Laser Tattoo Removal

Laser tattoo removal using one of the most comprehensive multi-laser programmes in the United States, with eleven different laser platforms including Nd:YAG, PicoPlus, PicoSure, ruby laser, Fraxel Re:pair CO2, and CO2RE. Multi-colour tattoos and professionally placed ink are treated using the wavelength matched to each ink colour. The number of sessions varies by tattoo complexity; partial to full clearance is the goal.

The Laser & Skin Surgery Center of New York offers one of the most comprehensive laser tattoo removal programmes in the country, with eleven different laser platforms available to address the full spectrum of tattoo ink colours, depths, and densities. This multi-laser approach is clinically meaningful because different ink pigments absorb light selectively at different wavelengths, and no single laser can achieve efficient clearance across all ink colours. Black and dark blue inks absorb the broadest range of laser wavelengths and are typically treated with 1064 nm Nd:YAG (nanosecond or picosecond), ruby (694 nm), or PicoPlus at 1064 nm. Red and warm-toned inks are optimally targeted by 532 nm KTP energy. Green and teal inks — historically the most resistant to removal — respond best to the 755 nm alexandrite wavelength available in PicoSure and GentleLase. Blue-black professional tattoos typically require the greatest number of sessions due to high ink density and depth, while amateur tattoos placed at shallow depths with standard household inks often clear in fewer sessions. Picosecond platforms (PicoSure, PicoPlus) are associated with more efficient ink shattering per session compared to nanosecond devices, as the photoacoustic mechanism generates greater fragmentation per pulse. The Fraxel Re:pair CO2 and CO2RE lasers are available as adjuncts for specific difficult-to-clear inks or to resurface skin irregularities that may persist after ink clearance. The treating physician assesses the tattoo's colour map, estimated ink depth, patient skin type, and previous treatment history before designing a session protocol that sequences the appropriate laser platforms. Post-treatment, treated areas form superficial crusting and mild blistering that heals within ten to fourteen days, followed by progressive lightening of ink over six to twelve weeks as the immune system clears the fragmented particles. Sessions are spaced a minimum of six to eight weeks apart to allow adequate immune clearance between visits.