Tattoo Removal

Tattooing is an ancient art, while removing tattoos is a recently improved science. Past alternatives for removal included sanding off with salt or an electric sander or surgery. After that came laser removal with a CO2 laser. While all these methods still exist as options, they all leave significant scarring afterwards.

Since the early 90's lasers have been developed that can selectively treat tattoo pigment, often without leaving any scar in its place. This is because they do not actually burn the ink out; rather it is fractured into tiny pieces that are then removed from the skin by your immune system.

The advantage of the new technology is that there is less chance of scarring. The disadvantage is that it takes multiple treatments, which can get expensive if the ink is resistant to being filtered out by your immune system. Another disadvantage is that no single laser can remove all colors of ink completely. Most offices that use lasers have just one tattoo laser, but in our office we deal with this problem by using two lasers, the Ruby and the YAG to give the greatest chance for ink removal.

How many treatments will it take to remove my tattoo?
On average, professional tattoos require 5-6 treatments, while amateur tattoos may require 3-4 treatments, spaced approximately 6-8 weeks apart. The number of treatments depends on the amount and type of ink used and the depth of the ink in the skin. We occasionally have needed to treat a tattoo 10-20 times.

What is the cost for the procedure?
The fee depends on the size of each tattoo, and how many treatments it takes to lighten or remove it to your satisfaction. Each tattoo treatment costs $150 for the 1st square inch and $30 for each additional inch. We can measure your tattoo to give you an exact quote of the "per treatment" fee. If more than one tattoo is being treated at the same time, your provider may offer pricing alternatives. A consultation fee of $75 will be assessed for this quote. If you choose to have your tattoo treated that same day the consultation fee will be waived

What will the treatment be like?
It is more painful to have a tattoo removed than getting it put on, but the procedure is much faster than placing a tattoo. We offer numbing cream to be applied an hour or two before the procedure as well as our cooling spray, the Zimmer, to minimize your discomfort. After the procedure the treated area may blister, swell, crust, scab, or bleed slightly. You will need to care for the area daily in order to prevent infection and get the best possible healing results. Your tattoo will then gradually fade for 6-8 weeks when we can again treat the area with our lasers. You may see additional fading for as long as several months so you can space the treatments farther apart but not closer than 6 weeks.

You may like to visit the Tattoo Removal website for more information.