Tattoo Removal
Your tattoo removal journey starts by sending us a picture of the art you want removed:
Click to send us a picture for advice and an estimate
The premium choice for Tattoo Removal in the North of Scotland
We have sucessfully removed tattoos since 2015 and have the before and after pictures to prove it
We use world class medical grade active Q-Switch lasers and advanced techniques to remove your tattoo safely and effectively
For multicoloured tattoo removal, different colours of ink can be targetted with 3 powerful native wavelengths. The Nd:YAG laser is best at treating black and dark blues and on another setting red, yellow and orange.
Q-Switched Ruby Laser is the best way to remove green and light blue which conventional Nd:YAG lasers simply can’t touch
The clinical action of the laser is to break up the fragments of ink in your tattoo into tiny pieces. These tiny fragments of ink are now small enough for your immune system to absorb and remove. This process continues over time and repeated treatments until your entire tattoo is removed.
Superstack enhanced Tattoo Removal
Advanced stacked tattoo treatment combines fractional resurfacing with tattoo removal in the same session. Gives enhanced removal and reduced side effects. The vast majority of our tattoo removal customers opt for Superstack
Benefits of Superstack
Accelerated removal
Fewer side effects
Simultaneous scar reduction
Recommended for:
Layered Tattoos
Recent Tattoos
Scarred Tattoos
Resistant Tattoos
Allergic Tattoos
Very Faded Tattoos
All Tattoos
Please note that we invented the term “SuperStack”, so Googling it wont show you very much. The treatment is more properly called non-ablative fractional laser combined with tattoo removal, but that’s a bit of a mouthful and we felt it needed a name. This technique has been used internationally for at least 5 years now but we think we’re the only centre in Scotland offering it
How long will it take to remove my tattoo and how much will it cost?
Our standard estimate for full removal of a machine made black tattoo is 8 to 12 treatment sessions, but it can take longer than that. A lot of different factors influence speed of removal and these will be discussed at your consultation. Please see Prices for a guide to cost.
We always like to quote you the price for removal before coming to see us, your tattoo removal journey starts by sending us a picture of your tattoo. We will reply with an estimated price which will be confirmed when we see you in person.
Other clinics say that they can remove my tattoo faster than that?
We use extremely high quality eqipment and advanced techniques. We give realistic estimates to our customers and always tell the truth
Why is the Highland Laser Clinic Technology better than other systems?
Our tattoo removal platform is a premium medical grade Active Q-Switch laser. Passive Q-Switch Lasers are more common and much, much cheaper. They are usually Chinese built and are often portable. They invariably cause widespread scarring and damage to your skin. They are not fit for purpose and should be banned. If someone points something that looks like a gun on the end of a hose at you, run away!
Please see our blog post Spotting Cowboys for more on this
Our Quanta Q-Plus C is a dual laser platform. Q-Switch Nd:YAG lasers are the workhorses of the tattoo removal industry and are great at removing black, red, yellow and dark blue tattoo colours. Uniquely, our system also boasts a Q-Switch Ruby laser. This can remove light blues and green which Nd:YAG lasers can't touch.
On lesser lasers the energy delivered is higher in the centre of the spot and falls away at the edges, this can cause hot spots and burns. The Quanta Q-Plus C Evo uses Optibeam technology to produce a top hat energy profile across its square spot. This means that the energy level is the same across the width of the laser spot on your skin making it safer and more effective.
If I have a tattoo removed, can I get another tattoo in its place?
Yes you can. We call this "preparation for coverup". The treatment is exactly the same, but it means you can get away with far fewer sessions. Our standard guess is 6 sessions to prepare for coverup, but it does depend on the tattoo you have now and the design you want once it’s finished. Typically, the more removal you have the smaller and lighter your coverup tattoo can be. Please note, we remove tattoos but we are not tattooists. We have a number of tattoo studios in the Inverness area that we are happy to recommend based upon their artistry and quality of service
What do I do before I come?
Hydrate well on your day of treatment and make sure you haven't skipped any meals before coming for tattoo removal, particularly if you are having a large tattoo removed.
Please wear loose clothing that allows easy access to your tattoo and will be comfortable against your skin after treatment
Please do not put any products, creams or moisturisers on your skin on the day of treatment
Don't come with a hangover or intoxicated. If you're feeling unwell in any way, it would be better to reschedule your appointment to a later time
If you are having your tattoo removed from a hairy place, please shave the area 24 hours before treatment using a quality new razor.
Do not expose the skin to strong sunlight, sunbeds or self tanning applications for at least 4 weeks before each laser treatment
Will it hurt?
Yes it does hurt, there's no getting away from it, but it's over very quickly. We get consistent feedback that it feels like being pinged repeatedly with a rubber band.
We use a specialist aesthetic cold air blower that chills your skin before, during and after treatment. This helps protect your skin and makes the procedure much more comfortable.
How does the skin look after treatment?
An instant whitening or frosting of the tattoo is seen after treatment, but this fades after a few minutes. It then goes red and a bit swollen. A soothing antimicrobial gel will be applied, and we may cover the site with a sterile dressing if indicated.
If you opt for Superstack enhanced tattoo removal, you will see some minimal bleeding on the surface of your skin
The tattoo is mostly healed in 3 to 7 days after treatment and is fully healed from 2 to 4 weeks after treatment. Fading of the tattoo will occur over the full 8 weeks between treatments.
Will tattoo removal scar me?
Scarring of any kind is rare.
Textural changes from the original tattooing process is possible. This can become more obvious as the ink is removed. Superstack treatment is recommended for these cases.
Scarring from the tattoo removal itself is also possible, but tends to be minimal and is normally caused by poor aftercare, particularly picking and scratching at healing tattoos following laser treatment. With our current equipment we estimate our scarring rate to be less than 1% of customers treated.
Not all lasers are made equal and cheap tattoo removal lasers are extremely likely to scar you. Non-laser tattoo removal "treatments” either don’t work, or cause harmful and unacceptable levels of scarring. We strongly advise against this approach.
Are there any other side effects?
This procedure is extremely safe otherwise we wouldn't be offering it as a service.
Blisters can occur and do not indicate a problem but are something that needs intervention. We offer a full aftercare service to deal with this. Superstack helps to reduce risks of blistering so is a preferred option for customers who are unable to travel back to the clinic for aftercare.
The skin may become lighter during your course of treatment. This is quite common particularly where colours have been removed. This is known as hypopigmentation and usually improves with time.
What is a laser?
Laser is light, clean sterile light amplified to a very high energy. It is an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. We have a number of different lasers at our disposal to perform a number of aesthetic procedures. See Technology.
What do I do when I get there?
Detailed directions to the Highland Laser Clinic can be found on the Find Us page.
There are 2 designated parking places, one right in front on the clinic, and one up the side of Birchwood house. Please care not to obstruct access to our neighbour. Please note that our neighbour has a collie dog, who might shout at you a bit (it’s her job), but she's a sweetie really.
The clinic entrance is round to the left hand side of the house near the wooden fence.
We do not have a waiting room facility, so if you’re early or in the rare instance that we have an appointment over running, you may have to wait in your car.
If the blinds are closed in the clinic room, we are probably busy with another customer.
What happens at my consultation?
We sit down and discuss the procedure and how it all works. We talk about outcomes, side effects, risk factors and how to achieve the results you want. We aim to be completely transparent and open in these discussions and advise you to the best of or abilities, even if that is to recommend that you do not proceed with treatment with us.
Consultation is free. Once all your questions have been answered you can then choose to proceed with patch testing, or you can go away and think about it, or decide then and there that treatment is not for you. It’s up to you. There is no hard sell.
Do I have to have a Patch Test before treatment?
YES. Patch testing is part of the terms of our insurance and is compulsory before any treatment without exception. Patch testing is normally charged at £30 per site.
Can I bring someone with me?
Normally we would say yes, but in these pandemic times we are trying to minimise the number of people visiting the clinic. You can bring someone with you if you have a good reason to but please discuss this with us first. For safety reasons, children can not be in the clinic during laser treatment under any circumstances.
How do I pay for my treatment?
Highland Laser Clinic has the facility to take payment from a wide range of debit and credit cards, by using your phone, or using direct transfer to our bank using Bacs. We no longer accept American Express. You can pay as you go for each treatment individually. For some courses of treatment you can pay in advance for a block of 6 sessions for a 10% discount. We do not offer credit terms.
What do I do after treatment?
Detailed aftercare instructions are provided after your first treatment and an aftercare document is provided for reference. This is also emailed to you after treatment.
We are always available for post-treatment advice. If you have any issues we may ask you to come in for review. We never charge for any follow up appointments, only for treatment sessions.
Can I reschedule my appointment?
Yes. Our clients are really busy people and we fully respect that. We make it it easy to reschedule appointments at short notice so that if something unexpected comes up folk can change their booking. There is a personalised RESCHEDULE link on your confirmation email that is unique to your booking and will take you to an online diary to choose another time and date. If you no longer have the confirmation email for that booking you will need to contact us so that we can arrange it for you.
However, we are really busy people as well and do demand a certain degree of reliability. If customers repeatedly reschedule, particularly with less than 48 hours notice, we may ask for a non-refundable deposit or payment up front to confirm their booking.
Can I cancel my appointment?
Yes. If you need to cancel your appointment because you no longer require treatment with us, or if you do not yet know the date you are able to reschedule to, you can use the personalised CANCEL link on your confirmation email that is unique to your booking. If you no longer have the confirmation email for that booking you will need to contact us so that we can arrange it for you.
If customers repeatedly cancel, particularly with less than 48 hours notice, we may ask for a non-refundable deposit or payment up front to confirm future bookings.
I have another question not listed here?
Please contact us with any additional questions you might have.
Pre Treatment Advice
8 Weeks before treatment
• Your tattoo needs to be at least 8 weeks old before we can patch test or begin treatment, this is to give time for ink to cycle out of your epidermis via natural skin turnover
4 Weeks before to treatment
• Do not expose the skin to strong sunlight, sunbeds or self tanning applications for at least 4 weeks before each laser treatment
24 hours before treatment
• Make sure area being treated is cleanly shaved 24 hours prior to treatment using a good sharp blade
On the day of treatment
• Please do not have any kind of product on the area to be treated on the day of treatment, including fake tan
• Don’t be hungry, or thirsty, don't be hung-over or just worked a nightshift
• Avoid swimming in chlorinated water immediately before or after treatment
• Wear comfortable clothing that is easy to remove or adjust out of the way if your tattoo is normally covered
• You may choose to take paracetamol an hour before treatment to help mitigate treatment associated pain if that’s a safe drug for you to use, but please do not consume aspirin, ibuprofen or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAID’s)
Recovery
For the first 24 hours
• Remove any dressings the day after treatment if still applied. The shower is a good place to do this especially if adhesive dressings have been used
For the first 3 days after treatment
• Wash the site daily using finger tips and a simple soap. Please avoid antiseptic products or those with fragrances, moisturisers, essential oils or high tech ingredients. Do not try to remove any material. Rinse and pat dry with a clean towel
• Apply Savlon (if tolerated) to the affected areas twice a day. Aloe Vera, Vaseline or whatever product you usually use after getting a tattoo can be used instead
• Treated areas will be red and swollen and may feel tender. Do not pick, scratch or otherwise irritate the treated area
• If any blistering or other unusual side effect occurs, contact Highland Laser Clinic immediately to arrange aftercare. Do not burst blisters yourself
For the first week
• Avoid all heat treatments and do not soak. This includes hot baths, saunas, steam rooms and hot showers directly on the site
• No swimming in chlorinated water
• Do not use bleaching creams
• Avoid perfumed products e.g. soaps, creams or perfumes on the site
• Do not shave the area
In the 2 weeks post treatment
• Do not use fake tan
• If site become itchy, do not scratch. Moisturise. You could try an
antihistamine medication from your pharmacist
• See your doctor in the unlikely event that you have signs of infection such as pus, bad odour, failure to heal or spreading inflammation
In the 8 weeks post treatment
• Use sun protection SPF30+ as required
• Limit sun exposure and do not use tanning beds. We can not treat coloured tattoos if you are tanned. Treating black tattoos when tanned increases risks of hypopigmentation (lightening of the skin)