Does laser tattoo removal cause scarring?

If you are treated by an experience practitioner under physician supervision and with a high quality laser, risks are minimal. However, there are variables,including skin type, history of keloid scars, post care compliance, location of the tattoo, etc. Some people are left with a "shadow" of the tattoo, which with time may improve. As the laser only activates the ink and the body is tasked with actually removing the ink, results and number of treatments is individual.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

This is a good question, but is hard to answer without a picture. The color of the tattoo matters, the skin type matters, and how the treatments are performed all matter. If you are a dark skin type with red, green or another color besides dark blue and black, the process of removing the color can also lighten the skin. On the other hand, if you have only dark blue or black on a medium to dark skin type, there is a much lower risk of scarring. Finally, most tattoos can be removed without scarring by an experienced, skilled nurse or physician when they are treated properly. This means that sometimes more treatments are required, but for patients, added expense is the price of removing the tattoo without scars.

Published on Jul 11, 2012