Laser tattoo removal: how it works, sessions, side effects and who should do it

Laser tattoo removal uses laser light to shatter tattoo ink into tiny particles, and your body, not the laser, clears them away. It takes more than one visit.¹

Here is what a course involves, what can go wrong, and who the American Academy of Dermatology says should do it. Whether to have a tattoo removed, and how, is a question for you and a clinician.

How it works

A tattoo artist layers ink in the skin. A laser can't safely break down every layer in one session, which is why you need several.¹

When the laser's light hits the ink, it shatters it into tiny particles. Your body then has to flush those particles out, and that takes time between visits. It is also why the skin needs a gap to heal.¹

A single laser can't remove every ink color, so ink can remain if one laser is all a provider has.¹

How many visits

Expect more than one. Neither the AAD nor the FDA gives a number, because it depends on the tattoo.¹² The FDA calls removal "a painstaking process, usually involving several treatments and considerable expense," and says complete removal without scarring may be impossible.²

At the consultation your provider looks at how long you've had the tattoo, how deep the ink goes, its colors, where it is on your body, your health, your medicines, and whether you have ever had a raised scar.¹ Those are the things that decide the plan, so ask what yours is based on.

The AAD also says people too often stop early, and that each treatment removes more ink.¹

A visit and the weeks after

Laser tattoo removal can feel uncomfortable or painful. A dermatologist can give a numbing cream or shot first.¹

Afterward, expect redness, swelling and sometimes a little blistering. Your tattoo should lighten after each treatment.¹

Follow your dermatologist's instructions for at-home care. You may need to wash the area and apply an antibiotic ointment for a few days, then moisturize and cover it until the skin heals. Protect the skin from the sun for 3 months, using clothing that blocks light completely: the AAD notes that a white or yellow shirt lets light through.¹

Risks

Some people develop light or dark spots on the skin. These tend to disappear within 6 to 12 months.¹ Other side effects are rare when a dermatologist uses the laser.¹

The AAD says scarring, changes in skin texture, and burns and other wounds are more common when someone lacks medical training.¹ The FDA adds that people prone to keloids, scars that grow beyond their normal boundaries, are at risk of them after skin injury, and says keloids have been reported to occur more often after tattoo removal.²

Most people can safely have laser tattoo removal. The AAD names exceptions: you need a healthy immune system for it to work, and women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not be treated.¹ Tell your provider about your health and your medicines.

Creams, kits and salt

Don't try removal at home. The FDA warns against tattoo removal creams, ointments and do-it-yourself kits. The AAD reports the FDA's view that there is no evidence any of them removes a tattoo, and that they often contain strong acids that can cause a rash, a burn or a permanent scar.¹

Who does it

The AAD says results depend almost entirely on the person doing the removal, and recommends you consult a board-certified dermatologist.¹ That is a society of dermatologists recommending its own members, so weigh it accordingly. Its reasoning is that medical training is what lets someone judge your health and skin, and it says side effects are more common when a tattoo artist or aesthetician lacks that training.¹

Medical lasers are also covered by the federal medical device regulations.³ Who may operate one depends on your state. Our guide to who may inject shows how to check.

Cost

Prices clinics post, from their own websites:

Common questions