Because laser treatment causes few side effects, it has become the most common tattoo removal method. During laser treatment, pulses of laser light pass through the outer skin layer and break up the pigment of the tattoo. The body then flushes out the pigment-filled cells.

One advantage of laser removal is that the risk of scarring is very low. Typically, only 1 to 2 percent of those receiving laser treatment get scars. Also, a person’s skin returns to its natural pigment in a few months. Another advantage is that laser treatments are effective at removing any size tattoo. Actress Angelina Jolie used laser method to erase the name of her ex-husband Billy Bob Thornton.

A disadvantage to laser treatments is that the larger the tattoo is, the more treatments required. Depending on the tattoo’s size, a person may require from two to eight sessions, each spaced four to six weeks apart. The sessions are spaced apart so that the body has time to absorb the pigment residue. The treatment typically cost $250 to $850 per session. Removing a large, professional color tattoo could cost thousands of dollars, five times the orginal cost of the tattoo. Plus, the more treatments a person has, the more damage is done to the skin. Laser treatments can cause painful blisters and scabs. Also, laser treatment does not guarantee that the entire tattoo will be removed. Certain inks are more difficult to remove depending on what type of laser is used. A Ruby laser, for example, has difficulty treating red.