Whether that tattoo just doesn’t look great anymore, or it brings up bad memories, getting it removed will be on your mind. And there’s nothing wrong with that. You should feel happy with your body – whether that means adding tattoos or removing them.

So, how exactly do you go about getting tattoo removal? Well, we’ve created this guide so you can find out. From legitimate tattoo removal methods to common questions and concerns.

Let’s cut to the chase, starting with the most popular way to remove a tattoo: laser tattoo removal.

Laser Tattoo Removal: Your Best Option

Laser tattoo removal is the process of firing lasers at your skin to remove a tattoo. But don’t freak out – there aren’t any James Bond villain lasers coming your way and you don’t need to be strapped down to a table either.

In fact, the laser tattoo removal is comparable to IPL (intense pulsed light) hair removal treatment, and other laser hair removal methods.

You just book a session at a clinic that offers laser tattoo removal and show up for your appointment. No major surgery necessary (although surgery is an option for removing tattoos – see below).

How Do the Lasers Work?

The lasers penetrate your skin to the dermis layer, which is where the tattoo ink was deposited. But don’t worry – unlike tattoo needles, the laser doesn’t actually penetrate your skin.

Instead, the laser fires natural infrared light at different wavelengths. The ink absorbs the light and breaks down from a semi-solid state to a solid state. Basically, the light turns the ink from large, permanent particles to smaller and smaller particles.

Once the ink has fractured into very small particles, your immune system can get to work. Your body will naturally try to flush out the ‘foreign’ ink particles that were too large to tackle before. Macrophages (special white blood cells that work for the immune system) slowly remove the ink via your blood.