Tattoo removal

Professional tattoo removal — Q-switched laser and chemical solution methods — chosen to suit your skin, your ink and whether you want full removal or a fade for cover-up.

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Tattoo removal

Overview

Understanding Tattoo removal

Tattoo removal is rarely a one-session procedure. Whether you want a tattoo fully removed or just faded enough to take a cover-up well, success depends on matching the right method to your skin type and the ink involved. We use Q-switched laser for the majority of cases — particularly black, dark blue and dark green ink on a wide range of skin types — and offer chemical solution removal for selected smaller, surface-level tattoos. Honesty about what is achievable comes first.

Our Tattoo removal Treatments

Method Matching

Q-switched laser, chemical removal — chosen by ink, depth, location and skin type.

Skin-Type Aware

Laser settings and intervals are calibrated for Fitzpatrick type.

Realistic Timelines

Most full removals take 6–12 sessions over many months. We are honest about this.

Cover-Up Friendly

We work with tattoo artists where the goal is fade-for-cover-up rather than full removal.

Who It's For

Is this category right for you?

The clients who benefit most from tattoo removal typically share one or more of these goals.

  • Removing an unwanted tattoo completely over a course of sessions
  • Fading a tattoo enough to take a cover-up cleanly
  • Removing or fading semi-permanent makeup that has not faded as expected
  • Touching up partially-removed tattoos started elsewhere
  • Clients who can commit to a course over months

Why method choice matters

Tattoo removal is one of the few aesthetic categories where one tool genuinely doesn't fit all. Skin type, ink colour, ink depth, the age of the tattoo and the goal (full removal vs cover-up fade) all matter. Treating black ink on Fitzpatrick II skin is a different problem from treating green ink on Fitzpatrick V skin — and a clinic that treats both the same way is not a clinic that should be doing tattoo removal.

We use Q-switched laser as the primary tool for most cases, with chemical solution removal offered selectively where it is the better option (smaller surface tattoos, selected cosmetic micropigmentation removal, or as part of combination strategy).

What to expect from a course

Tattoo removal is a marathon, not a sprint. After your first laser session you will see the tattoo darken and form a small scab; over the following 4–6 weeks the body's immune system clears fragmented pigment particles and the tattoo lightens. We then schedule the next session.

A typical timeline:

  • Sessions every 6–8 weeks (sooner is not better — the body needs time to clear pigment)
  • Visible fade after 2–3 sessions in most cases
  • Full removal at 6–12 sessions for professional tattoos
  • Strict SPF on the treated area between sessions

Cost is per session — we publish per-treatment pricing on the laser tattoo removal and chemical tattoo removal pages and provide a written estimate after assessing your tattoo at consultation.

Honest expectations

Some tattoos clear beautifully. Some leave faint shadowing. A small minority leave skin texture or subtle pigment change even after careful treatment. We will not promise an outcome we cannot deliver. If we don't think your tattoo will respond well to the methods we offer, we will say so — and refer you to a specialist where appropriate.

FAQs

Tattoo removal — questions we are asked most

How many laser sessions will I need?
Most amateur tattoos clear in 4–8 sessions; most professional black ink tattoos take 6–12 sessions; multi-coloured tattoos can take longer. Sessions are typically spaced 6–8 weeks apart to allow the body to clear pigment between treatments. We give a per-tattoo estimate at consultation and review every few sessions.

Is laser tattoo removal painful?
Most clients describe it as similar to or slightly more intense than the original tattooing. We use topical anaesthetic and skin cooling to manage discomfort. Sessions are short — minutes for most tattoos.

What about coloured ink and lighter colours?
Black, dark blue and dark green respond best to Q-switched laser. Red and brown often respond well. Lighter colours (yellow, light blue, white) are more challenging — sometimes responding very well, sometimes very little. We test a small area at consultation when uncertain.

Are there risks of scarring or pigment change?
When laser is correctly chosen and dosed, scarring is uncommon. The most frequent skin-related side effects are temporary lightening (hypopigmentation) or darkening (hyperpigmentation) of the treated area, particularly in darker skin types. Strict SPF aftercare reduces risk; we will pause treatment if pigment changes occur and resume safely.

When is chemical tattoo removal the right choice?
Chemical solution removal — using a saline-based or controlled chemical lifting agent — can be appropriate for smaller, more superficial tattoos and for some cosmetic tattoo (semi-permanent makeup) cases. It is not a substitute for laser on most professional body tattoos.

Can I have a cover-up tattoo over partially-removed ink?
Yes — and partial removal is often the goal rather than full removal. We will work with you and your tattoo artist to fade the existing piece enough that a cover-up can be designed without compromise. Plan for fewer sessions than full removal but still 3–6 typically.

Speak to our clinical team

Every tattoo removal plan begins with a private consultation in West Hampstead. We will review your goals, assess suitability and recommend the smallest effective intervention.

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