Frequently Asked Questions

Most clients need a minimum of 6 to 8 treatments for complete tattoo removal. Clients with older, faded tattoos or looking to lighten their tattoo for a cover-up may require as little as 2 to 4 treatments. The number of treatments needed differs for every client and is determined based on various factors. Our Newport News practice uses a variety of factors to assess your tattoo and determine the number of treatments you will need, including:

• Tattoo age
• Tattoo size
• Tattoo location
• Tattoo colors
• Skin type
• Ink depth
• Ink density
• Kind of tattoo (professional vs. amateur)
• Pre-existing scarring
• Individual health

We treat every client’s needs individually, therefore, it is difficult to pinpoint an exact time for complete removal. A healing period of six to eight weeks between treatments is necessary to give your skin time to heal and allow your body to dispose of the newly fragmented ink particles properly. Treating the skin too soon after a laser session can result in unwanted side effects. Our laser equipment is designed to shatter more ink with each session, penetrating deeper to remove all of the ink gradually and naturally. Clients can expect most professional tattoos to take a year or more to be completely removed.

Treatments are very quick. Clients can expect a treatment on a medium sized tattoo to last no more than 2-4 minutes with the full visit taking 15-20 minutes. This includes numbing the skin prior to the laser treatment. Treatment times will be extended if multiple wavelengths are used or if utilizing a PFD patch for multi-pass treatments.

At Coastal Laser Center, we offer quality tattoo removal results at an affordable price. Each treatment is priced according to the size, color, and number of treatments needed to provide long-lasting results. All consultations are free. We also offer treatment packages and discounts to help our clients save on laser tattoo removal.

A standard comparison to the laser actively removing a tattoo is having a rubber band snap against the skin multiple times. Others reference the feeling as getting a tattoo again. Coastal Laser Center wants all our clients to feel comfortable during treatment sessions. Therefore, we use the safest laser technology and use the Zimmer Cryo cooling machine, which numbs the skin before starting treatment. This non-invasive cold air machine minimizes pain throughout your treatment while reducing thermal injury and unwanted side effects. For clients with tattoos in more sensitive areas we can provide prescription numbing cream. When used in combination with the Zimmer Cryo, most clients experience little to no pain during the treatment.

Our medical-grade laser equipment effectively removes unwanted tattoos of any color, however, some clients may experience temporary swelling, redness, itching, and sensitivity. These are natural reactions to the laser and typically subside over the following weeks. Coastal Laser Center provides detailed aftercare instructions and all of the necessary products to ensure you achieve optimal results.