How Much Does Tattoo Removal Cost?

It is not uncommon for someone to get a tattoo that they think they are going to want to have for life only to realise later that it was a mistake and they now want to get it removed, maybe because it is holding them back from attaining a certain job or the tattoo doesnt mean what it used to to them.

In this article i am going to discuss tattoo removal prices and what procedures you can undertake to have the tattoo removed.

Laser Tattoo Removal

Laser tattoo removal is currently the most common tattoo removal procedure. The laser produces highly concentrated light to target the ink of the tattoo.The light passes through your skin to act directly on the ink and breaks the ink into thousands of small fragments which the body is then capable of breaking down and absorbing. Depending on the size of the tattoo it can take anywhere from one treatment session to many treatments for large coloured tattoo. Laser tattoo removal cost can be in the range from $200-$500 per treatment, with the quality of treatment rising with the cost per treatment.

So if you had a small tattoo which required 3 laser removal treatments, it would cost about $1000

Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Tattoo Removal

IPL tattoo removal is quite similar to laser tattoo removal in that it concentrates a beam of light onto the tattoo, but in the case of IPL, it burns away the top layer of the skin that contains the tattoo, then the skin can heal and regrow with the tattoo becoming less noticeable with repeated treatments, until finally the tattoo is no longer visible.

As with any other tattoo removal treatment the cost of IPL tattoo removal depends on the size and colour of the tattoo, however individual treatments can cost between as low as $10, with the highest prices about $200.

Dermabrasion Tattoo Removal

During this treatment the top layers of your skin where the tattoo is imprinted are scraped away to remove the pigmented skin, this then encourages the growth of new skin.

The skin area with the tattoo is numbed with a freezing agent before being rubbed with an instrument called a dermatome which is similar in look to an electric razor. This device is used to help remove layers of skin.

As the ink tattoos can be deeply imbedded in the layers of the skin, the dermabrasion process can lead to bleeding immediately after the treatment and perhaps permanent scars.

Tattoo removal prices for dermabrasion can range anywhere from $2000-$15000

Tattoo Removal Cream

Tattoo removal cream is the cheapest option and will cause no scarring. Basically the cream is applied to the tattoo and it helps break down the ink pigments so that the tattoo fades overtime. However it has been said that it can give mixed results depending on skin colour so it may not be a very good option for some people, especially if you are looking to have your tattoo removed quickly. The best product on the market is said to be Wrecking Ball Balm, which costs $149.99 for a 24 application kit or $249.99 for a 72 application kit.

Surgical Excision Tattoo Removal

If you only have a very small tattoo then surgical excision may be used to remove it. This procedure involves the area around the tattoo being numbed using a local anaesthetic then the tattooed skin is cut out and the edges brought together and sutured. This will always result in a small scar but the procedure is much quicker than some of the alternatives.

This treatment may also cost several thousand dollars.

If you like this hub why not read my hub about facial hair removal methods.