It is perfectly understandable that someone contemplating tattoo removal would want to know, down to dollars and cents, just how much tattoo removal will cost them. The truth is that there is no single answer to the question: how much does tattoo removal cost?  Research is likely to result in an extensive list of options and price ranges which can be confusing and frustrating.

Lesson 1: The cheapest option is not always the cheapest option

All that glitters isn’t gold and much of what looks like a bargain isn’t really a bargain at all.  Many people are attracted to less drastic options for tattoo removal such as lemon juice bleaching or topical agents which can be purchased from a pharmacy for the purpose of slowly fading the tattoo in a similar way as the sun might over time.

Tattoos are made of pretty stern stuff and aren’t prone to easily fade away. A tattoo may lose some of its original vibrancy over time, but on the whole will usually retain its clarity and shape for the lifetime of the wearer.  It is possible that you might spend many times over the cost of medical intervention in your search for a ‘miracle’ cream.

Lesson 2: There is no ‘one size fits all in tattoo removal

Tattoo removal is not like those sweaters you can buy which are so freely sized that they could be worn by any size and either sex. Tattoos are personal and require a personalized solution to successfully orchestrate their removal.

Arrange a proper consultation with a trained professional who can advise you on the particular issues associated with your tattoo.  Is it placed somewhere bony like a shoulder blade? If so, that will present some pain management challenges as there is little fatty tissue underlying the skin to act as a cushion against the laser or scalpel effects.  If your tattooist used a particularly festive color palette in his or her work, laser therapy may cease to be an option, as not all inks are equally receptive to the light frequencies safe to use on human skin. The true question may not how much does tattoo removal cost but rather how much pain and punishment am I willing to withstand?   In most cases, removal of a tattoo is a much more complicated, lengthy and painful process than getting the ink there in the first place.

Is a redesign a viable option?

It may be possible to take your unsavory tattoo to a great new place without any humungous costs or invasive treatments. If the design is the problem and a professional deems it suitable for a re-working, this may present you with a very cost effective alternative. You will need to withstand the original process once more, and it may hurt a little more second time around and require more treatments to get a good result, but will almost certainly cost less than actual removal.

Like any service, the question of how much does tattoo removal cost could easily be answered with the quip: how long is a piece of string? It depends on what process you choose, your individual issues and who you select to perform the service. Even your locality, not to mention the exact locality of the tattoo itself, can influence how much removal treatments may cost.

Ultimately, the best advice is to collect enough good quotes to make a fully informed decision.