Honest answers for your skin.

If you are looking to fade an existing tattoo or completely remove one altogether, then laser tattoo removal is the best option for you. There are alternative methods for tattoo removal (including creams, injectables, and surgery), but these methods are either ineffective, dangerous, or both. Laser tattoo removal remains the safest and most effective method for removing unwanted ink without scarring.

Tattoo removal is typically a good option for anyone that wants it, but our medical team will consult with you at your first appointment to confirm you are a candidate for laser tattoo removal.

The number of treatments needed depends on a variety of factors and is specific to each patient and each tattoo. During your consultation, a tattoo assessment will take place in order to best estimate the number of treatments you will need.

A few variables that affect the speed of removal are:

• Age of tattoo

• Depth of ink

• Density of ink

• Brightness of colors

• Location on body

• Any pre-existing scarring

• Patient’s health

Most patients need between 3 to 12 treatments to achieve complete removal and see clear, ink-free skin. Treatments are scheduled a minimum of 6 to 8 weeks apart to allow for maximum skin healing and ink fading between each session. Our Astanza Trinity laser is the most powerful solution to colorful tattoos, so you can feel confident that you’re getting the fastest removal possible.

Laser tattoo removal is not completely painless, but there are plenty of options to make treatments more comfortable. Most patients compare the sensation of a laser treatment to a rubber band snapping against the skin, or to the sensation of the tattoo being applied. Thankfully, laser tattoo removal is a much faster procedure, with typical treatment times ranging from 30 seconds to 30 minutes depending on the size of the tattoo.

During each treatment, you have the option to ice the area before and after being lasered to help keep the skin cool and calm, and to reduce inflammation caused by the laser’s heat. Your nurse will also use our state of the art cryo-machine, which blows freezing cold air over the area during treatment to continue delivering cooling relief. For patients who desire stronger relief, we offer a prescription numbing cream blend designed to deliver more powerful numbing for a truly comfortable treatment. Numbing cream and the cryo-machine can be safely used together for highly effective pain relief.

The most common side effects of laser tattoo removal are temporary redness, scabbing, blistering, and temporary lightening or darkening of the surrounding skin. Although some of these may sound worrisome, they are perfectly normal and go away over time. In fact, all of these side effects are your body’s natural response to the procedure and are indications that your skin is healing and an effective treatment was performed.

Many patients are most alarmed by the appearance of blisters and scabs and feel the urge to pick or pop them. It is safest to leave blisters intact, but if they are larger than a nickel or become bothersome, it can promote healing to pop them with a sterile lancet. It is important to remember that scabs and blisters are normal responses to the procedure and form in order to protect underlying skin tissue from any damage during the healing process.

The overall cost of treatment depends on two variables – the size of your tattoo and the number of treatments needed. Pricing starts at just $150 per session, and our Trinity laser is guaranteed to remove your tattoo in the fewest sessions possible. Our team of laser specialists can discuss specific pricing points for you and your tattoo during your free consultation. We offer competitive pricing and special discounts, so call today to get a free consultation. More info

Yes! Laser tattoo removal is the perfect solution for patients interested in getting a cover-up. A cover-up tattoo is a tattoo that covers up an existing tattoo with a new design. Many people get cover-ups to completely hide the original tattoo or add features to their existing art. Tattoo artists generally have a harder time covering up a tattoo if it is very dark. Laser tattoo removal has proven to make the process much easier and the result much better by fading down the original ink. Our close relationship with Guru Tattoo of San Diego can help connect you with a talented tattoo artist that is experienced in cover-up designs – just ask us for a referral!

This is the most common worry we hear, and the short answer is no—not when done right. Our lasers are incredibly precise and only react to the ink pigment, completely bypassing your actual skin tissue. Any risk of scarring almost always comes down to how the skin is treated after your session. As long as you follow our simple aftercare steps and resist the urge to pick at any light scabbing, your skin’s texture will remain completely healthy and intact.

You’ll want to take it easy for the first 48 hours. Sweating excessively, hot tubs, and intense workouts can trap heat in the skin and increase swelling. When it comes to the sun, a tan is actually our laser's biggest enemy because it changes how the light detects your ink. You’ll need to keep the area completely covered or wear a high-grade zinc sunblock between sessions to keep your skin safe and your clearance timeline on track.

Yes, but permanent makeup requires a completely different level of expertise. Cosmetic inks are formulated differently than traditional body tattoos and often contain metallic oxides that can actually turn darker when hit by a standard laser pulse. Our nursing team is highly trained in facial anatomy and precision cosmetic ink lifting, ensuring your features are safely protected while we gently fade old or asymmetrical permanent makeup.

It usually comes down to outdated technology or rushing the process. Older lasers act more like a sledgehammer, overheating the skin without breaking up the ink efficiently. Our advanced multi-wavelength laser works at lightning-fast speeds to break down the pigment cleanly with less heat. Additionally, trying to schedule sessions too close together doesn't give your body's immune system enough time to flush the ink away—patience actually speeds up your final results.

Surprisingly, older tattoos are actually much easier to remove! Over time, your body’s immune system has already been naturally trying to break down the ink, which is why older tattoos look faded or blurry. Brand new ink sits densely packed in the skin layers and takes a bit more effort to fracture. We generally recommend waiting at least 8 to 12 weeks for a brand-new tattoo to completely heal before we target it with our laser.