Laser Tattoo Removal Cost & Procedure Information

How much does tattoo removal cost? Generally the cost may range from $100 to $20,000. According to the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the tattoo removal cost varies from $100 per visit for a single-colored, small tattoo to $500 per visit for a larger, multicolored tattoo. If you have one tattoo of about 6 inches both in length and width, it costs $600.00 per visit due to the larger size. However, a small tattoo may cost around $125.00 – $250.00 per session.

Your Tattoo Removal Cost Depends On Several Factors:

    Size of tattoo
    Choice of treatment
    Number of sessions one may need
    Pigment colors used
    Use of anesthesia
    Location of tattoo on body
    Patient’s health state
    Allergies which you may have
    Choice of surgeon

General Information

It has been estimated that over 10% of our population has at least one tattoo or another. In the last decade the tattoo industry has increased at a dramatic rate. With celebrities and musicians covered in these body art displays, there has been a demand among the population.  One of the biggest drawbacks to getting a tattoo is that it is a permanent fixture on your body.

There are a growing number of people who regret getting their tattoo, or where it was placed. Up until recently there was not a good procedure to help people remove their tattoos. The old methods caused large scars which at times were more unsightly than the tattoo itself. With advances in modern medicine and the introduction of lasers there is an easier way.

We are going to cover the process known as laser tattoo removal, and give you all the general information that you need to make an informed decision if this procedure is right for you.  Most of your questions from safety to cost will be answered as well as how to choose a doctor that will be right for you.
Are you a Candidate?

First it is important to note that determining whether this procedure will work well for you will depend on you and your removal specialist.
Generally the best candidates for laser tattoo removal are:

• Tattoos on fair skin
• Tattoos on areas with body fat like the chest, arms, buttocks or legs
  

There are obviously cases where this procedure will be either impossible or the results are varied. These situations are:

• Tattoos on dark skin
• Tattoos on areas which are low in body fat like fingers and ankles
  

With this being said it is important to note that each and every tattoo is different. This is why a consultation with a removal specialist is incredibly important. They will look at your specific tattoos and give you the realistic vision of what your results are going to be.

We always recommend meeting with a few different specialists to ensure they all give the same prognosis. If you are receiving very different results expectations it is time to visit a few more to ensure you are getting the best information.

Safety: Should I worry?

Compared to the other forms of elective surgery, laser tattoo removal is one of the safest. As technology advances and lasers get better, the results keep improving. Also the chances of permanent scarring are decreasing as a result of these technological advances. 

Before lasers there were a few other techniques that had worse results and a greater chance of scarring. First there was an actual incision in the skin which was to try to cut the tattoo out. You can only imagine the horror stories that have come from this method. Second there were things like dermabrasion or salabrasion. This included moist gauze pads soaked in a salt solution where you tried to rub out the tattoo. This obviously lead to scarring on the skin because of the trauma that was required to rid the skin of the ink.

The lasers of today are more effective because they can actually target the pigment in the tattoo. Not all colors respond the same to laser tattoo removal. The two colors that have the best results are blue or black tattoos. Generally the more colorful the tattoo, the harder it is to remove. This does not mean that they cannot remove it. This just means that it is much harder than a more traditional black tattoo.

How does Laser tattoo Removal work?

Many people wonder how exactly the lasers can remove the tattoo from the skin. We are going to explain a very low level overview of the process. The laser is made up of highly concentrated color light beams. These beams are designed to target specific pigments in the tattoo. The lasers break up the particles of ink and they are left in the body.

We all have scavenger cells in our body which get rid of waste and other byproducts. These cells pick up the ink particles and remove them from the body. This process does not happen over one session, but rather over numerous sessions. The number of sessions depends upon the tattoo as well as the laser equipment that is used for your procedure.

What can I expect?

Like previously stated, the number of sessions is dependent upon the size and color of your particular tattoo. Other variables can affect the amount of sessions needed. They include:

• Age of tattoo- newer tattoos are harder to remove
• Skin color- lighter skin tones have better success
• Type of tattoo- amateur or professional
• Depth of tattoo -how far into the skin the pigment extends

The process will be different for each office, but we are going to cover the generalities of the procedure. So when you are getting your procedure done here is the process:

• You will have protective goggles or eye shield to wear. This protects your eyes from the power of the laser.
• Your specialist will test your skins reaction to the laser. This is done to find the most effective concentration or energy of the laser.
• You may be advised to take a Tylenol a few hours before the procedure so you do not have much pain. At time a topical anesthetic will be applied before the lasers. Every once in a while the specialist will inject a local anesthetic to numb the entire area.
• A hand piece is placed upon the skin which activates the laser light. Rapid pulses go across the skin and generally between 10 to 30 happen per session

Number Of Laser Tattoo Removal Sessions Required:

The number of sessions depends upon the age of the tattoo as well as its complexity. Most simple tattoos can be removed with 2 to 4 independent sessions. Generally these sessions are spaced apart approximately 4 to 8 weeks.  The more complex tattoos have a solid 8 weeks in between them. Professional tattoos usually take at least 6 to 10 treatments for them to be gone. If the equipment the specialist is using is outdated, then the number of sessions will increase. We recommend visiting a few different ones to find a consistent answer on how long your specific tattoo will take.

What happens after each session?

Right after your session you will have to ice the area that was treated.  An ice pack is generally provided to soothe or cool down the affected area. The specialist will have you put on a topical antibiotic to prevent any infection that could happen. You should also wear a bandage when going out in the sun for a week or two after the procedure.  You can generally go back to daily activities right after the procedure. Most doctors recommend staying away from extreme physical activities that involve the treated area for a few days.

Laser Tattoo Removal Risks and Side Effects:

One of the best things about this procedure versus other elective surgery is the much smaller amount of risk or side effects. With this procedure the side effects include:

• Infection and Scarring- As with any procedure there is a risk for infection. The topical antibiotic should take care of that for you. Scarring is one of those things that you cannot avoid. Tattoos run deep into the skin so removing them can cause scarring. Luckily the newest lasers have dramatically reduced the level or risk of scrarring among patients.
• Hypopigmentation-This is a situation where the treated area has a lighter skin pigment than the surrounding area.  This give the impression that something was there even though there is no image to see.

Tattoo Removal Cream:

There are a lot of tattoo removal creams on the market which claim to remove your tattoo completely. You can purchase them pretty easily over the internet, but there is not much proof that they remove the tattoo. We have seen that these creams can be used as a precursor to getting laser tattoo removal. So you would use the cream for a period of time before actually having your laser procedure done. This will work best for people who need to save money up to have the laser treatment. There are signs that these creams lighten up the tattoo which will make it easier once you go to have the real procedure done.

Success Rate:

Luckily for the millions of tattooed folks in the world, the success rate of this procedure is quite high. It definitely depends upon things like skin tone, size, placement, and complexity of the tattoo. Each person is different so no clinic would be able to give a 100% guarantee that they can remove each and every tattoo. That is why you must set up a consultation with a specialist to see what the results can be with your specific situation. As mentioned before you should speak with a few different ones so you can ensure that they are all giving you accurate information. If most clinics say you need 8 to 10 sessions and one is claiming 4 sessions you should be very weary of the odd ball clinic.

Cost and Payment Methods:

Unfortunately this procedure is considered elective so it is not covered under medical insurances. So this is something that you will have to come out of pocket for. That is something to take into consideration when making a decision to have this done. The procedure can range from several hundred dollars to several thousand depending upon the size and complexity of the tattoo. You will need to speak with a specialist to see the exact cost. Meet with multiple specialists because in certain areas you can get ripped off by companies that are charging astronomical rates. If you have a few estimates that are around the same price then you will have a good idea as to how much this will cost you.

Conclusion:

For one reason or another you are unhappy with your tattoo. Whether it was an ex lovers name, a drunken mistake or just plain unsightly does not matter. Hopefully this information has helped you to make the best decision possible when it comes to having your tattoo removed. Laser tattoo removal is becoming one of the fastest growing segments in the cosmetic surgery world. The techniques keep improving and with those come better results. We are hoping you find the results that you are looking for.