Laser Tattoo Removal

Miami Dermatology & Laser Institute uses state-of-the-art laser technology for safe and effective tattoo removal across all tattoo types and ink colors. High-powered laser pulses break down tattoo ink particles, which the body naturally clears over time. Sessions run up to one hour with one to two weeks of recovery. Multiple treatments are required for full removal.

Laser tattoo removal at Miami Dermatology & Laser Institute uses advanced Q-switched and picosecond laser systems to fragment tattoo ink particles into sizes small enough for clearance by the body's immune system. The physics of tattoo removal rely on the principle of selective photothermolysis applied to exogenous chromophores (tattoo pigments): short-duration, high-peak-power laser pulses are delivered at wavelengths selectively absorbed by specific ink colors — 1064 nm for black and dark blue ink, 532 nm for red and orange pigments, 694 nm or 755 nm for green and blue-green inks. The extremely brief pulse durations used (nanoseconds in Q-switched systems, picoseconds in newer devices) generate photoacoustic shock waves that mechanically shatter ink particles into sub-micron fragments through a process called photoacoustic or selective photomechanical disruption, rather than relying primarily on photothermal heating. These ink fragments are then phagocytosed by macrophages and cleared via the lymphatic system over the weeks following each treatment session. Picosecond laser systems deliver pulses approximately 100 times shorter than Q-switched nanosecond lasers, generating greater photoacoustic pressure for more efficient ink fragmentation — particularly effective for resistant ink colors and previously treated tattoos that have not cleared fully. The number of sessions required for complete removal varies significantly based on tattoo age (older = more faded, fewer sessions), ink density and layering, colors present, location on the body (extremities clear more slowly than trunk), and individual immune clearance capacity. Amateur tattoos typically require fewer sessions (3–5) than professional tattoos (6–12+). Each session at the clinic is limited to approximately one hour, and skin requires one to two weeks of healing between appointments.