“How does laser tattoo removal work?”
When tattoo pigment in the dermis is hit by light from Q-Switch or Pico lasers, the ink shatters into far smaller particles which white blood cells can break down a lot faster and filter through the lymph nodes to then — ahem — excrete from your body. The speed with which ink particles are filtered out of the body is different for every single client and is dependent on several factors including: where the tattoo is located on the body and how well your body’s lymphatic system is working.
We explain how laser tattoo removal works in further depth here.
Straight up: getting a tattoo completely removed is usually more expensive than having one put on. The price of laser tattoo removal depends upon the size, colour, density of ink, location of the tattoo and the number of visits required. Our starting price is $120 per session for removal of a small tattoo. There is a non-refundable fee of $50 for our consultations which will be deducted from your treatment cost if you decide to go ahead with a laser treatment.
Learn more about our pricing here.
“What’s the rough price of laser tattoo removal?”
“Does it hurt?”
Honestly, nowhere near as much as you would expect! Laser tattoo removal is often compared to the sensation you’d feel flicking a hot rubber band repeatedly on the skin. Not overly pleasant, but it’s over in a flash — sometimes seconds! We also use a high-powered cooling machine to provide further comfort during your treatment. Still worried about how much it’s going to hurt? You can also purchase numbing cream from your local pharmacy which you can apply pre-treatment. This works like a dream and makes the treatments so much more comfortable.
“How many treatments will I need?”
It depends on the size, complexity and depths of the ink, as well as several other factors. Generally we recommend 2-4 treatments to fade for a cover up and 6-12 treatments for a complete removal. All treatments are spaced approximately 8 weeks apart to allow enough time for the skin to heal and eliminate as much of the ink as possible through the body’s lymphatic system.
Yes, you can! To save you time, and to make sure that you can snatch up the appointment time that you want, you can book each and every appointment through our online booking system.
“Can I book online?”
Yes! We understand that laser tattoo removal can be difficult for some to pay all in one hit. We offer Afterpay payment plans at our Port Adelaide clinic to alleviate any financial strain. Learn ore about how Afterpay works here.
“Can I pay in instalments?”
We use two, actually! We’re proud to be the only laser tattoo removal clinic in South Australia to offer both types of laser tattoo removal technology — Q-Switch and Pico-second laser technology.
Our Cynosure MedLite C6 and Revlite SI is what we use for our Q-Switch laser removal treatments. It’s the machine that started it all for us and provides consistent and reliable results every time. In 2020, we welcomed the Cynosure PicoSure laser to our Port Adelaide clinic. It’s the world's first picosecond aesthetic laser, and it can remove blue and green tattoos (these are usually very difficult to remove).
Learn more about our technology here.
“What kind of laser machine do you use?”
Black and red inks fade the best with laser treatment, and oranges and purples usually respond just as well. Green and blue inks unfortunately, the most difficult to remove. The good news however, is that our new Cynosure PicoSure laser at our Port Adelaide clinic can remove blue and green inks far easier than what Q-Switch technology traditionally has in the past! Learn more about the benefits of using both Q-Switch and PicoSure laser technology to remove unwanted tattoos here.
“Can you remove all colours?”
Scarring is very rare with tattoo removal. Thanks to our advanced laser system, we’re are able to target tattoo ink particles with the least amount of skin interaction possible. Often there can be scarring of the skin from when the tattoo was done, which, in this case, will stay present once the ink has been removed. There are safe and effective ways to treat any scarring that is present in the skin which we can go through with you at your consultation or next treatment.
“Will I scar as a result of my laser treatment”
After the procedure, the area treated may be red or swollen (similar to a mild sunburn) and there may be some bruising, blistering or scabbing for around 3-5 days. An antibacterial ointment and a dressing will be applied to the area post-treatment to assist with healing.
“What can I expect after a treatment?”
After your appointment, you should keep your dressing on until you next shower (and no longer than 24 hours). The treated area should be kept clean with continued application of an antibacterial ointment over the next week while the skin heals. You should avoid exposing the treated area to the sun, as this may effect healing.
“What do I need to do after my treatment?”
If you are in good health with no serious health concerns, there should be no issues with you undergoing laser tattoo removal treatments. Before commencing treatment of your tattoo, we will need to assess your eligibility with a comprehensive consultation. Book your no-obligation consultation online.
“Can anyone get laser tattoo removal?”
Unfortunately we cannot laser anyone who is pregnant or breastfeeding. While there is no evidence to suggest there is any harm, this is a precautionary decision to keep both you and your baby safe. Feel free to get back in touch with us when you are no longer pregnant or have ceased breastfeeding.
“Can I have laser while pregnant or breastfeeding?”
The healing process for a new tattoo takes between 8 to 16 weeks. Before treating a new and un-wanted tattoo, the skin must be allowed to fully heal, otherwise the chances of scarring are far more likely. While your skin is still healing, we like to discuss your options during a comprehensive consultation and we can book you for an appointment for when the tattoo will be healed.
“How long until I can remove a new tattoo?”
The longer you wait between treatments, the better, really. As ink particles are flushed naturally through the body’s lymphatic system, treating a tattoo earlier than the advised time does not speed-up the process of laser tattoo removal. In addition to this, you are more at risk of scarring if you repeatedly have laser treatments while your skin’s surface is still healing.
“Why do I need to wait 6-8 weeks between treatments?”
Starting with the cleanest canvas possible on your skin doesn’t only benefit you, but also your tattoo artist. Covering up a faded tattoo after laser tattoo removal gives you much more freedom with the design in terms of placement, colour, density of ink and size. This ultimately results in a far better quality cover-up tattoo and one in which you will love forever.
“Why fade a tattoo when you can get a cover-up instead?”
Treatments are super quick! With our Q-Switch laser firing 10 pulses per second, and our PicoSure laser firing in picoseconds (one trillionth of a second), most treatments last anywhere between a seconds for a small tattoo and only a few minutes for a large tattoo. Over in a flash!
“How long does a laser treatment take?”
Cosmetics tattoos are a tricky one. We assess each client’s cosmetic eyebrow tattoos on a case by case basis, which depends greatly on the colour and type of cosmetic ink used. Some cosmetic ink can be removed, others unfortunately cannot. Look at some of our cosmetic removal results here.
“Can you remove my eyebrow tattoos?”
“Amanda was very professional, had excellent advice and was very flexible fitting me in being from the country. I have had excellent results after just a couple sessions and looking forward to my cover up which Amanda so kindly gave me her recommendations.””