How does laser tattoo removal work?
Understanding Your Skin
Your skin is more than just a canvas; it is the largest organ in your body, covering an average surface area of 2m squared. To understand how laser tattoo removal works, it helps to understand the three distinct layers that make up your skin:
​
1. The Epidermis (The Shield)
The outermost layer acts as your body’s protective barrier. This layer contains melanin, which determines your skin tone. During laser treatment, our technology is calibrated to pass safely through the epidermis to reach the ink below.
2. The Dermis (The Ink’s Home)
The dermis is the "living" centre of your skin. It houses sweat glands, hair follicles, sensory neurons, and blood vessels. When you get a tattoo, the ink is deposited here. Because the dermis doesn't shed like the epidermis, the ink stays put ... until our lasers break it apart.
3. The Subcutaneous Fat (The Cushion)
This deepest layer attaches the dermis to your muscles and bones. It acts as a shock absorber, protecting your body from compression while allowing your skin to stretch and slide freely.
​
​
​
​​
​
​
How Tattoos Work (And Why They Stay)
​To understand removal, we first have to understand how that ink became a permanent part of you.
The Science of the "Permanent" Mark
Professional tattooing uses hollow needles to drive ink through the epidermis and deep into the dermal layer. Immediately, your body recognizes this ink as a "foreign invader." Your immune system springs into action, sending white blood cells (lymphocytes) to swallow the particles and carry them away.
However, the immune system meets its match with tattoo ink. Most ink particles are simply too large for your cells to digest. While some pigment is carried off to be excreted as waste, the vast majority (roughly 68% after the first six weeks) remains locked in the dermis.
​
The Complexity of Ink
Not all tattoos are created equal. Because tattoo inks are not classified as pharmaceuticals or cosmetics, there are no international standards governing their composition. A single tattoo can contain up to 100 different substances, including:
-
Color-giving pigments
-
Preservatives and emulsifiers
-
Solvents and trace metals
-
​
A Custom Approach for Every Canvas
Because every artist uses different mixtures, no two tattoos react to a laser in exactly the same way. The success of your removal depends on a unique "formula" of factors, including:
-
Ink Composition: What is actually in the dye?
-
Tattoo Age: Older tattoos are often easier to break down.
-
Location: Tattoos closer to the heart (better circulation) tend to fade faster.
-
Overall Health: Your immune system does the heavy lifting after the laser shatters the ink.
How Laser Removal Works: The Science of Shattering Ink
The word LASER is actually an acronym: Light Amplification by the Stimulated Emission of Radiation. In the context of your skin, this means a highly concentrated beam of light energy designed to do one specific job: shatter ink.
​
The "Shatter & Clear" Process
Tattoo ink sits in the dermal layer of your skin in particles that are far too large for your body to move. Our laser penetrates the dermis and hits the top layer of these particles with enough energy to shatter them into tiny fragments.
Once the laser "breaks the rocks into pebbles," your immune system takes over to flush those fragments away. Because we can only shatter the top layer of ink in a single pass, it typically takes around 8-12 sessions to fully break down all the layers of a tattoo for complete removal.
​
Why the Number of Sessions Varies
No two removals are identical. The speed of your results depends on a "Perfect Storm" of internal and external factors:
​
1. Your Biological "Cleanup Crew"
-
Immune Health: Your general health and diet dictate how fast your body clears the shattered ink.
-
Lifestyle Factors: Smoking, drinking, or high stress can slow down your body's natural filtration process.
-
Circulation: Tattoos closer to the heart (where oxygenated blood flow is strongest) generally fade faster than those on your hands or feet.
​
2. The Tattoo’s "DNA"
-
Ink Depth & Volume: How much ink did the artist use, and how deep did they go?
-
Ink Type & Colour: Professional inks and certain colours (like greens and blues) can be more stubborn than older, black & the "home-made" tattoos.
-
Age: Older tattoos have often already begun to break down naturally, often making them easier to target.
​
3. External Variables
-
Skin Type: We calibrate the laser specifically to your skin's melanin levels for safety and efficacy.
-
Site Care: Friction from tight clothing or localized infections can delay the healing process between sessions.
​
Fading for Cover-Ups
You don’t always need to start with a blank canvas. If you are planning a cover-up, we can work directly with you and your tattoo artist to achieve the specific level of "fade" they need to ink your new design. This often only requires 1-4 sessions, saving you time and money while giving your artist a much better workspace.
After my treatment
Aftercare is key to effective tattoo removal. Please see the aftercare tab for full details. You can purchase an aftercare pack following your treatment that has all the advice, care products and dressings you will need.
