Old School or New Technology - The Reality of Tattoo Removal

Yes, the technology is sophisticated, brilliant, advanced, and for many effective, yet the reality of laser tattoo removal still exists…  laser tattoo removal is hardly idyllic.

Laser tattoo removal is as painful, if not more, than getting a tattoo in the first place.  Here’s the difference, though:  you get the tattoo in one session, but the removal sessions might number as many as 30 -- each one as painful as the one before it.  And, what’s worse, the four- to six-week intervals between each session give you tons of time to think about your next, fun filled laser treatment.

Old school tattoo removal methods include actually cutting the tattoo out of the skin to remove it, and sanding off layers and layers of skin until pigmented skin is worn away.  However the difference between these older methods and new “cutting edge” laser removal –with old school techniques you can count on having a scar and the total amount the scar will cost upfront. 

And with lasers, on the other hand you can count on not knowing how long the removal process will drag out, if the tattoo will be completely removed, and best of all how much the total entire process will cost you in the end. Having said that, what you can count on with laser tattoo removal is a sizeable dent in your wallet after paying for numerous (again unknown) sessions at $300 to $500 a treatment. 

And similar to tattoo designs, not all tattoo removal experiences are created equal.  Some hurt less than others depending on the individual’s tolerance level for pain, whether a professional or an amateur tattoo artist designed the tattoo, and the material makeup and color of the ink used.   Ironically, if an amateur artist inked you up, you will likely experience less pain with your skin and your wallet on the laser removal table.  Reality can be strange at times, even the reality of tattoo removal.