Laser Tattoo Removal (Picosecond)

Picosecond laser removal of unwanted tattoos. Ultra-short laser pulses shatter the tattoo ink into tiny particles that the body then clears over the following weeks, fading the tattoo session by session. Both black and coloured or mixed-ink tattoos can be treated. Pricing is by tattoo size per session, and a full removal takes several sessions spaced weeks apart.

Laser tattoo removal at HappyDERM uses a picosecond laser, which delivers its energy in extremely short pulses. These bursts create a photomechanical shockwave that breaks the embedded tattoo pigment into particles far smaller than older lasers can achieve; the body's immune system then gradually carries those fragments away, so the tattoo lightens progressively after each treatment. The picosecond approach is effective across a range of ink colours — the clinic prices black-ink and coloured or mixed-ink tattoos separately — and tends to need fewer sessions and be gentler on the surrounding skin than nanosecond lasers. The area is cooled and eye protection is worn; a session lasts from a few minutes for a small tattoo up to around half an hour for a large one. Immediately afterwards the skin is reddened and may form a light frost, blister or scab that must be allowed to heal without picking. Several sessions, spaced roughly six to eight weeks apart to let the skin recover and the body clear the broken-down ink, are required to remove a tattoo — the exact number depends on its size, age, depth, colours and location. Permanent make-up (eyebrows, lip and eyeliner) can also be treated. Realistic expectations, the likely number of sessions and aftercare are discussed before starting, and strict sun protection of the treated area is important throughout. The treatment is avoided in pregnancy and over a suntan.