Tattoos can be a powerful way to express your identity and individuality, but a tattoo that no longer resonates with you can have a negative effect on your self-esteem. Laser tattoo removal can help you restore your confidence. To carry out such a delicate and personal procedure, it is important to choose a clinic and team you can trust. We at New York Laser & Skin Care understand this, and are committed to bringing you the safest, most effective laser treatments on the market

Located on Fifth Avenue in New York City, NY, our elegant facilities and compassionate, dedicated staff are ready to receive you in comfort. Book a consultation with us today, and experience personalized, world-class care that you deserve.

Laser Tattoo Removal at New York Laser & Skin Care

We use laser treatments at our clinic to effectively reduce the visibility of your tattoo. The laser light works by heating up and dissolving tattoo ink, breaking it up into tiny particles, which over time are cleared away by your body’s waste disposal system. Different wavelengths of laser light target different colors of ink.

Laser treatments will either completely remove your tattoo or render it much less noticeable, enabling you to more easily disguise its appearance. 

We carry two highly effective laser tattoo removal treatments. Candela’s PicoWay is less painful and shorter on downtime than almost any other tattoo removal treatment available, while the Lumenis PiQo4 excels at treating tattoos with many different colors.

PicoWay

PicoWay is known for the extremely short duration of its laser pulses. These pulses are only a picosecond long – so brief they are capable of dissolving tattoo ink without heating up or causing damage to the surrounding skin tissue. This ensures a relatively comfortable treatment with little to no downtime, and zero risk of scarring.

PiQo4

PiQo4 is a treatment with a wide variety of adjustable settings. The duration of the laser’s pulses can be changed as needed; long pulses are used to break up tattoo ink into smaller particles, while the shorter pulses work to further dissolve these. This laser also produces four different wavelengths of light which allow it to treat a wide range of ink colors.

Ideal Candidates

An ideal candidate is anyone in good health, with any skin color who has reasonable expectations. 

Good health is important because although laser treatments will break a tattoo down into minute ink particles, your body is responsible for clearing these particles away. If you smoke, have blood circulation issues or a weak immune system, your body’s inability to dispose of the remaining ink will compromise your results.

Reasonable expectations are key, as it will likely take many sessions to fully remove or even significantly reduce the appearance of your tattoo. You will therefore need to commit to an ongoing treatment schedule.

Your tattoo must also be at least 3 months old in order for removal to be successful. This is because tattoo ink takes time to settle into the skin. Removing ink before it has set is extremely difficult and can easily trigger intense blistering and scarring.

Before and After Photos

This photo gallery does not guarantee that all those who undergo laser tattoo removal will obtain these or similar results.

Immediately after a tattoo removal appointment, your skin will primarily appear unchanged except for some minor redness and tenderness. Between 8 and 72 hours after the procedure your skin will be bruised and swollen, and may blister, scab or be temporarily discolored. These effects are normal and will completely fade within 2 weeks with proper aftercare.

The amount of time it takes for your tattoo to begin to fade, as well as the extent of the fading, will vary heavily depending on individual factors.

What to Expect from the Procedure

Two months prior to treatment, you will need to protect your tattooed skin from sun exposure; even minor sunburn will greatly increase your risk of long-term side effects such as scarring and pigmentation irregularities. Be sure to keep your tattoo covered and wear sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher when outside during this time.

At your appointment, our specialist will move a small handpiece that emits microscopic laser pulses over the treatment area, manually switching between wavelengths of light as they address different ink colors.

After the entire tattoo has been treated, they will provide you with detailed aftercare instructions, and you will be free to leave the clinic.

Aftercare

It is important to keep your treated skin dry until it has fully healed from any swelling, blistering or scabbing that may develop after treatment. Avoid swimming, bathing or any other activities that cause the treated area to be submerged. When you shower, clean the area gently with soap and water and take care to pat it dry afterward.

You will also need to avoid sun exposure after treatment, as your skin will be at a high risk of severe sun damage. Until you have fully recovered from your final appointment, be sure to keep the treated skin covered when you are outside during the day.

How Long Does Tattoo Removal Take?

Several laser treatment sessions are typically needed to fully remove a tattoo. In order to allow the skin time to heal, appointments should be scheduled at least 6 weeks apart. Patients with darker skin are recommended to wait a full 8 weeks as they face an increased risk of hyperpigmentation if their skin does not have time to fully heal.

The amount of time needed to successfully remove a tattoo will vary from patient to patient, depending on a number of factors. The Kirby-Desai scale is a tool that takes these factors into account in order to assess exactly how many treatments will be needed, and are as follows:

• Skin color; Lighter skin tends to require fewer treatments
• Location; Head, neck and chest area tattoos tend to be easier to remove
• Ink color: Different colors of ink respond to different wavelengths of light, and vary widely in how difficult they are to remove.
• Amount of ink: Professional tattoos take longer to remove as they contain more ink than stick-and-poke tattoos
• Scarring: Tattoos on areas of skin with a lot of scar tissue are more difficult to treat
• Layering;Tattoos that have been layered or covered up will require more sessions

FAQ

Can a tattoo be completely removed?

With a series of treatments, many tattoos can be completely eliminated. Some tattoos, such as those that are layered, are on scar tissue or have very bright ink may not be completely removed. However, they can be reduced to the point of being almost unnoticeable.

What colors of ink are the most difficult to remove?

The most difficult colors of tattoo ink to remove are yellow, purple, turquoise and fluorescent orange.

Is laser tattoo removal painful?

Laser tattoo removal treatments are typically somewhat painful, however, they are rarely more painful than having a tattoo applied. Most patients find the pain is easily manageable. At your request, we can apply either ice or a numbing cream prior to treatment to help ensure your comfort.

What are the risks of tattoo removal?

Very rarely, laser tattoo removal treatments can trigger permanent skin discoloration and scarring. However, these side effects usually occur in the event of improper treatment technique, which will not be a concern at our clinic. Improper aftercare can also cause these effects, so be sure to follow your specialist’s instructions after a procedure.