To get rid of tattoo is very expensive. Laser tattoo removal offers the most effective and the safest way to remove unwanted marks. Several skin clinics, dermatologists and even spas now offer this cosmetic surgery. It is now possible to shop around first to get the best value out of your budget.
Laser tattoo removal is a cosmetic procedure and it is not covered by any health or medical insurance. So how much is laser removal then? Most skin clinics and spas could charge up to $500 to $1000 per session depending on several factors:
- The age of the tattoo. The older the tattoo the harder to erase, thus several treatments must be done to completely erase the mark. The treatment could cost from $200 to $500 and if local anesthesia is used to mask the minimal pain felt during the procedure, extra fees could be charged.
- The size of the tattoo. The bigger the area covered by the tattoo design the bigger the cost of the laser tattoo removal procedure. This is also true if the design is intrinsic in pattern, the specialist could give you a quote that could totally blow your budget.
- The brightness of the colors used. The brighter the ink used for the tattoo design the harder to erase. Yellow and turquoise color ink are harder to remove thus several sessions have to be done to completely erase it.
- If you masked the unwanted tattoo before. If you tried to cover the tattoo design with another tattoo or correct it to make it more pleasing then it is harder to get the design off. Another layer of ink was added to the first making the ink pigments harder to dissolve. It is like covering the pigment with another layer. You will need several sessions to finally erase the mark.
- The area where the tattoo is. If the design is on the flat surface of the body like the stomach, the chest and the back the easier to remove thus fewer sessions for laser treatment is needed. If the design is located in the bony and irregular areas of the body like the digits of the hands and the toes or the ankles the more treatments are needed to remove it completely.
Another related factor that consumers need to be aware of is the specialist who will do the procedure or the laser treatment. If the method is to be done by a skin specialist with years of experience in the procedure the professional fee would be a little higher of course as compared to a dermatologist in a spa setting. You can check out the site for the American Society of Dermatologic Surgery for a free physician finder service. This is handy for consumers who don’t know where to start looking for the ideal specialist for laser tattoo removal.
Another related factor is the location of the clinic or the spa. If it is located in a mall it could be more costly compared to a specialist with his own private clinic at home. A doctor’s office in a hospital setting is also a lot cheaper than procedures done in spas. However there are specials or bundles that a spa could offer like you could have a free facial along with laser tattoo removal or a free manicure after the procedure. Watch out for discounted offers too in case the spa or the mall have a sale for the holidays.
Now you know the factors that may influence laser tattoo removal. As a consumer we have to be keen on these to get the best value out of our money.
