Question: What Kinds of Tattoos Are Hardest to Remove?
Answer:
The hardest tattoos to remove are:
- newer tattoos
- professional tattoos (Amateur tattoos are usually less dense and not as deep, which makes them easier to remove.)
- light-colored or flesh-toned tattoos (including most permanent makeup tattoos)
- tattoos with exotic or very vibrant colors (especially the newer flourescent inks)
- tattoos on the lower extremities (Tattoos that are closer to the heart are easier to remove.)
- tattoos on darker-skinned people (because the area must be treated more conservatively to minimize risk of scarring and pigmentation problems)
Return to laser tattoo removal frequently asked questions.
Sources:
Interview with Will Kirby, DO, FACOS - Los Angeles, CA - conducted on November 19, 2008
Laser Treatment of Tattoos in Darkly Pigmented Patients: Efficacy and Side Effects; Joop M. Grevelink, Daniella Duke, Robert L. van Leeuwen, Ernesto Gonzalez, Susan D. DeCoste and R. Rox Anderson; Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, Volume 34, Issue 4, April 1996, Pages 653-656
Tattoo Ink Darkening of a Yellow Tattoo After Q-Switched Laser Treatment; S. Varma, N. A. Swanson and K. K. Lee; Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, Volume 27 Issue 6 Page 461-463, September 2002
