Laser tattoo removal uses pulses of high-intensity laser to penetrate the upper layer of skin (epidermis) to break the pigment into smaller particles. Those smaller particles are then absorbed into your body and metabolized.

While mostly effective, laser tattoo removal isn’t exactly a quick fix.

It takes multiple treatments to do the trick. How many depends on the size of your tattoo and the colors (lighter colors are harder to remove than dark ones). Then there’s the healing time between treatments of 6 weeks.

Pain associated with tattoo removal depends on a few factors, such as your pain tolerance and the size and location of your tattoo. That said, it usually doesn’t hurt as much as getting a tattoo. We use topical anaesthetic to numb the area prior to treatment.

Tattoo removal pain is comparable to the pain of a bad sunburn, and the laser pulses feel like a rubber band snapping against your skin. Cringe-worthy, yes, but tolerable.