Most clients describe the sensation as a snap from an elastic band plus some heat. Pico treatments are faster and generally gentler than older lasers. We offer topical numbing and use a cold-air cooling system to reduce discomfort for sensitive areas.

 It depends on tattoo type (professional vs amateur), ink colours, depth, age of the tattoo, and your skin type. Professional tattoos commonly need 6–10 sessions, while small amateur tattoos may need fewer. We give a personalised estimate after the consultation and patch test.

Sessions are normally 6–8 weeks apart. That gives your skin time to heal and your lymphatic system time to clear ink particles.

Typical short-term effects include temporary frosting/whitening of the treated area, redness and mild swelling for 24–48 hours, and sometimes scabbing or temporary darkening. These effects usually settle quickly — follow aftercare and avoid picking scabs.

You may see some fading after the first session, but meaningful progress typically occurs over multiple sessions. Because clearance depends on immune response, realistic timelines are discussed at consultation.

Yes. Pico lasers can be used on darker skin tones, but settings must be carefully tailored. That’s why we perform a medical consultation and patch test and adjust energy, spot size and frequency to minimise pigment changes.

Pico lasers are effective on many colours — black, blues, reds, oranges and some pastels — but some pigments (certain green/teal formulations, white ink or metallic inks) may be more resistant. We assess each tattoo and will be transparent about expected outcomes.

Yes — many clients opt to fade their tattoo first to create a better base for a cover-up. We can plan the number and spacing of fading sessions to suit a future cover-up.

Yes. Contraindications include pregnancy, recent sunburn, active skin infections or open wounds, uncontrolled immune disorders, recent use of hormone-based or photosensitising skincare, severe heart disease/high blood pressure (case-by-case), silicone implants in the treatment area and recent dermal fillers near the site. We will take a full medical history at consultation.

Before treatment: avoid sun exposure for 2 weeks, stop tanning, and pause strong active skincare (retinoids, acids) on the area. Don’t have the area recently injected or treated with fillers. If in doubt, the consultation will cover safety.

Aftercare essentials: avoid hot baths/saunas and swimming for 48–72 hours; avoid sunbeds and direct sun; use SPF 30+ daily on treated areas; do not pick scabs or peel; use recommended healing creams or cold compresses if advised. Follow our written aftercare advice exactly.

Yes, we always perform a patch test before starting a full treatment plan. The patch test checks skin reaction and helps us choose the safest device settings for you.

Small tattoos or patch tests can take under 15 minutes including prep. Larger areas take longer. We’ll give a time estimate when planning your treatment.

Many of these areas can be treated, although some sites (hands/fingers) often take longer to clear and can be more stubborn. Facial areas and some cosmetic tattoos require special consideration — we’ll assess suitability at consultation.

We take a medical history, examine your skin and tattoo, explain Pico technology, perform a patch test (if appropriate) and present a personalised treatment plan including estimated session count, likely outcomes and pricing.

If you don’t see your question above, or you have a specific medical history concern, contact us directly: 01932 553118 or hello@surreylaserclinic.com. Book your free consultation & patch test today and we’ll talk through your tattoo and the safest removal plan.