How much does tattoo removal cost?
No source we could read gives one reliable price per session. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons says the average cost of laser skin treatments, laser tattoo removal included, is $697 and that this leaves out related expenses, but its page does not say what unit that average covers, so we do not use it in the arithmetic. Instead we read the price lists of three tattoo removal providers. They are businesses, not a survey, and your local clinic may charge differently.
| Provider | Size as they state it | Per session |
|---|---|---|
| Anticipation (OK) | $50 per square inch, so 1 sq in | $50 |
| Think Again (TX, CA) | about 1 x 1 in | $90 |
| Anticipation (OK) | less than 2 inches | $100 |
| Think Again (TX, CA) | about 2 x 2 in | $120 |
| Think Again (TX, CA) | about 3 x 3 in | $160 |
| Anticipation (OK) | 4 square inches | $200 |
| Think Again (TX, CA) | about 4 x 4 in | $270 |
| Removery | 17-25 sq in | $650 |
| Think Again (TX, CA) | about 6 x 6 in | $360 |
| Removery | 25-88 sq in | $743 |
The calculator takes the lowest and highest price in the table for the size you pick; which price belongs to which size band is our reading of each provider's labels. Totals multiply sessions by price, low with low and high with high, so the range is wide. Large tattoos past roughly 8 by 8 inches are quoted case by case, so enter your own quote there. A quote replaces our price and the total follows it.
Compare with what putting a tattoo on costs in our tattoo cost calculator.
What drives the price of tattoo removal?
Two things: the price of each session and how many sessions you need. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons says large, colorful and elaborately designed tattoos need more sessions and so cost more. The Kirby-Desai scale breaks that idea into six scored factors:
| Factor | Points | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Skin type (Fitzpatrick) | 1 to 6 | Darker skin scores higher: lasers are set lower and sessions spaced wider to limit side effects. |
| Location | 1 to 5 | Head and neck score lowest and the distal limbs (forearms, hands, lower legs, feet) highest, following blood and lymph supply. |
| Ink color | 1 to 4 | Black only is 1; multiple colors is 4. |
| Amount of ink | 1 to 4 | From a few letters or a small symbol (1) to a multicolor, complex design (4). |
| Scarring or tissue change | 0 to 5 | No scar is 0; significant scarring is 5. |
| Layering | 0 or 2 | A tattoo covered by a newer one adds 2. |
Add the points and you get a score between 4 and 26. Where the tattoo is done matters too: the American Academy of Dermatology recommends a board-certified dermatologist, and says side effects are more common when the person lacks medical training.
Why do tattoo colors differ in how hard they are to remove?
The Kirby-Desai paper explains that black pigment is the easiest to remove: its granules are small and it absorbs every wavelength of light. Red is also considered easy. Green, yellow and orange are harder, and colors other than black can have particles up to twice the size of black ones. UCSF Health adds that different lasers are used for each color, that bright multicolored tattoos usually need the most sessions, and that white, bright and flesh-colored inks can turn black right after treatment. Treating that darkening takes more sessions.
How many laser sessions will your tattoo need?
In the study behind the scale, 100 patients averaged about ten sessions, with a range from three to twenty. Those patients all finished: the authors excluded anyone who stopped early because of pain, missed appointments or loss to follow-up, so the average describes people who completed treatment. Their average score was 9.87 and the correlation between score and sessions was 0.757, which is good but far from perfect. That is why the calculator shows a range of roughly two sessions either side of the estimate, a spread we worked out from the paper's own figures. The authors warn that their group may not have included enough hard cases, such as scarred or layered tattoos, and that more studies are needed. For scores above 15 they advise a physician's assessment before choosing laser at all.
How long does tattoo removal take?
Sessions are typically six to eight weeks apart. The dermatologists' society explains why you cannot rush it: your skin needs time to heal, and your body, not the laser, clears the ink after the light breaks it into tiny particles. Ten sessions at that spacing take about a year to a year and a half. The academy mentions research in which patients safely had four laser treatments in one day, and says more research is needed before such methods become widely available.
What happens between sessions?
- Healing. After a session you may see redness, swelling and a little blistering. UCSF Health says to keep the area clean, use a petrolatum ointment for several days and cover it with a clean bandage for about a week.
- Fading. Your tattoo should lighten after each treatment as the body flushes out the ink.
- Sun. The dermatologists' society advises protecting treated skin from the sun for three months, with clothing that blocks light completely.
- Appointments. It advises keeping all of them, because many people stop before they reach the best result.
Risks and who to see
Per UCSF Health, the most common side effect is incomplete removal despite multiple treatments, and the texture or pigment of the skin can occasionally change. The academy says some people get light or dark spots that tend to fade within six to twelve months, and that other side effects are rare when a dermatologist uses lasers. It says most people can safely have laser removal, but a healthy immune system is needed and pregnant or breastfeeding women should not be treated. Darker skin carries more risk of side effects. The Kirby-Desai paper reports a higher rate of them on darker skin, especially lighter patches (hypopigmentation), and says lasers are set lower and sessions spaced further apart to limit them. UCSF Health says complete removal is difficult in many cases, especially on dark skin or with multicolored tattoos. Book a consultation with a board-certified dermatologist; they can account for your health, medicines and any history of raised scars.
Is a cover-up an alternative to removal?
Sometimes. A cover-up replaces the old design with a new one instead of removing it. The Kirby-Desai paper notes that tattoo ink is translucent, so hiding old ink takes a larger and darker design, and a tattoo that has been layered scores two extra points if you later decide to remove it. If you like the idea, see our cover-up tattoo ideas and ask an artist what is realistic for your piece.