The removal of tattoos using lasers has been carried out for approx. 20 years. Because of the variety of different types of tattoos (e.g. amateur, professional, semi-permanent micropigmentation), it is important to find a practitioner experienced in treating a wide range. You must check the type of laser that a clinic is using for tattoo removal, as these should always be Q-Switched. Be very wary of any clinic offering tattoo removal using Intense Pulsed Light (IPL). Some tattoo pigments respond well to one laser but not to another; colours like green do not respond to treatment at all. Where coloured tattoos are involved, it is a good idea to use a clinic that has more than one Q-switched laser. Repeat treatments will be required; 1 – 10 treatments for an amateur tattoo to 5 – 20 for a professional one; sessions will usually be 4 – 6 weeks apart. Prices start from £50 - £300 per session, with total cost from a few £100s for very small, blue/black tattoos, to many £1000s for large multi-coloured tattoos.

We would like to thank Paul Stapleton, Mapperley Park Clinic for his expert help.