Home > Skin care services > Tattoo removal

A 2003 Harris poll estimated that 16% of the U.S. population has at least one tattoo. But it's also been estimated that up to 50% of men and women with tattoos live to regret them.

In the past, tattoo removal required painful surgery. But with modern lasers, tattoo removal has become a simple, non-invasive office procedure.

How can tattoos be removed?

“We use targeted lasers to fade or eliminate tattoos. Laser light pulses pass safely through the top skin layers and are absorbed by the tattoo pigment below. The pigment is then broken into smaller pieces and removed by the body's immune system.”

Does tattoo removal work better on some patients than on others?

“A lot depends on the color of the tattoo. We may need to use several different lasers and can take a lot of treatments. But we have pretty good luck getting rid of tattoos. Some colors are more difficult to remove than others. Yellow and green are the toughest colors to remove; blue and black are the easiest.”

How many tattoo removal treatments are needed to see results?

“Depending on the size and color of the tattoo, it may take anywhere from six to 10 treatments.”

Does tattoo removal hurt?

“Yes, there can be some discomfort. With most tattoos, you're talking about a small area of skin, so I give patients a topical anesthetic cream and they have an easier time with it. It's not much different than the pain involved in getting the tattoo in the first place.”

What can you expect after a tattoo removal treatment?

“At first, the color may be more intense or darker, but over the next 10 days to two weeks, tattoos tend to fade very nicely. Remember, this may not be a one shot deal—several treatments are usually required.”

What results can you expect from tattoo removal?

“Sometimes we can completely eliminate the pigment. Other times, we can at least make the color fade nicely so it looks like something else, or so it can be tattooed over again as something else.”