Tattoo Removal

Laser tattoo removal at Seattle Plastic Surgery Center from $99 per session for a business-card-sized area. Laser energy shatters ink particles in the skin, which are gradually cleared by the immune system over weeks. Multiple sessions are required for full clearance — typically 5–10 sessions spaced 6–8 weeks apart. Black ink responds most readily; colored inks may require additional sessions. Sessions run approximately 15 minutes for small areas.

Tattoo removal at Seattle Plastic Surgery Center uses a Q-switched laser to break down ink particles embedded in the dermis, triggering their gradual clearance by the body's immune system. When a tattoo is applied, ink pigment particles are suspended in the upper and mid dermis and surrounded by macrophages that cannot break them down due to their size. Q-switched laser pulses deliver extremely high-peak-power energy in nanosecond bursts that are absorbed by the ink particles and converted to photoacoustic shock waves — the mechanical explosive energy from the shock wave shatters the ink clusters into much smaller fragments that the macrophages and lymphatic system can then process and remove. Different ink colors require different laser wavelengths for optimal absorption: black, dark blue, and dark green inks absorb well at 1064 nm Nd:YAG; red and orange inks at 532 nm KTP; other colors including light green, turquoise, and yellow are more resistant and may require a picosecond laser or higher session counts. The entry price of $99 per session covers a business-card-sized treatment area, with larger tattoos proportionally priced at consultation. A typical tattoo requires 5–10 treatment sessions spaced 6–8 weeks apart to allow the immune system to clear the shattered ink particles between sessions; amateur tattoos with less ink density and more superficial placement may clear in fewer sessions than professional tattoos. Post-treatment redness, frosting (temporary whitening from steam from the treated tissue), and mild blistering are expected findings, resolving within 1–2 weeks. Treated areas must be kept out of sun exposure during the clearance period.