The in the tattoo parlor than it does on your arm now. Trust me, you are definitely not the first person to walk into a Vaughan clinic wanting laser tattoo removal. The technology today is nothing like what we had back then. Remember those horror stories your friends used to tell about tattoo removal? The ones where people ended up with terrible scars or spent 50 sessions trying to get rid of a small butterfly? Yeah, those days are pretty much over.
These days, we use machines like the PicoSure laser and Picoway systems that can break down tattoo ink without destroying your skin. The whole process has become so much better. Keep in mind that some people might need somewhere between 6 and 15 sessions, depending on their tattoo. And the pricing has become way more reasonable, too. Small tattoos start around $199 per session, while bigger pieces might run you about $1,299 for a complete package.
Here is what really surprised me when I started doing this work. That means millions of people across Canada are walking around wishing they could erase some ink. In our Vaughan alone, we see about 100 new patients every month asking about tattoo removal treatments.
How Laser Tattoo Removal In Vaughan Actually Works
So here’s the thing about tattoo ink. When you get that tattoo, the artist basically stabs thousands of tiny holes in your skin and shoves colored particles way down deep. Your body freaked out and tried to get rid of them, but the ink particles were too big.
Imagine you swallowed a golf ball. Your body can’t digest it or get rid of it. But if someone could magically break that golf ball into sand, your body could flush it out, no problem. That’s basically what happens when you opt for laser tattoo removal services Vaughan.
I had a guy come in last month with a massive eagle on his chest. He got it when he was 18, and now he’s 35 with kids. His daughter asked him why he had a bird living on his chest. That was his breaking point. The thing is, that tattoo took him 3 hours to get, but it’s going to take us about 2 years to remove completely.
Different colors need different lasers. Black ink is easy—it absorbs pretty much any laser we throw at it. Red comes off pretty well, too. But green and yellow? Those are a pain in the butt. We have about five different laser machines here because some colors are just stubborn.
The Machines We Actually Use
The PicoSure is our newest toy, and honestly, it’s pretty amazing. It works super fast – like faster than you can blink. Most people see their tattoos start fading after just 3 or 4 sessions with this thing. It costs a bit more per session, usually around $549 for medium tattoos, but you need fewer treatments overall.
We’ve got this older Candela machine that’s been with us for about 8 years. It still works great, especially on really dark tattoos. It’s a bit slower than the PicoSure, but way cheaper. Sessions run about $299 to $399, depending on size.
Then there’s our Cynosure machine. This one is perfect for people with darker skin tones. The other lasers can sometimes cause weird pigmentation issues on darker skin, but the Cynosure is much gentler.
Last year, we got this Picoway system that everyone raves about. Honestly, it works great, but I’m not sure it’s worth the extra cost for most people. The results are maybe 10 percent better than our other machines, but it costs almost twice as much per session.
What Happens During Your First Visit
Walking into a medical office is always intimidating. Especially when you’re about to pay someone to zap you with a laser beam. But the consultation is actually pretty chill. Some tattoos come off completely. Others fade to maybe 80 or 90 percent. A few stubborn ones might only get 60 percent lighter. I’ve learned not to promise miracles because every tattoo is different.
We always ask about medications because some interfere with healing. If you’re on Accutane, we have to wait. Blood thinners make you bruise like crazy. The biggest factor is actually the tattoo artist who did your original work. Professional tattoos with good-quality ink usually come off cleaner than basement tattoos done with who-knows-what kind of ink.
What Actually Happens During Treatment
The day of your first treatment, you’re probably going to be nervous. Everyone is. We’ll take some before and after laser tattoo removal pictures and then numb up the area with lidocaine cream. Some people want the laughing gas too, especially for big tattoos or sensitive spots like (lips and fingertips).
Big pieces can take 30 or 45 minutes, while the smaller ones are often done within 5 minutes. Your skin turns white and chalky looking during treatment – we call it frosting. Looks weird, but it’s totally normal.
Afterwards, we slap some antibiotic ointment on it and wrap it up. You’ll look like you got a bad sunburn for a few days. Most people are recommended to take ibuprofen for the slight pain they experience after the treatment.
I remember this woman came in with a tramp stamp from college. She was getting married and didn’t want it in her wedding photos. The tattoo was just black lettering. We got about 95 percent removal in 7 sessions over 14 months. It cost her around $1,299 in total, and she was thrilled.
Let’s Talk Money Because Everyone Wants to Know
You’ll probably need 6 to 10 sessions spaced 8 weeks apart if you have small symbols or finger pieces. Medium tattoos – think wrist pieces, small roses, names – cost around $399 to $549 per treatment. These usually take around 15 sessions. However, the bigger tattoos are expensive. Full sleeves, back pieces, and large chest tattoos can cost $799 to $1,299 per session. And you might need more than 20 sessions in total. We’re talking serious money here – sometimes $15,000 to $20,000 total.
We offer package deals that save you some cash. For example, if you need 10 sessions at $549 each, we might offer a package for $4,500 instead of $5,490. Every little bit helps when you’re looking at thousands of dollars. Some people try to bargain with us. Look, this isn’t a flea market. The best tattoo removal requires good laser equipment, which costs hundreds of thousands of dollars. Proper training takes years, and professional people do this. You get what you pay for.
When Things Go Wrong
Most of the time, everything goes fine. But sometimes people get infections, scarring, or weird color changes in their skin. Infections usually happen when people don’t follow aftercare instructions. They go swimming too soon or don’t keep the area clean. Antibiotics clear it up, but it can delay your next treatment.
Scarring is pretty rare, maybe 2 or 3 percent of patients. It usually happens to people who pick at their scabs or have a history of bad scarring. Some skin types just scar more easily. The weirdest thing I’ve seen is when the laser actually makes tattoo ink turn darker instead of lighter. It’s rare, but it happens with certain inks, especially cosmetic tattoos like permanent makeup. There’s not much we can do about it except wait and try different laser settings.
People Who Should Just Say No
Pregnant women need to wait. Laser tattoo removal during pregnancy is generally not recommended. The heat from the laser can potentially cause harm or discomfort, and there’s limited research on its safety for both the mother and baby. It’s best to wait until after pregnancy to undergo laser tattoo removal. Always consult a healthcare provider before making any decisions.
And we’re not going to find out using you as a test subject. If you’re taking Accutane, wait at least 6 months after stopping before we’ll treat you. That stuff makes your skin thin and fragile. Same goes for some cancer medications and immune suppressants.
People with autoimmune diseases like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis sometimes don’t heal well after laser treatments. We can try it, but you need to understand the risks. And if you get keloid scars – those thick, raised scars – laser removal might make things worse. We usually won’t treat people with a history of keloids unless the tattoo is really small and we can test a tiny area first.
Conclusion
Sure, it might cost you anywhere from $1,299 for a small piece to $15,000 for a full sleeve. And yes, you might need 8 to 20 sessions spread over 2 years. But compare that to living with a tattoo you hate for the rest of your life.
The technology keeps getting better. The PicoSure and Picoway systems we use today would blow your mind compared to what we had 10 years ago. With technology on the rise, such treatments are less painful, faster, and tend to give better results. Most people are shocked at how much their tattoo fades after just a few sessions.
Ready to take the first step? Book your free consultation with Lumiskins today. Our best laser tattoo removal treatment will help you.