What to expect from laser tattoo removal

9 August 2026

Whether you want a tattoo gone completely or faded for a cover-up, here is an honest account of how the process works and what shapes how long it takes.

Tattoo removal is one of the few treatments where people arrive already knowing they want it and simply need to understand what they are signing up for. So rather than sell it, here is what the process actually involves.

There are two reasons people come in. Some want the tattoo gone entirely. Others want it faded enough that a cover-up artist has something workable to draw over. These are genuinely different goals, and they need different numbers of sessions — fading for a cover-up is usually the shorter path, because you are not chasing the last traces of ink.

How long it takes depends on factors that are set before you walk in: the size of the tattoo, the colours used, how deep the ink sits, how old it is, and how your own body responds. Two people with tattoos that look similar can need noticeably different courses of treatment. This is why we will not quote you a session count over the phone — anyone who does is guessing at your tattoo without having seen it.

The treatment works by delivering very short laser pulses that break up the ink into fragments small enough for your body to clear gradually over the following weeks. That clearance is the reason sessions are spaced out rather than stacked together: the interval is doing real work, not padding the schedule.

Expect the treated area to be red and possibly swollen afterwards, and to need sun protection while it settles. Aftercare matters more here than people expect, and it is the part most within your control.

One thing worth saying plainly: results vary, and a consultation is what determines whether a treatment is right for you. If your tattoo has colours that respond poorly, or sits somewhere that complicates treatment, we would rather tell you before you book than after.

If you would like to see real outcomes rather than stock photography, our results gallery includes before-and-after photographs from tattoo removal performed at our NoMad studio.