are my expectations for tattoo removal realistic?
2. What technique is most appropriate in my situation to achieve the expected results?
3. What is the cost of tattoo removal and what elements should I factor into that cost like hospital fees, anesthesia, and so on?
4. What is the surgeon’s level of experience in performing tattoo removal procedure?
5. What kind of anesthesia will be used during the treatment?
6. What are the risks of tattoo removal procedure?
7. What percentage of patients experience complications with tattoo removal?
8. Where will the tattoo removal be performed?
9. How many sessions will be necessary and how long will each session take?
10. What is the surgeon’s policy about correcting or repeating the procedure if the first tattoo removal operation does not provide agreed upon results?
11. What should I expect, after the surgery as far as pain, soreness, scaring, etc.?
12. Have you ever had your malpractice insurance coverage denied, revoked or suspended?

In Conclusion

Today laser therapy has replaced most other treatment options and most tattoo removal specialists utilize laser technology as the sole tattoo removal treatment option. Other methods of tattoo removal are  ineffective at permanent removal and/or may result in a greater risk of scarring. These methods may result in more damage to the skin and excess scarring. These techniques are usually used when laser is not an option.

Regardless of which type of tattoo removal method you may think will work best for you, consult your doctor before making the final decision. Because each tattoo is unique, removal techniques must be tailored to suit each individual case. Ask for a free consultation and have all your questions answered. Also, the provider removing your tattoo should examine your tattoo and make sure you are a good candidate for the procedure.

Read more about various tattoo removal options on my blog.

Tattoo removal creams and balms have become a popular alternative to other tattoo removal methods. What people like about them is that they are much cheaper than, for example, laser tattoo removal, and can be done in the privacy of your own home. However, there are mixed opinions on effectiveness of tattoo removal creams. There are no good scientific or medical studies showing that they work, and I would be hesitant to use them.

I have not personally tested any of the do-it-yourself tattoo removal methods using creams and balms, but I would not expect a whole lot from them. Some people report good results with helping to fade a tattoo to the point where only the person who originally got the tattoo or gave the tattoo would know where the tattoo was located. Others say that the cream that they were using has not done a thing to fade their tattoo, or even made it look darker.

When you are considering getting rid of tattoo using creams, there are a few things that you should keep in mind. Think about factors that might affect the success of your tattoo removal. Consider the size of the tattoo and the colors. An older tattoo that is already looking fairly faded will be much easier to remove than one that is still fresh and bright. This is because the ink has already faded from exposure to the sun and as the result of the body breaking down some of the ink. Color of the ink plays a role, too. Black and red inks will be significantly easier to remove than blues or green. Also, removing a tattoo that is filled with shading will be easier than removing a tattoo that is filled in completely with think, rich ink.

Assess your tattoo objectively and think about what you are going to be willing to do in order to make it disappear. Most home tattoo removal methods take time and commitment. Some are going to be more painful than others, while also needing to be done over and over again. Are you interested in a solution that will be less painful, but might take longer and have lesser results, or are you more than willing to accept more pain to make that tattoo disappear?

Another thing that you should keep in mind before you start exploring do-it-yourself tattoo removal methods is your health. Are you generally healthy? Are you prone to skin infections? Do you have any allergies? Keep in mind that you will be applying foreign chemicals to your skin. If your skin is sensitive and breaks out easily, make sure that you research the ingredients list very thoroughly.

Tattoo Removal Creams

There are several different creams available that will promise you a much less vivid tattoo, if not one that has been erased entirely. The biggest advantage of using tattoo creams over other methods of tattoo removal is that it is painless and does not risk scarring as you can simply apply directly over the tattoo. Do keep in mind that many tattoo creams will contain Hydroquinone which is used to bleach the skin and has been accused of causing cancer and skin problems. While this ingredient is banned in several countries, there is still no conclusive proof that it causes health problems.

For example, some people claim that after using TatBGone and Tattoo-OFF they did notice significant fading of the tattoos without pain or damage to the skin. Another website, Remove that tattoo!, also claims that their tattoo removal cream is “The only proven way to remove tattoos without surgery”. You should be very skeptical of such claims, but if you really need a tattoo removed and don’t have the money for surgery, it probably wouldn’t hurt to try one or both of these products. However, if you think you’ll save money this way, think again! A two-month supply of Tat B Gone is $125, and it takes several months to get the desired results. A two-month month supply of Tattoo-OFF is $117. So, it isn’t inexpensive, but certainly more affordable than using laser treatment for tattoo removal.

Another option that many people try is Wrecking Balm. Wrecking Balm is a tattoo removal cream and tattoo fading system that claims to provide painless and fast tattoo removal. It’s supposed to be a safe and easy solution you can do at home to remove your unwanted tattoos. After visiting some different sites and forums where people have commented on and given their reviews, what I found out was this: No one claimed it totally faded their tattoo. 60% said no noticeable fading of their tattoo 20% said there was some noticeable fading. 20% said there was a lot of fading. About 35% said they were pretty happy with the amount of fading they had.

Before you purchase any of these creams, do some research and read some of the comments by people who have tried them.

Regardless of which type of tattoo removal method you may think is best for you, it’s best to consult your doctor before making a final decision.

Read more about various tattoo removal options on my blog.

Also, read my posts about various options and tattoo removal prices, laser tattoo removal, and tattoo removal dermabrasion.

Tattoo removal using dermabrasion is a cosmetic medical procedure in which the surface of the epidermis of the skin (the stratum corneum) is removed by abrasion (sanding). First the tattooed area is sprayed which causes parts of the skin with the tattoo to freeze. Then an abrasive utensil is applied to the skin. The rough nobs of the utensil sands and skins the skin by turning with hundreds of cycles. The procedure is very painful and usually requires a general anesthetic or partial anesthesia. After the treatment, the skin is very red and raw-looking, and must immediately be dressed because bleeding can occur. It takes several months for the skin to regrow and heal.

In the past, dermabrasion was done using a small, sterilized, electric sander. This method requires a lot of skill and attention because when it spins out of control, that can leave lasting scars on the skin. Sanding is applied to top layers of the skin, but that often isn’t enough to remove a tattoo completely, leaving a faded image.

In the past decade, it has become more common to use a CO2 or Erbium:YAG laser. Laser dermabrasion is much easier to control, much easier to gauge, and is practically bloodless compared to classic dermabrasion.

Read more about various tattoo removal options on my blog. Also read about Laser Tattoo Removal and Tattoo Removal Options and Costs.

After looking at all of the tattoo removal options and costs, you may decide to just cover the unwanted tattoo with a new one, in order to change whatever they didn’t like about it in the first place. If you only wish to make your tattoo invisible temporary, another option is to use some tattoo concealer to camouflage the tattoo with makeup.

Covering an unwanted tattoo with a new tattoo is commonly known as a cover-up. Reasons for cover-ups can vary. Some people want to cover up a gang design, others plan to rework on an existing tattoo to make it more aesthetically pleasing. Tattoo cover-ups are typically a little more expensive than a regular tattoo, as they are considered more complicated than having your initial tattoo done.

Whether your tattoo cover up is a success or not, depends highly on your tattoo artist and the tattoo itself. A skillfully done cover-up may render the old tattoo completely invisible, although this will depend on the size, style, ink colors and techniques used on the old tattoo. Some shops and artists use laser removal machines to break down and lighten undesired tattoos to make coverage with a new tattoo easier. Since tattoo ink is translucent, covering up a previous tattoo necessitates darker tones in the new tattoo to effectively hide the older, unwanted piece.

If you’re looking to get your tattoo covered up, look for a tattoo artist who has experience in doing them and can prove it by showing you examples of his/her work. Once a tattoo has been covered up, it’s very difficult to cover it up again if it’s not done right.

Tattoo Camouflage and Cover Up Tutorial

You can also try using makeup to cover up your tattoo, if you need it to disappear quickly, for example, for a big event, such as wedding or photo shoot session.

Learn more about tattoo removal on Tattoo Removal Options blog and read my posts about various removal options and tattoo removal costs and Laser Tattoo Removal.

Getting body art has become a commonplace in the American culture. Some people really enjoy their tattoos and want to keep them for life, whereas others might regret that they acted on impulse and didn’t think enough about it before they got one. There are many reasons why you may want to remove your tattoo.

Having body art can often become a source of frustration or embarrassment, depending on your changing life situation. Perhaps you’ve had a girlfriend’s name tattooed across your chest, only to find out that she’s cheating on you. Maybe you’ve gotten a new job that requires you to look professional and the body art that extends past your shirt sleeves may not be acceptable. Or your tattoo related to a group that you are no longer a member of. Whatever your reason, while tattoos are considered permanent, it is usually possible to remove them with various treatments, fully or partially.

While there are many tattoo removal options at various prices available today, the most common and effective procedure is using laser technology.

In general, older tattoos can be removed more quickly than new tattoos. This is because the ink has already faded from exposure to the sun and as the result of the body breaking down some of the ink. Color of the ink plays a role, too. Black tattoo pigment is the easiest to remove, as it absorbs all laser wavelengths. Other ink colors can only be treated by selected lasers depending upon the pigment color. So, removing a black tattoo is going to be easier than removing a light green or blue-green tattoo; removing red ink will be easier than orange ink. This is primarily because the wavelengths of light that are used to break up the ink in a tattoo focus in on certain colors better than others. Also, removing a tattoo that is filled with shading will be easier than removing a tattoo that is filled in completely with think, rich ink.

Even patients with previously treated tattoos may also benefit from laser therapy. Tattoos that have not been effectively removed by other methods may respond well to laser treatment provided the prior methods did not result in excessive scarring.

How Laser Tattoo Removal Works

Laser tattoo removal is a procedure that is done in an outpatient facility by a dermatologist. When a tattoo is applied, the ink is injected into the upper layers of the skin, where it bonds with the skin molecules. Laser tattoo removal involves using the laser heat to erase these molecules. The laser light works in conjunction with the heat to break down the ink in the tattoo, and incite the production of new, clear skin tissue where the tattoo once was. The broken-down ink is then absorbed by the body, mimicking the natural fading that time or sun exposure would create.

All tattoo ink pigments have specific light absorption spectra. A tattoo laser must be capable of emitting adequate energy within the given absorption spectrum of the pigment in order to provide an effective treatment. Certain tattoo pigments, such as yellows, greens and fluorescent inks are more challenging to treat than the darker blacks and blues. These pigments are more challenging to treat because they have absorption spectra that fall outside or on the edge of the emission spectra available in the respective tattoo removal laser.

Laser tattoo removal requires several repeated sessions to remove even a small tattoo, and may result in permanent scarring. Areas with thin skin will be more likely to scar than thicker-skinned areas. A new brand of ink, called InfinitInk, was developed that allows for easier tattoo removal with a single laser treatment. The newer Q-switched lasers are said by the National Institute of Health to result in scarring only rarely, and are usually used with a topical anesthetic. There are several types of Q-switched lasers, and each is effective at removing a different range of the color spectrum. They can effectively remove black, dark blue, purple and red tattoo ink. New lasers – RevLite and MedLite lasers have an enhanced ability to treat a much broader range of tattoo pigments than than standard Q-switched lasers. In addition to black, dark blue, purple, and red; they can remove sky blue and green pigment, which are typically the hardest colors to get rid of.

If treating a tattoo with multiple colors, it is important to note that there are three types of lasers used today and each laser works best on certain colors. One laser is most effective at removing red and orange colors, while another is best with green. Finding a tattoo removal clinic in your area that offers treatment with all three lasers may be the best option for you if your tattoo is very large and colorful.

Laser tattoo removal has to be done gradually, otherwise there is a significant chance that the tattooed area can become scarred. Several sessions are necessary over a period of a few weeks to a couple of months, depending on the size and coloration (darker takes longer) of the tattoo. After each removal session, the area being treated will be bandaged, and the patient will be given care instructions.

The healing process is much shorter with laser treatment than with other methods, however the cost is very high.

Complete laser tattoo removal requires as many as 8 to 12 treatments, typically spaced at least 8 weeks apart. At each session, some but not all of the tattoo pigment particles are effectively fragmented, and the body removes the smallest fragments over the course of several weeks. The result is that the tattoo is lightened. Remaining large particles of tattoo pigment are then targeted at subsequent treatment sessions, causing further lightening. The number of sessions and spacing between treatments depends on various parameters, including the area of the body treated and skin color. Forearm and ankle tattoos generally take longest.

Most patients are treated without any pain medication. However, depending on the location of the tattoo and the pain threshold for the patient, the physician may choose to use some form of anesthesia, for example, a topical anesthesia cream, or painkiller injections at the site of the procedure.

Does Laser Tattoo Removal Have any Side Effects?

Laser tattoo removal is generally accepted as a safe treatment, however, rare complications of laser tattoo removal include burning of the skin, discoloring dark skin with the laser, hypopigmentation (white spots, more common in darker skin), hyperpigmentation (dark spots), and changes in skin texture. Severe burns may sometimes result in scarring.

Some of the inks used, especially Yellow #7, are known to break down into toxic chemicals in the body when treated with light. This is especially a concern if these tattoos are exposed to UV light or laser removal; the resulting chemical products end up migrating to the kidneys and liver. Laser removal of natural tattoos (also known as traumatic tattoos, that result from injuries, especially asphalt from road injuries) may similarly be complicated depending on the substance of the pigmenting material.

A Typical Laser Tattoo Removal Session: What to expect?

In general, this is what will happen during an office visit for tattoo removal using the newer lasers:

• Protective eye shields will placed on your eyes.
• The skin’s reaction to the laser will be tested fist to determine the most effective energy for treatment.
• The treatment itself consists of placing a hand piece against the surface of the skin and activating the laser light. Each pulse feels a lot like the snapping of a rubber band against the skin.
• Smaller tattoos require fewer pulses while larger ones require more. Regardless of the size, each tattoo requires several treatments and multiple visits. After each visit, your tattoo will become progressively lighter.
• After each laser treatment, ice is immediately placed on the tattoo to minimize swelling.
• After about 30 minutes, a topical antibiotic ointment is placed on the tattoo followed by a sterile dressing. The skin site should be left dry for a few days and should be cared for like sunburned skin..
• You will be instructed to use a sun block when out in the sun.

It is important to have realistic expectations and be are aware that laser tattoo removal does not guarantee complete removal of a  tattoo.

Laser Tattoo Removal Cost

What most often influences the cost of tattoo removal is the size and complexity of the tattoo. Depending on the area of the body treated and skin color, up to 8-12 may be necessary to remove the tattoo. At $200-$500 per session, this makes the laser treatment expensive, compared to some other tattoo removal options.

The cost is generally not covered by health insurance as it is considered an elective and cosmetic procedure. It is important to consult with a laser tattoo removal specialist to get an idea of what financial commitment tattoo removal will be. Keep in mind that although the procedure may be costly, it is the most effective tattoo removal method available right now. Other methods (such as various tattoo removal creams) may be cheaper but they may not offer the desired results.

How Do I Find a Reputable Doctor to Perform Laser Tattoo Removal?

When choosing dermatologist or cosmetic surgery center make sure you find a reputable facility to ensure proper treatment and care. If possible, ask for a recommendation from your family physician for a dermatologist or skin surgery center that specializes in tattoo removal.

Laser Tattoo Removal Before and After Photos

Learn more about tattoo removal on Tattoo Removal blog and read my post about various tattoo removal options and prices.