Is Tattoo Removal Painful?
For most patients procedure is performed under topical skin cooling without analgesia however we do provide topical lidocaine and injectable lidocaine for pain relief during your laser tattoo removal treatment based on your preference*

*Topical and injectable lidocaine is subject to additional fees.

How Does Pico Laser Remove Tattoos?

At Maryland Laser Tattoo Removal we utilize state of t he art PICO laser technology. If you think of a pigmentation or tattoo like a boulder, the Discovery PICO uses pico-second mode to break those ink particles into fine particles until the entire boulder is nothing but dust which then gets picked up by your immune system. The Discovery is also unique because it’s the only pico-second laser with three true laser wavelengths which allows it to eliminate the full spectrum of tattoo colors including red, yellow and green. 

We also utilize a propriety technology called FracTat to remove tattoos more effectively. This is a two step treatment protocol that significantly reduces number of treatments while reducing significant side effects such as blistering or scarring  after the treatments. FracTat utilizes a fractional laser pulse to help create small channels/holes in the skin which helps laser removal of the ink. FracTat helps release the gas particles created during laser tattoo removal treatments therefore increasing the effectiveness of laser tattoo removal process.

How Much is Laser Tattoo removal? What is the cost of Laser Tattoo removal?

Please VISIT our pricing page to get more information on pricing and specials

Who will be performing my treatments?

Our board certified physicians will perform the treatments,

How how long does it take for a tattoo to heal after laser tattoo removal?

Initial healing with formation of scabs and sometimes blisters will take about a week. It is very important to keep the area covered with an occlusive balm such as Vaseline or Aquaphor and a cover dressing such as gauze or transparent films. After this period the area will usually completely heal within 6 weeks

How often can laser tattoo removal be done?

We recommend scheduling your treatments at least 6 weeks apart to allow the skin to fully heal and prevent scarring in between treatment sessions. Certain parts of your body such as skin tend to heal faster and can be treated every 4 weeks if full healing of the skin is noticed after your laser tattoo removal treatment.

Will My Laser Tattoo Removal Treatment Be Painful?

The Discovery power settings and hand pieces were designed to maximize comfort and to reduce side effects and healing time.  For most patients pain is tolerable with the application of cooling air only. Also the duration of the treatments are usually quick within minutes. If you have a low pain tolerance topical anesthesia with anesthetic creams or injectable anesthetic is also available.

How Many Treatments Will I Need?

The number of treatments will vary depending on many different factors such as patient's skin type, age of tattoo and color profile as well as age of the individual and several other factors. We recommend a personalized consultation to determine your individual needs. Discovery PICO laser can ultimately reduce the number of sessions required to achieve the desired outcome.

Will Laser Tattoo Removal Cause Scarring?

It is extremely rare to experience scarring after laser tattoo removal with safe parameters. We have years of experience with no serious scarring so far with thousands of patients treated. It is possible to have scarring if the treatment area is not carefully taken care of immediately after the treatments which may cause secondary infections and possible scarring therefore it is very important that you follow the post treatment instructions carefully and minimize contact with the treatment area during the first week after your treatment.

Does Laser Tattoo removal Burn The Skin/Tattoo ink During Treatment

NO, the laser pulse mode used for tattoo removal is an extremely fast pulse that does not create significant heat. Primary mechanism of action on the tissue is through an acoustic effect that breaks down the ink particles into smaller sized particles which are then carried away by the immune system and lymphatics.

I started my treatments somewhere else can i come in and continue my laser tattoo removal treatments with you?

Yes, absolutely. We treat patients from other states and other practices. We also help get rid of some of the scarring that may have been created by those procedures with the benefits of our fractional treatment protocols.

Can you guarantee that you will remove my tattoo completely?

While we thrive to deliver you the best results your tattoo may not be completely removed. Complete removal of full sleeve tattos , large tattoos depend on tattoo ink, your skin tone and color of tattoo ink. Also your overall health condition, presence of previous scarring on the tattooed area, location of your tattoo all affect the results. For example darker skin tones and colored tattoos are a challenging combination as the wavelengths utilized to remove such colors such as 532, 585, 694 also show high affinity to the melanin in the skin which may result in unwanted side effects such as discolorations and blistering. We explain these factors to our clients at the time of their consultations.

Can you remove my tattoo in one treatment?

Potentially yes. If you have a very old (usually 20 years or older) and faded tattoo in black and especially if it was not professionally made it can be removed in one session. However most tattoos are not in this category and number of treatments will depend on the age of your tattoo, ink density, color profile, location, your age, health condition, smoking status.

What is the aftercare for laser tattoo removal ?

Aftercare for laser tattoo removal is quite simple. Application of an occlusive balm such as petroleum gel (Vaseline, Aquaphor etc.) is usually sufficient. Some patients experience severe itching after the laser tattoo removal treatments and this can be alleviated with application of over the counter hydrocortisone cream for several days. Treatment area must be covered with a gauze or transparent dressing to avoid infection or additional trauma to the skin. Direct sun exposure to the area also should be avoided to prevent pigmentation changes to the skin. In rare case of blistering or scabs these should never be touched, popped or picked at as this will create scarring and potentially lead to infection and complications. Antibiotics or antibiotic creams are usually not necessary after laser tattoo removal treatments and usually only indicated if there is any signs of infection such as redness, severe tenderness or drainage. Please contact us if there is any signs of infection after your treatment as soon as possible.