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Laser Tattoo Removal | My Beauty Protocol

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Laser Tattoo Removal

Laser-Assisted Tattoo Removal

Also known asPicosecond Lasers (PicoSure, PicoWay)Q-Switched Nd:YAG LasersPicoSure

Educational info only, not medical advice. Ask a qualified provider. Disclaimer · Terms

Focused laser energy shatters tattoo pigments into microscopic particles.

Downtime: 2 weeks
Sessions: 6–12+
Pain: Medium to high
Cost per visit: Price level 3 of 5
Full course: 6–12 sessionsAsk the total price for all of them.
Results start: In 6–8 weeks
Results last: Permanent.

Laser pulses break up tattoo ink over many sessions.

Check first: Active skin infection in the treatment area.

Will it work for me?

Skin tone

Often used on tones I–VI, with the right settings.

IVery Light

IILight

IIIMedium

IVTan

VBrown

VIDeep

Often usedAsk first

Skin tone ranges differ by device. Ask which device they will use for your skin.

General info, not a check of your own skin.

What people use it for

Tap one to see how it helps.

Skin types to ask about first

Breakout-proneAsk first

Active breakouts in the area may need to calm down first. Ask your provider.

Usually not ideal for

Sensitive or Redness-proneAsk first

Usually not ideal unless a qualified clinician specifically clears it.

How do the devices differ?

In no special order. Ask which one they use, and why.

7 devices

Ask your provider

Which device and settings will you use for my skin, and why?
Can we do a test spot first?
What result is realistic for me, and after how many sessions?

Before and after your visit

Plan it around your lifeMakeup, sun, workouts — see what fits around your treatment.

The visit

Duration: 5–30 minutes
Total course: 9 months
Session interval: 6–8 weeks

What to expect, and what to avoid

Recovery

Heals in 1–2 weeks per session

Avoid sun

2 weeks

No makeup

3 days

No sweat or heat

24-48 hours

Other aftercare

No swimming or baths until healed
Wear loose clothes

Your provider may give you different timing.

Day by day

Before your visit: ask when to start
- Come with clean skin: no makeup or lotion
- Shave the area
- Drink plenty of water before your visit
2–4 weeks before
No tanning or strong sun for 2–4 weeks before
A few days before
Stop aspirin, ibuprofen, fish oil and vitamin E for a few days before, if your doctor agrees
Right after your visit
- Keep the area clean and dry for 24 hours
- No hard exercise or heavy lifting for 24–48 hours
After your visit
- Put on the ointment your provider gives you
- Keep the area covered with a clean bandage for a few days
- No direct sun during the whole treatment course
- Wear sunscreen every day (once healed)
- You can shower the next day; pat dry, don't scrub
- No aspirin, ibuprofen, fish oil or vitamin E for a few days, if your doctor agrees
- Don't pick, peel or scratch
- Use a cold pack for swelling
- Expect immediate frosting, followed by redness, swelling, and mild tenderness for a few days. Blisters or scabs may form; avoid picking to support proper healing. The area typically heals within 1-2 weeks, with gradual fading over 6-8 weeks as ink clears. Results start to show in 6–8 weeks.

Side effects, and who should wait

Who may want to think twice

Active skin infection in the treatment area
History of keloid scarring
Pregnancy or breastfeeding
Use of photosensitizing medications (e.g., Accutane/isotretinoin in the last 6-12 months)
Compromised immune system
Unrealistic expectations

Possible side effects

Common

Redness
Swelling
Tenderness
Blistering
Scabbing or crusting
Itching
Temporary whitening or "frosting" of the skin immediately after treatment

Less common

Scarring
Hyperpigmentation (darkening of the skin)
Hypopigmentation (lightening of the skin)
Infection
Skin textural changes
Paradoxical darkening of cosmetic tattoos (especially with iron oxide-based inks)

Your own risks may differ. Ask a qualified provider.

How it works, and common myths

Laser energy targets and fragments tattoo ink, enabling the body's immune system to naturally metabolize and eliminate the microscopic particles.

A little more technical

High-intensity light pulses are absorbed by the tattoo pigment, shattering the ink particles into microscopic fragments that the body's immune system can then clear away.

The laser emits high-energy pulses in nanosecond or picosecond durations. These pulses are selectively absorbed by the exogenous tattoo pigments, creating a photoacoustic effect that fragments the large ink particles into smaller ones. These fragmented particles are then engulfed by macrophages and cleared from the dermis via the lymphatic system.

Common device / product names: Picosecond Lasers (PicoSure, PicoWay) · Q-Switched Nd:YAG Lasers · PicoSure · PicoWay · Q-Switched Nd:YAG Laser · RevLite SI
Clinical descriptor: Laser-Assisted Tattoo Removal

Common myths

Your next step

Take it to your consult

Your questions, cost and timing on one page.

Open Consult Kit

Compare with similar treatments

Side by side. The choice is yours.

Often explored alongside this treatment

Faster Results

FUE Hair Transplant

A hair transplant that moves single follicle groups from a donor area to thin spots

Downtime: 10 days
Pain: Medium
Cost: Price level 5 of 5

Chemical Tattoo Removal

Caustic chemicals worked into the skin to push tattoo ink out through scabs

Downtime: weeks to months
Pain: Medium
Cost: Price level 3 of 5

Laser Pigment Correction

Lasers that target sun spots and age spots

Downtime: 10 days
Pain: Medium to high
Cost: Price level 3 of 5

Pico Laser: PicoSure & PicoWay

Very short laser pulses that break up tattoo ink and dark spots

Downtime: 3 days
Pain: Low
Cost: Price level 3 of 5

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A listing is not an endorsement. Check any provider yourself.

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