Looking for personal stories of laser tattoo removal.

February 9, 2015 9:16 PM

How long does it take to get a small, black-ink tattoo removed?

I'm in the process of getting a small, black tattoo removed from the area behind my ear. I'm just over a year into the process (I've had about 10 sessions) and the tattoo is still very much there. It is sort of fuzzy and looks a bit like a prison tattoo, but it still very much resembles itself. At the rate things are going, I can see this taking another couple of years.

I'm a little worried that I'm being ripped off and am curious as to others' experiences with laser tattoo removal. Does it usually take this long?

posted by anonymous to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (3 answers total)

I think you're being ripped off. My sister and her husband went through this and after a year they're nearly gone. My brother in law had a full sleeve removed.

Get a second opinion from another practitioner.
posted by DriftingLotus at 11:16 PM on February 9, 2015 [1 favorite]

I've had 8 treatments and my black tattoo is still kind of visible. You may just need more sessions. By 'fuzzy' do you mean 'faded'? Still, get a second opinion - another/stronger laser and a different or more experienced practitioner might help.
posted by nerdfish at 2:19 AM on February 10, 2015

What kind of laser are you using? Some of the places that do tattoo removal use pretty ineffective lasers. I go to a dermatologist who uses a picosure laser whose efficacy is well-documented. I am also getting the R20 treatment which includes an application of the laser to the tattoo, waiting 20 minutes, then a second treatment which early indications are significantly speeds the tattoo removal process.
posted by arnicae at 6:55 AM on February 10, 2015 [1 favorite]