We use state-of-the-art LASER systems like the Picosure, Lutronic Spectra, and Rohrer Picolaze.  These lasers are highly effective at removing a wide range of colored ink with only minimal side effects. Our lasers are FDA approved for the removal of dermal pigmentation (i.e. tattoo ink) and are the latest in a string of medical lasers designed to remove unwanted tattoos.

Two key processes break up the ink – the pigment in your tattoo will absorb the energy from the laser and shatter apart; also, the incredibly fast pulse (6 trillionths of a second!) of energy from the laser has a shockwave-like effect that assists ink shattering. As a result, the ink acts like a sugar cube breaking apart into small granules.

Once the ink is broken down by the tattoo removal laser, the body will respond by moving fluid to the area to help flush away the ink. This immune response will be obvious to the patient in the form of swelling and redness in the area. Over the next days, weeks, and months the small, shattered ink particles are flushed away naturally. The tattoo removal effects aren’t seen overnight and 99% of tattoos require multiple treatments.

All tattoos have layers of ink, stacked on top of each other within the skin. The thick concentration of pigment particles cannot be completely broken down in one session. We go over your entire tattoo with the laser, breaking up as much ink as possible in every session. Each session will produce some level of fading, although for very new tattoos the fading may not be as visible because the ink is still thick and dense.

If your tattoo has shading, the shaded areas will vanish in fewer treatments because shaded tattoos have a lower ink density. Visit our Before & After Gallery to get an idea of the results to expect.

We’ve seen little to no evidence that “magic creams” help fade tattoos. At best, they may act like mild skin bleach to lighten the surrounding skin. Looking at the ingredients and components of such products makes one wonder how they would purportedly remove tattoo ink. The medical community agrees with us – these creams are a gimmick and a waste of time and money.

Injection methods of tattoo removal are even worse because they inject highly-damaging acid into the skin. We have seen many people with severe scarring and chemical burns from injection methods.

The number of sessions needed to remove a tattoo depends on three factors: the age of the tattoo, the color of the ink, and the density of the ink.

• • Age Older tattoos can be removed with fewer treatments than newer tattoos. A black ink tattoo that is 10 years old may take one or two treatments less than a 1-year-old black tattoo. A 20-year-old tattoo may take two to three treatments less than a 1-year-old tattoo.
  • Color Certain colors are harder to remove than others. Black and red tattoos are the easiest to remove. Orange, yellow, pink, purple, brown, and other shades are slightly more difficult to remove. The most difficult colors to remove are light green, light blue, and teal/turquoise. During the free consultation we’ll discuss the number of treatments you’ll need to remove certain colors, but expect that you’ll need a few more if you have a difficult color.
  • Location Because tattoo removal depends on the body to flush away the shattered ink particles, areas of the body with less circulation often take more time to show results. The toes, fingers, ears, and nose are areas that may show slower results.
  • Ink Density Shading in a tattoo is easily removed. Some tattoos with letters use shading to fill in the outlines of the letters. Some tattoos with certain designs use shading for clouds or other visual effect. Shading will be removed in only a few sessions in most cases. [/spoiler]

This is a question that many new patients ask, and we understand their concerns. Modern tattoo removal lasers such as the PicoSure used at our clinic lessens the chances of scarring for two reasons.

First, the laser doesn’t go deep enough into the skin to cause a scarring response.  Second, the pulse from the laser is so fast that only the tattoo pigmentation is affected, and surrounding cells and tissue are left undamaged.

Scarring was an issue 10 or 15 years ago when the equipment used for tattoo removal was rather primitive. However, if blisters do develop during a session, it’s imperative to follow the necessary aftercare instructions to help reduce the risk of developing a healing complication.

There is no need to be concerned about scarring unless you have a history of keloid scarring, which our provider will discuss with you.

The cost of each session depends on the size of the tattoo or tattoos being removed, with prices as low as $125 per session. We’ll price each session during the free consultation but can give an estimate over the phone. We categorize your tattoo into “small”, “medium” or “large” for the purpose of pricing, and give discounts for multiple tattoos removed at the same time.

A large tattoo is normally given a custom price per session, and we are competitive in our pricing and superior in our service.

Almost every patient we treat compares the pain from the procedure with that of getting the tattoo applied. A key difference is that laser is much quicker – most treatments take between 30 seconds and 10 minutes to complete. Patients compare the discomfort with that of a rubber band snapping against their skin.

Black ink tattoos are slightly less uncomfortable to remove than colored tattoos due to the wavelength of light we use to break up the ink.

Most patients experience some redness, swelling, and blistering of the skin after a laser treatment. These side effects are temporary and your skin will heal back completely. We provide our patients with detailed aftercare instructions to help them manage their skin after the treatment.

Yes!  Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding shouldn’t undergo tattoo removal.  Some ink may contain trace amounts of material that may be harmful to a fetus or developing child.

People who have an auto-immune disease like HIV or epilepsy should not pursue laser tattoo removal.  As always, please consult your physician before undergoing any laser-related procedure.