Does tattoo removal actually work?

[TheGrumpySquirrel]

Anyone have experience, photos?

Yep it works - I had two sessions and it's barely visible. Couldn't continue as now pregnant, but I reckon another two sessions once I've given birth and it'll be gone for good :)

My brother has had many sessions and although it's worked on some of it, some pigments haven't reacted as well. Now it just looks patchy and more of an eyesore than before really.

Amazing thanks! how much does it cost and does it hurt?

@OwlBeBack what colours are in his tattoos?

It works best on black and isn't great on colours like red I believe. Takes a few sessions and hurts a bit but worth doing.

Get a consultation and they can tell you how well it will work. I've seen it work really well but sometimes the tattoo ends up more of an eyesore than before they started. Is it particularly dark, or has colours in?

I have had tattoo removal on a black and orange tattoo. The black has faded well but the orange is more persistent. I had about 5 sessions and I reckon it would take another couple to totally shift it.
As for pain, it does hurt, maybe 4 times as painful as having the bloody thing put on, sorry.

I have one on my back that is a black rose, very dark and blobby. Needs to go

On my shoulder I have blue green and black flowers (but might keep that if it wouldn't disappear completely)

White and orange have been the worst apparently.

Yes. I had a laser removal done about 15 years ago and my tattoo is not visible now. It was all black, no colour (I was told some colours are harder to break down than others) It took 9 sessions, 6 weeks between each session and cost £50 per session. And the laser sessions really hurt but were over quite quickly.

It is harder on old tattoos or coloured tattoos.

Mine is/was small, black and about 25 years old when I had it removed. It took over 10 sessions. £50 a pop, would be more for a larger area, my tattoo was only the size of a 50p coin, £50 every 6-8 weeks. Over £500. Every flash feels like being flicked with hot elastic bands. It isn't comfortable. I imagine it would be much worse on a bony area like ankles.

Much more expensive and painful than the original tattoo. I'm glad it's done but it isn't to be taken lightly.

Yes mine is black too so maybe that's why it's been so effective! It costs me £40 per session and hurt way less the second time compared to the first. He also said that the ink breaks down on some people better due to their immune system (but don't know true this is) so if you're fit and well it should work.
Also - it fades over time, don't expect to see a difference the next day (i didn't realise this), and it continues to break down even after the 6 week break in between sessions. Because I'm pregnant and haven't been now for about 10-12 months it's gotten even lighter and lighter than it had after just 6 weeks IYKWIM

Small black tattoo. 2 sessions. Stopped as pregnant but have never thought to go back. Left with a scar but hey ho...

It also depends on your skin tone. The 'best' combination is alabaster pale skin and a black tattoo.

The laser energy needs to be absorbed by the dark ink, so needs to be able to differentiate between your skintone and the tattoo. Therefore, the bigger the contrast between your skin and the tattoo ink, the better. It's the same principle as IPL hair lasers not working on fair hair or dark skin/dark hair. The pigment in the tattoo needs to be the thing that absorbs the energy from the laser, rather than the surrounding skin. This is why white and orange inks don't respond as well.

For this reason you are advised not not to tan the skin whilst undergoing laser treatment (as well as laser making your skin more vulnerable to sun damage, it also darkens the surrounding skin, reducing the contrast).

Thank you, I will go in winter then when my back is pale! Hoping to be pregnant soon so after that obviously 🤞🏼

Good luck OP :)

Wow Groovester that's a massive difference! Do you mind me asking where you go?

I've been going for 2 years, had roughly 14 sessions of laser removal and my tattoo is still completely visible, faded, but visible. The tattoo is black, about 3 inches square and I'm whiter than a ghost so I should be a good candidate. Maybe my lasering place is crap?!

I had mine removed overseas, and can't remember how much it was. I had a small black tattoo on my shoulder.
I think it took 5 sessions (about 4 seconds a session ) and it hurt a lot. Way worse than giving birth, 🤐 but it was worth it.

I had a black tattoo for about 20 years. Had approx 7-8 sessions to remove it about 6 years ago and it's pretty much completely gone. I'm very quite pale and occasionally I catch a sight of a pale scar but if you didn't know it was there you'd be non the wiser. My sessions were £90 each so the whole thing cost significantly more than the £20 I paid for the original tattoo...

Good luck!

Thebus a local beauty salon. IPL laser. Got a deal that was 3 for 2 sessions. Never did go for my 3rd one.