Laser Energy
A wavelength is selected according to the visible pigment and the client’s skin response.
Pulsar Laser Studio · Patient guide
Complete Laser Tattoo Removal Guide
A clear, honest guide to how laser tattoo removal works, how many sessions may be needed, which colours can respond, treatment risks, aftercare and what realistic progress looks like.
Essential guide
Approx. 12-minute read
Updated for active nanosecond treatment
Jump to a section
What This Guide Covers
The basics
How Laser Tattoo Removal Works
Tattoo ink is placed within the deeper layers of the skin. Because the pigment particles are too large for the body to clear easily, the tattoo remains visible.
During laser tattoo removal, a suitable wavelength of light is delivered in very short pulses. The tattoo pigment absorbs this energy and larger pigment particles are fragmented into smaller pieces. The body then gradually processes and clears part of that fragmented pigment over the weeks following treatment.
The laser does not simply “erase” the tattoo during the appointment. The visible fading happens gradually, which is why treatment requires time, healing and repeated sessions.
Pigment Fragmentation
Suitable tattoo pigment absorbs the pulse and breaks into smaller fragments.
Gradual Clearance
The body processes part of the fragmented pigment over time, allowing progressive fading.
Before treatment begins
Why Consultation and Patch Testing Matter
A tattoo may look simple from the outside, but treatment planning depends on more than its size. The consultation helps identify factors that may affect suitability, risk, likely response and treatment intervals.
What We Assess
- Tattoo colours, density, layering and visible texture
- Professional, amateur, cosmetic or cover-up ink
- Tattoo age and location on the body
- Skin type, tanning and recent sun exposure
- Previous laser treatment and any adverse reactions
- Medical history, medication and healing concerns
- Whether the goal is full removal or controlled fading
What a Patch Test Can Show
- How the visible pigment responds to a selected wavelength
- Whether unexpected colour change occurs
- How the surrounding skin reacts and heals
- Whether the proposed treatment pathway remains appropriate
- Whether a different wavelength, interval or referral may be safer
Important: A successful patch test does not guarantee complete removal or eliminate every risk. It provides useful information before a larger area is treated.
Treatment numbers
How Many Tattoo Removal Sessions Will I Need?
There is no honest way to promise an exact number before treatment begins. Some tattoos respond quickly, while others require a long course and may retain residual pigment.
Ink Colour
Black and some dark pigments often respond more predictably than resistant light or mixed colours.
Depth & Density
Deeply placed or densely packed ink usually requires more treatment than light, superficial work.
Layering
Cover-ups and repeatedly tattooed areas may contain several colours and layers at different depths.
Location
Circulation and lymphatic drainage vary across the body and may influence the rate of visible fading.
Age of Tattoo
Older tattoos may already have softened, while newer professional tattoos can contain dense modern pigment.
Skin Response
Settings and intervals must remain appropriate for the skin, even when faster fading is desired.
Previous Treatment
Earlier laser sessions, scarring or pigment changes can affect the next stage of treatment.
Your Goal
Fading for a cover-up may require fewer sessions than pursuing the maximum possible clearance.
Realistic expectation: Tattoo removal is usually a course rather than a one-off procedure. Complete removal is not guaranteed, and some tattoos leave a faint shadow, resistant colour or visible pre-existing texture.
Ink and wavelength
Can Coloured Tattoos Be Removed?
Many coloured tattoos can be treated, but different pigments respond to different wavelengths. A multi-coloured tattoo may therefore require more than one treatment approach.
Colour names alone do not tell the full story. Two tattoos that both appear “blue” may contain different pigment mixtures, depths and concentrations and may respond differently.
| Visible pigment | General response | Important considerations |
|---|---|---|
| Black and dark grey | Often the most responsive category | Dense professional black, cover-ups and scarred tattoos may still need a long course. |
| Dark blue and selected dark green | May respond where the available wavelength is appropriate | True colour composition can be difficult to predict from appearance alone. |
| Red, orange and pink | Can respond to a suitable wavelength | Skin type and tanning require careful assessment because shorter wavelengths interact more strongly with melanin. |
| Purple | Response can vary | Purple may be a mixture of red and blue components, which can fade unevenly. |
| Yellow, pale green, turquoise and light blue | Often more resistant | Some shades may not respond adequately to the available technology and may need another specialist pathway. |
| White, flesh-tone and some cosmetic pigments | Potentially unpredictable | Some pigments can darken after laser exposure, so patch testing is particularly important. |
Why pigment can change colour
A tattoo may contain several pigments blended together. As one component reduces, another can become more visible. This is especially relevant with cosmetic tattoos and mixed colours.
Technology explained honestly
Nanosecond vs Picosecond Tattoo Removal
Nanosecond and picosecond describe the duration of the laser pulse. A picosecond pulse is shorter, but pulse duration is only one part of a complete treatment system.
Wavelength, delivered energy, fluence, spot size, beam quality, pigment colour, skin type, treatment technique and healing interval all contribute to the result.
Pulsar uses the German-engineered Asclepion NanoStar Y active Q-switched nanosecond laser at its Chorley clinic. We do not market it as a picosecond laser. Our approach is to explain what the available wavelengths are suitable for and to refer or decline treatment when a pigment falls outside the appropriate pathway.
During treatment
Does Laser Tattoo Removal Hurt?
Most clients describe the sensation as a fast snap, hot pinprick or elastic band against the skin. The treatment itself is usually quick, although larger tattoos take longer.
What Affects Discomfort?
- Location of the tattoo
- Ink density
- Size of the treatment area
- Personal sensitivity
- Existing scar tissue
What You May See Immediately
- Temporary whitening or frosting
- Redness and warmth
- Local swelling
- Pinpoint bleeding in some cases
- A temporary raised texture
After the Appointment
- Tenderness similar to sunburn
- Swelling or tightness
- Occasional blistering
- Temporary darkening or colour change
- Gradual settling over the following days
Balanced information
Risks, Side Effects and Scarring
Laser tattoo removal is not risk-free. Correct assessment, appropriate settings, adequate intervals and careful aftercare reduce risk, but they cannot remove it completely.
Expected Temporary Reactions
- Redness, warmth and swelling
- Whitening or frosting immediately after treatment
- Tenderness or a sunburn-like feeling
- Temporary blistering or crusting
- Temporary pigment darkening or colour change
Recognised Risks
- Lightening or darkening of the surrounding skin
- Burns, prolonged healing or infection
- Texture change or scarring
- Allergic or inflammatory reaction to pigment
- Incomplete removal or resistant ink
- Unexpected darkening of certain cosmetic or pale pigments
Pre-existing scarring: A tattoo can contain scar tissue from the original needle work before any laser treatment is performed. As pigment fades, this underlying texture may become more visible.
Contact the clinic for advice if you are concerned
Seek prompt advice if you experience worsening pain, spreading redness, increasing heat, pus, fever, significant swelling, a severe rash or any reaction that concerns you.
Supporting recovery
Laser Tattoo Removal Aftercare
Always follow the individual instructions given at your appointment. The guidance below is general and does not replace advice based on your own treatment response.
During the First 24–48 Hours
- Keep the area clean and avoid unnecessary touching
- Use cooling only as advised and never apply ice directly to skin
- Avoid rubbing, scratching or picking
- Avoid tight clothing or friction over the area
- Keep any dressing in place for the period advised
While the Skin Is Healing
- Avoid swimming, saunas, steam rooms and hot tubs
- Avoid strenuous exercise if heat or friction affects the area
- Do not burst blisters or remove crusts
- Do not apply fake tan, acids, retinoids or irritating products
- Protect the area from direct sun and tanning
Sun exposure matters: Treatment on tanned or recently sun-exposed skin can increase the risk of burns and pigment change. Tell the clinic if the area has tanned before your appointment.
A different treatment goal
Fading a Tattoo for a Cover-Up
You may not need complete removal. Controlled fading can reduce dense black areas, heavy outlines or dominant features so a tattoo artist has more flexibility when planning new work.
The number of sessions depends on how much fading the tattoo artist needs, the colours involved and how the tattoo responds. It is useful to speak with your chosen tattoo artist before treatment so the target level of fading is clear.
- Reduce heavy black lines
- Soften dense shaded areas
- Create more design flexibility
- Target selected areas rather than the whole tattoo
- Avoid pursuing unnecessary complete removal
Your treatment pathway
What Happens From Consultation to Review?
Send Photos or Book
Provide clear photographs and measurements or book a consultation so we can understand the tattoo and your treatment goal.
Consultation
We assess colour, density, depth, location, skin type, treatment history, medical information and whether the goal is full removal or fading.
Patch Test
A small test area is completed where required. We review the immediate response and allow sufficient time to assess healing.
First Full Treatment
Settings are selected according to the visible pigment, skin response and information gathered during consultation.
Healing Interval
The skin is allowed to heal and the body is given time to process fragmented pigment. Sessions are not rushed simply because the surface looks settled.
Review and Adjustment
Progress is reviewed before the next treatment. Settings, wavelengths, treatment area or intervals may be adjusted according to response.
Current tattoo removal pricing
How Much Does Laser Tattoo Removal Cost?
Final sizing and suitability are confirmed after reviewing measurements, ink density, colours, placement and treatment complexity.
| Tattoo size | Single treatment | Course of 3 | Course of 6 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Extra Small | £75 | £199 | £369 |
| Small | £125 | £339 | £629 |
| Medium | £175 | £475 | £879 |
| Large | £250 | £675 | £1,249 |
| Extra Large | From £350 | From £945 | From £1,749 |
Bespoke pricing may apply to multiple tattoos, extra-large work, unusually dense ink, selective fading and complex cover-up projects. A written quotation should clearly state the area being treated and the agreed price.
Related patient advice
Continue Reading
Frequently asked questions
Laser Tattoo Removal FAQs
Can every tattoo be completely removed?
No. Some tattoos clear extremely well, while others leave residual pigment, shadowing, resistant colour or visible pre-existing scar tissue. We discuss the likely limitations during consultation.
How quickly will I see fading?
Some immediate colour change may be visible, but meaningful fading develops gradually over the following weeks as the area heals and the body processes fragmented pigment.
Why can’t you treat the tattoo again as soon as the skin looks healed?
Surface healing is only one part of the process. The skin and deeper tissue need adequate recovery time, and pigment clearance continues after the visible reaction has settled.
Can you remove a tattoo in one session?
Complete removal in one session is not a realistic expectation for most tattoos. Tattoo ink is layered within the skin, and attempting to clear too much too quickly would increase the risk of injury.
Can you treat a tattoo if I am tanned?
Tanned or recently sun-exposed skin can increase the risk of burns and pigment change. Treatment may need to be postponed until the tan has fully settled.
Can I have tattoo removal while pregnant or breastfeeding?
Pulsar does not treat during pregnancy. Breastfeeding and other medical circumstances should be discussed during consultation so the safest pathway can be confirmed.
Does frosting mean the tattoo has disappeared?
No. Frosting is a temporary immediate response caused by rapid changes within the treated skin. It usually settles quickly and does not show the final amount of fading.
Can laser reveal scarring underneath the tattoo?
Yes. Scar tissue from the original tattooing process can become more noticeable as the covering pigment fades.
Can I have a new tattoo over the area later?
Often yes, but the skin must be fully healed and the remaining pigment should have settled. Your laser practitioner and tattoo artist should both be involved in deciding when the area is ready.
Where is Pulsar’s advanced tattoo removal laser located?
The Asclepion NanoStar Y active Q-switched nanosecond laser is located at the Chorley clinic.
Start with an assessment
Ready to Discuss Your Tattoo?
Send clear photographs with measurements or book a consultation so we can assess the colours, density, location and whether your goal is full removal or fading for a cover-up.
Sources and further reading
Clinical Information Sources
This patient guide is general information and does not replace an individual consultation. Further reading: American Academy of Dermatology — Laser Tattoo Removal; U.S. FDA — Tattoo Removal Options and Results; North Bristol NHS Trust — Tattoo Laser Treatment.