The science

How Laser Tattoo Removal Works

Don’t worry -- we’re not going to go all Albert Einstein on you. The video below explains it all in simple English. Would a toddler understand it? No, but we’re hoping there aren’t many toddlers with tattoos. We’re hoping.

The Science Behind Laser Tattoo Removal

How does it really work? The science of tattoo removal has improved so much over the last 18 months. For those of you who’ve been wanting to get rid of an unwanted tattoo for a while and waiting for the right moment. That moment is now.

Our laser technology is like going from a stone age wheel to the Jetsons.

It means most tattoos can now be completely removed with your skin looking just like your skin looked before. (We can’t promise it’s going to look 20 years younger, you’ll probably need a different kind of laser for that.)

But the key thing is that it works. And it works really well. So let’s take you through how.

Understanding Tattoo Removal Means Understanding Tattoos

To understand how tattoo removal works, it’s helpful to understand the process of getting a tattoo in the first place.

A tattoo artist pushes ink under your skin with lots of tiny needles. This ink lodges itself into your middle layer of skin (your dermis). These particles of ink are mainly too large to be taken away naturally by your body.

However, we know tattoos fade over time; that’s your body flushing away the smaller particles of ink. It’s the larger particles that need the help of the laser. Once they’re small enough, your body will do the rest.

01
Tattoo artists push the ink into the middle layer of your skin
how tattoos work step 1
02
Your immune system naturally tries to remove the ink, taking away the smaller particles. This is how tattoos fade over time.
how tattoos work step 2
03
It’s the larger particles that remain as they’re too big to be carried away. It’s these that we need to break into smaller particles with our laser.
how tattoos work step 3

How does tattoo removal work?

Tattoos are no longer permanent, all thanks to the power of lasers.

Lasers now work at a frequency that can avoid your top layer of skin and hit these large particles of ink directly. When it hits them, it breaks them into smaller pieces.

When you’ve broken them into small enough pieces, your body can flush them away naturally and the tattoo is gone.

That’s why it can take a few sessions, we say anywhere between 8 and 12, to remove a tattoo completely. It’s your body working in tandem with the laser to get rid of the ink.

Each time a layer of ink is removed, the tattoo gets lighter. This process does not destroy any of the normal surrounding skin tissue. Your tattoo is harmlessly dissolved over time. The following process outlines how laser tattoo removal works.

01
Lasers shoot high-intensity light through your top layer of skin, directly hitting the larger pigments of tattoo ink.
laser tattoo removal step 1
02
The tattoo ink absorbs this energy, shattering it into smaller pieces.
laser tattoo removal step 2
03
These smaller pieces are taken away by your immune system over time.
laser tattoo removal step 3

All your questions answered

We advise all of our clients to read up and research as much as possible. The more you know about laser tattoo removal, the more comfortable you’ll be with the whole experience.

Tattoo Education

It’s all about wavelengths of the laser. Certain wavelengths target certain colored ink. These wavelengths are not focused on the pigmentation of your skin so they avoid it completely. Smart eh and completely safe.

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In our hands with our experience it is 100% safe. We have performed over 1.3 million successful treatments, but there’s a reason Bond villains always have a laser, in the wrong hands they can be very dangerous.

Read More

How old it is. How big it is. How colorful it is. There are a number of different factors that affect how long it takes to completely remove or fade a tattoo for a cover up. Each tattoo is unique.

Read More

Find your nearest Removery

With over 150 studios you’re sure to find one near you. We look forward to seeing you!

We know how it works, let us help remove your tattoo

Every tattoo is different, from the size and age to the inks and colors used. All of this affects how long full tattoo removal will take, or if it’s possible at all.
We can easily quote you the cost of your tattoo removal at a complimentary consultation.Please fill in this form and we’ll call you to set up your appointment.

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