“How much will it cost?” is the first question almost every client asks us at Erase & Embrace Tattoo Removal in Temecula. Continue reading below to find out how tattoo removal is priced, what changes your total price, and how to compare clinics fairly.
How is laser tattoo removal priced?
Most clinics charge per session, based on the size of the tattoo. A larger tattoo takes longer to treat and uses more laser pulses, so each session costs more.
But the price per session is only half the equation. Your total investment depends on how many sessions your tattoo needs to reach your goal, whether that is full removal or lightening for a cover-up.
Total cost = price per session × number of sessions
At Erase & Embrace, sessions start at $50 for tattoos that are as small as a dime. But prices vary based on the following factors discussed below.
Why two tattoos the same size can cost different amounts
Two tattoos of the same size have the same price per session. What differs is the number of sessions. Clinicians often estimate it with the Kirby-Desai scale, a scoring system published in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology. It rates six factors.
1. Ink color. Lasers target specific colors with specific wavelengths of light. Black ink absorbs laser energy most readily. Blue, green and yellow often take more sessions. Pico lasers help with stubborn colors by breaking ink into finer particles.
2. Amount of ink. Professional tattoos usually contain more ink, placed more deeply and evenly, than amateur tattoos. More ink typically means more sessions.
3. Layering. A cover-up is two tattoos in the same spot. The extra ink usually adds sessions.
4. Location. Areas with stronger circulation, such as the head, neck and upper arm, tend to clear faster. Tattoos on the feet and lower legs tend to clear more slowly. A 2012 study found tattoos on the legs and feet were more resistant to removal.
5. Skin type. Deeper skin tones contain more melanin, which also absorbs laser energy. Treatment settings are adjusted for safety, which can add sessions.
6. Scarring. Existing scar tissue from the original tattoo can make ink harder to reach.
How many sessions does tattoo removal take?
Most tattoos need multiple sessions. In a 2012 study, about half of patients achieved successful removal after 10 sessions, and about 75% after 15. That study used older Q-switched lasers rather than pico lasers.
Your habits matter too. The same study found smokers were about 70% less likely to clear their tattoo within 10 sessions. Read how laser tattoo removal works and 6 ways to get better results.
How to compare tattoo removal prices
A low price per session does not always mean a low total. Before choosing a clinic in Temecula or anywhere else, ask these questions:
- What laser do you use? Pico lasers deliver energy in trillionths of a second and break ink into finer particles than nanosecond lasers.
- How many sessions do you estimate for my tattoo, and why?
- What is the total estimated cost, not just the price per session?
- How far apart are sessions? Spacing sessions at least 8 weeks apart was linked to better results in the 2012 study.
- Who performs the treatment, and what training do they have?
- Are payment plans available?
Can I pay for tattoo removal over time?
Yes. Because sessions are spaced about 8 weeks apart, the cost of removal is naturally spread over months rather than paid all at once. Erase & Embrace also offers payment plans to make treatment more manageable.
Get your tattoo removal estimate in Temecula
Erase & Embrace Tattoo Removal uses FDA-cleared pico laser technology (specifically the Candela PicoWay laser) and serves clients from Temecula, Murrieta, Menifee, Lake Elsinore and across the Temecula Valley. At your complimentary consultation, we assess your tattoo’s color, ink density, location and your skin, then give you an honest estimate of sessions and total cost.
Learn more about laser tattoo removal
If you have any other questions, feel free to contact our clinic at 951-540-6524.
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References
- Kirby W, Desai A, et al. The Kirby-Desai Scale: a proposed scale to assess tattoo-removal treatments. Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology. 2009.
- Bencini PL, Cazzaniga S, Tourlaki A, Galimberti MG, Naldi L. Removal of tattoos by Q-switched laser: variables influencing outcome and sequelae in a large cohort of treated patients. Archives of Dermatology. 2012. doi:10.1001/archdermatol.2012.2946
- Smoking makes tattoo removal less successful. UF Health.
