Tattoo Removal

For most machine-made black tattoos, we estimate 8 to 12 sessions for full removal, but it can take longer than that. Many factors affect how quickly a tattoo fades, including colours, ink depth, location, skin type, and your body’s immune response. We’ll talk through all of this at your consultation.

As sessions are spaced at least 8 weeks apart, a full course of removal typically takes 2 to 3 years to complete.

We like to provide a price estimate before you visit us. To get started, simply send us a clear photo of your tattoo. We’ll reply with an estimated cost, which we’ll confirm in person at your consultation.

For general pricing guidance, please see our Prices page.

Laser tattoo removal works by breaking down the ink in your skin so that your immune system can carry it away naturally. Tattoo ink sits in the dermis, the deeper layer of skin, where it remains stable over time because the particles are too large for your body to remove on its own.

During treatment, we use a high-powered laser that delivers short, high-energy pulses of light. These pulses shatter the tattoo ink into tiny fragments without damaging the surrounding skin.

Once the ink is broken down, your immune system steps in. Dermal macrophages (a type of white blood cell) help to clear away these smaller ink particles over the weeks that follow. The particles are gradually carried away by your lymphatic system out of your skin.

Black ink tends to respond more consistently. Coloured inks can be more stubborn, which is why we use a dual-wavelength laser system to treat a wide range of colours effectively.

All tattoos require a course of treatment, with sessions spaced at least eight weeks apart. This gives your skin time to heal and allows your body to remove the ink effectively between sessions. With each treatment, the tattoo fades a little more.

We require at least 8 weeks between tattoo removal sessions. This gives your body time to clear the ink particles broken down by the laser, and allows your skin to heal fully before the next treatment.

While it might be tempting to come back sooner, we’ve found that shorter intervals don’t improve results, it just cost you more and increases the risk of side effects. Allowing enough time between sessions is essential for safe, effective fading.

Some clinics suggest that tattoos can be fully removed in just a few sessions. While this may sound appealing, in practice it often means partial fading rather than true clearance. Ask to see their before and after pictures.

We prefer to be completely honest about what’s achievable. Most professional tattoos require 8 to 12 sessions or more for full removal, spaced at least 8 weeks apart. This typically means a full course takes 2 to 3 years, but it gives the best possible results while protecting your skin.

We don’t overpromise or rush the process. We give you realistic timelines and safe, evidence-based treatment from day one.

We use a premium, medical-grade active Q-switched laser system for tattoo removal, specificially the Quanta Q-Plus C Evo. This device is powerful, precise, and clinically proven for safely removing both black and coloured ink. This is a dual laser platform combining Q-Switched Nd:YAG and Q-Switched Ruby lasers.

• The Nd:YAG laser effectively removes black, red and yellow inks.

• The Ruby laser is excellent for blues and greens, which are usually resistant to treatment with other systems.

Our system also features Optibeam® technology, which produces a flat-top “top hat” energy profile across a square spot. This means energy is distributed evenly across the treatment area, avoiding hot spots and weak edges. It makes treatment safer, more consistent, and more effective.

Many clinics use passive Q-switched lasers, which are mass produced cheaply and come in various form factors, from small portable units to being housed in oversized plastic cases. The technology is the same. These machines may fade black tattoos slightly, but they struggle with colour and frequently cause widespread scarring. They are not fit for purpose and, frankly, should be banned.

Passive Q-switched systems are flawed in several critical ways:

• They are very underpowered, so the only way to get clinical results is to use tiny spot sizes. This limits penetration depth, meaning they rarely reach the deeper layers of ink and instead just blow holes in the upper layers of skin.

• The beam quality is poor, with a hot point in the centre and energy that drops off sharply at the edges. This uneven energy delivery causes surface burns, scarring, inconsistent fading, and patchy results.

• The pulse duration is far too long. This reduces the laser’s ability to break ink effectively and increases thermal damage in the skin. The result is less ink clearance and a higher risk of scarring.

• Calibration is poor or absent. The numbers shown on the screen often have little to do with what is actually being delivered to the skin. Energy output tends to scale in nonlinear and unpredictable ways, so what actually comes out of the laser can be wildly different from the parameters set by the operator.

If someone points something at you that looks like a hose with a gun on the end, it is probably one of these machines. Consider that a red flag and walk away.

👉 See our blog post: Spotting Cowboys to learn more.

Yes, absolutely. This is often referred to as “preparation for cover-up.” The laser treatment process is the same, but because the goal is to fade the existing tattoo rather than remove it entirely, you’ll need fewer sessions.

Please note that we are mere mortals, not tattooists, and we don’t offer tattooing services. However, we’re happy to recommend excellent tattoo studios in the Inverness area based on their artistry and reputation.

Yes, we can target specific parts of a tattoo for removal or fading, especially if you're planning to rework or cover it. This comes up often with clients who want to keep one element but remove another or reshape part of a sleeve.

That said, laser is a fairly blunt tool and precision has its limits. We can be selective about which areas we treat but results depend on how your tattoo is laid out and how close the elements are.

It's also worth noting that we are a clinical service, not an art studio. We’ll work with you to fade or remove what’s needed but you’ll still need a skilled tattoo artist to complete the vision if you’re planning a rework or cover-up.

We do require a clear photo before we offer consultation or pricing. Once we see the tattoo, we’ll let you know what’s possible and give you honest advice about whether selective removal will work in your case.

We treat cosmetic and microbladed eyebrow tattoos, with most clients needing 4 to 6 sessions for effective fading or removal. Because facial skin is more delicate, we require SuperStack treatment for brow tattoo removal. It offers a safer, more precise approach. Sessions are charged at £125 per visit pay-as-you-go. Discounts apply for upfront payments, see Prices for more information.

We’re often asked to treat just part of the brows, but we don’t recommend this. Treating only a section can lead to uneven colour changes or a patchy result, which may look more noticeable than the original work. Instead, we recommend treating the entire brow area evenly for a more natural fade. If you choose to have them re-tattooed later, that’s entirely your decision, but a clean, neutral canvas gives the best result.

Colour changes are normal when treating microbladed or tattooed brows. The ink will commonly turn red following the first treatment and then continues to fade. This is quite unpredicatbale and will depend on the precise inks used and how they respond to laser treatment.

We tend not to treat lip tattoos, as there’s a high risk of the pigment darkening or turning black when lasered. We’re always happy to discuss this in consultation, but in our experience, most clients choose not to proceed once they understand the risks.

We also do not treat scalp micropigmentation (SMP) or “hair tattoos.” These cover a large area, carry a high risk of colour change, and may damage hair follicles. For these reasons, we do not currently offer laser treatment for this type of cosmetic tattoo.

This happens more often than you'd think. Some people have an immediate, almost physical aversion to their new tattoo. It can feel overwhelming and panic inducing.

We do offer removal in these situations, but we insist on waiting a minimum of 8 weeks before starting treatment. This isn’t just about laser safety, it’s about biology. Tattoos are placed into the dermis, but the epidermis (the top layer of skin) is also saturated with ink during the process. Over the first 8 weeks, the epidermis naturally flakes away. If we lasered it too soon, we’d just be removing ink that would have shed off on its own.

Here’s the interesting part: about 80% of people who contact us in a panic end up keeping their tattoo. Once the dust settles and they’ve had time to adjust, many people find they no longer feel the same way and decide that they actually love their tattoo, and want to keep it.

It’s like there’s a cooling off period built in.

Whether you choose to remove the tattoo or not, we’re here to support you. Please contact us to discuss.

To make your tattoo removal session as safe and effective as possible, please follow these guidelines:

• Stay hydrated on the day of treatment, carb up and don’t skip meals, especially if you’re having a larger area treated.

• Wear loose, comfortable clothing that allows easy access to the tattoo and won’t irritate the area afterwards.

• Shower and do not apply any creams, moisturisers, or skincare products to the treatment area on the day of your appointment. 

• Don’t attend if you're hungover, intoxicated, or feeling unwell. It’s best to reschedule if you’re under the weather.

• If the tattoo is in a hairy area, please shave the skin 24 hours in advance using a good-quality, sharp razor.

• Avoid sun exposure, sunbeds, and fake tan on the treatment area for at least 4 weeks before each session.

Yes. It can be uncomfortable, and most people find that laser tattoo removal is more painful than getting the tattoo in the first place. That said, it’s over much faster, with most sessions taking just a few minutes.

Clients often describe the sensation as being pinged repeatedly with a rubber band. The good news is that the discomfort is mostly during the procedure itself. Most people feel fine afterwards, with only mild sensitivity in the treated area.

If you choose SuperStack enhanced removal, the sensation tends to be less intense but spread out over a slightly longer time. Most clients prefer this, as it’s more tolerable than the sharp snap of a single, high-energy pass.

To help reduce discomfort, we recommend taking paracetamol about an hour before your appointment, if it’s safe for you to do so. You’ll receive a text message to remind you to do this. Please do not take aspirin or ibuprofen, as these may increase the risk of bruising or bleeding. (This is a general recommendation, we are not prescribers. )

Some clients choose to use a numbing cream before treatment. Products like Emla can reduce sensation by around 40 to 50%. We are not prescribers and cannot supply or apply this medication, but if you're thinking about using a numbing cream, please talk to us first so we can support you as best we can through your tattoo removal journey.

We also use a medical-grade cold air blower to chill the skin before, during, and after treatment. This protects your skin and makes the experience significantly more comfortable.

Immediately after treatment, the tattoo will appear white or “frosted”—this is a normal reaction and fades within a few minutes. The area may then become red, warm, and slightly swollen.

We apply a soothing antimicrobial gel straight after treatment, and if needed, we’ll cover the area with a sterile dressing for protection.

If you’re having SuperStack enhanced tattoo removal, you may notice a small amount of pinpoint bleeding on the surface of the skin. This is normal, and clients report that they actually heal faster after SuperStack sessions compared to standard treatments.

The treated area typically settles within 3 to 7 days, and is fully healed by 2 to 4 weeks. Fading continues gradually over the full 8 weeks between treatments.

Scarring is rare. With proper care and the right equipment, the risk is very low.

Occasionally, textural changes from the original tattooing process may become more noticeable as the ink fades. This isn’t caused by the laser, but can become more apparent once pigment is removed. SuperStack resurfaces your skin and often reduces the appearance of this.

Scarring directly from laser treatment is possible but very uncommon, and is usually linked to poor aftercare, such as picking or scratching the skin while it heals. With our current equipment and protocols, we estimate a scarring rate of less than 1% among all clients treated.

It’s worth noting that not all tattoo removal systems are safe. Cheap lasers, especially passive Q-switched machines, carry a much higher risk of scarring.

We also strongly advise against non-laser tattoo removal methods, which are either ineffective or cause unacceptable levels of skin damage.

This procedure is extremely safe. We simply wouldn’t offer it as a service if it wasn’t.

Some clients may experience lightening of the skin (hypopigmentation) during their treatment course, especially in areas where coloured ink has been removed. This is quite common and usually improves with time.

Hyperpigmentation, where your skin reacts to laser treatment is fairly common towards the end of a course of tattoo removal treatment. This sorts itself out over time and it is normal for us to increase intervals between treatment to allow for this when we are in the endgame.

Blisters can occasionally occur, but they are not a sign of anything going wrong. They do, however, require proper care. We offer a full aftercare service to manage this if it happens. SuperStack helps reduce the risk of blistering, so it’s a preferred option for clients who aren’t able to return to the clinic for follow-up care.

SuperStack is an enhanced laser treatment technique we offer as part of tattoo removal. It involves using a fractional Q-switched laser immediately before the main removal passes.

The fractional laser creates tiny, controlled micro-channels in the skin, a bit like microneedling. It’s a powerful addition to the treatment, and it serves several purposes:

• It boosts your immune response. Tattoo removal relies on your immune system to clear broken-down ink. SuperStack helps stimulate local immune activity, giving your body a better chance to do its job.

• It helps with skin texture. The fractional pass lightly resurfaces the skin, removing a thin layer of the epidermis and improving texture over time.

• It allows heat to escape. Although the laser is cold, the ink-breaking process generates heat within the skin. SuperStack creates ducts that allow that heat to dissipate more quickly, which can mean less discomfort and fewer side effects.

Most clients also report faster healing after SuperStack sessions. However, the skin can look more dramatic straight after treatment, with visible pinpoint bleeding on the surface. This is expected, and we always apply a sterile dressing afterwards, as the skin has technically been broken.

There is a 25% additional charge for SuperStack. This probably pays for itself by speeding up the overall removal process. If you send us a picture of your tattoo we will give you price options for our standard protocol as well as our more popular SuperStack treatment.