Frequently Asked Questions

In laser tattoo removal, the laser is essentially a high energy beam of light that targets solely tattoo ink inside of the skin. To simplify the process, it shatters the ink one layer at a time into tiny particles which are cleared away by your white blood cells, using your lymphatic system. With every treatment we are treating a new layer of ink which then results in fading until the tattoo is gone.  

Often clients describe the sensation as a rubber band snapping on the skin. This will vary person to person, but we do highly encourage clients to use numbing cream especially for anyone that may be anxious. We provide all clients with numbing cream instructions via email!

We do utilize a Zimmer Cryo 6 Cooling System, which delivers chilled air before, during and after treatment to reduce discomfort as well. 

Most clients will average from 6 to 12 treatments, spaced 6-8 weeks apart in the beginning stages. This is dependent on multiple factors but to name a few: 

Tattoo size

Location on the body

Depth and age of the tattoo

Skin type and immune response

Our consultations are free in which we provide a further explanation and personalized plan for your removal. 

Yes and it is part of the healing process. Temporarily you could experience the following: 

Mild to moderate redness and swelling

The area can feel tender to touch 

Potential temporary changes in skin tone

The side effects usually resolve within a few days to a couple of weeks. We provide all clients with aftercare instructions via email which addresses mostly all side effects and how to care for them at home. Otherwise we are available by phone call, email and text for any questions throughout your tattoo removal journey. Following aftercare properly is imperative for us to achieve the results we are known for.

When treatments are performed correctly it is very rare to experience scarring,Think Again has never had a case of scarring in over ten years, however: 

Pre-existing tattoo scars may still be visible after removal, ask about our fractional laser and how this aids in scar tissue repair. 

 Not following aftercare properly, or picking at skin/scabs can highly increase the risk of scarring 

We focus on safe and effective tattoo removal. Scarring is almost always avoidable with our proven process and expertise. Before choosing a clinic it is imperative to see results of clients skin to ensure your provider is capable of getting you back to bare skin! 

Yes Think Again has removed every colour of ink, but here’s the breakdown:

Black and dark blue – these colors will absorb light the best and break down the easiest meaning they are easier to remove

Red, green, light blue, purple, yellow – these colors reflect light better, causing them to be more stubborn but still very treatable 

White or fluorescent ink- in some cases they are partially removable but they are not visible to the laser. We do have processes in which some tattoos have been completely removed. Ask your specialist to show you examples at your free consultation. 

Getting treated at Think Again means you will be treated with a Quanta Discover Pico Plus laser. It uses three wavelengths to treat any color of ink more effectively than a single-wavelength device. If you have colored ink, ask your provider if their device utilizes true wavelengths. 

For clarity other lasers have a dyed lens that is used to mimic a true wavelength but unfortunately this decreases the power by half,  meaning less effective treatments and decreased chance of full removal. If you can imagine, less effective treatments will lead to more money and time that you will have spent at a clinic that does not deliver results. At Think Again we know how important finances are but time can not be given back. 

Clients typically experience: 

Redness and slight swelling in the treated area for the first 24- 48 hours

A sunburn-like sensation in the treated area for the first 24-72 hours

Blistering or scabbing can occur especially in colored inks, your specialist will explain how with our process we’ve decreased blistering by 85% 

The skin can be slightly sore and full healing time can take between 7-14 days depending on the client.

All treated clients will be provided with a detailed post treatment plan and have access to our after hours line. We have coverage in the United States, Australian and New Zealand time zones allowing you access to laser specialists at almost every hour of the day. 

You may experience:

• ✔ Redness and swelling (24–48 hours)

• ✔ A sunburn-like sensation

• ✔ Blistering or scabbing (especially for colored tattoos)

Healing takes 7–14 days, and fading continues for weeks after each session. All treated clients will provided with a comprehensive post treatment plan and have access to our 24/7 help line.

In most cases — yes. Some tattoos may leave a light shadow or faint color, especially with fluorescent ink or deep saturation. We’ll assess this during your consultation and set realistic expectations. If we can’t remove it, nobody can. 

Laser tattoo removal is a very safe process when your specialist is educated and trained properly to know how to look for adverse reactions and correct responses. 

*Scarring which usually would occur from improper aftercare or unknown health conditions. Thin Again to date has never had a case of scarring caused by the laser.

*Temporary lightening or darkening of the skin tone can be common as we all have different skin complexions, but if you are more prone to hyper or hypopigmentation rest assured we have a proven method to treat both if it would occur during your tattoo removal journey. 

We use the most advanced laser technology and each treatment plan is tailored to you to ensure reduced risks of adverse outcomes. 

Pricing is dependent on the size of the tattoo. We encourage clients who would like a rough estimate to send clear photos through our inquiry section at the bottom of the page, but all pricing is confirmed in our clinic where we can measure the ink. 

We do offer discounts on treating multiple tattoos, multi-session discounts, referral bonuses, and flexible payment plans through Cherry. 

Check out our measurement guide on the Prices tab or book in for a consultation for a custom quote! 

Our laser allows us to specifically target unwanted areas for partial removal or lightening which is a great modification for a cover up or redesign. 

We also have a number of local tattoo artists we trust and would love to refer you to for your cover up or new tattoo!

Location absolutely has a role in tattoo removal but does not impair any part of the body from being treated. 

Areas closest to the heart such as arms, shoulders, upper back and chest will typically see faster fading due to higher blood circulation in the area. 

Areas furthest from the heart such as hands, wrists, feet and ankles may take more time as the blood circulation in these areas is slower for most people.

Your specialist will discuss this more in depth with you in relation to your specific tattoo. 

There are multiple options when choosing a method of tattoo removal. Laser tattoo removal is clinically proven to be the safest and most effective option. We are only interested in transparency at Think Again, so these would be the most common alternative methods:

Surgical removal- A process where a doctor will cut into the top layers of the skin to remove the tattoo and stitch the skin back together while the client is under local anesthesia. This has a very high chance of scarring post procedure. 

Dermabrasion- This is a form of manual exfoliation to the skin typically used in med spas as a facial treatment for rejuvenation, brightening and clarifying dead skin cells. In using this form of exfoliation for tattoo removal this would be wounding the skin, and in order to reach as deep as the dermis (where ink typically resides) would be highly likely to leave a scar or damage to the tissue with no guarantee of removal. 

Chemical peels- This is a form of exfoliation used mainly for facial rejuvenation in medspas to treat aged, dry, dull and acne prone skin. Treatments using more intense levels of acidic combinations could be capable of reaching the dermis which is where the ink resides. Although it does encourage cell turnover, it does not directly or successfully remove tattoo ink. Not to mention the risk of using something this high in acidity on the skin to even reach the tattoo ink could cause a chemical burn, scarring, damage, or rash on the skin. 

Saline- The main ingredient used is sodium chloride (salt) which is inserted by puncturing the skin usually using a tattoo machine but can vary per provider. The area is opened and the sterile solution is implanted to draw out the ink or pigment using a process called osmosis. The skin typically will scab over during the healing process. There are high chances of scarring or damage to the skin and no guarantee of removal. Saline removal is not FDA approved in the United States which poses even more risks. 

Lightening creams- These methods do not technically remove pigment. They cause a wound to the skin above and around the ink to stimulate an immune response that may lighten the pigment as the skin heals. This makes results widely variable. Your best result would be slightly lightened pigment and great risk of scarring or adverse cosmetic effects to the skin. Also there is no FDA approval on tattoo pigment lighteners for do-it-yourself kits. A lot of ingredients consist of retinol, bleaching creams, and peeling agents which again are superficial exfoliants to the skin and cannot reach tattoo ink properly. They are widely known for causing burns, scars, and rashes to the skin.

No, laser tattoo removal does not damage the hair follicles in the treated area. Some people can experience temporary thinning, or lightening of the hair in the area but normal hair growth typically resumes after healing. 

We are well known for our payment options to suit every client, we offer:

The option to pay per treatment

Pre-payment packages

When treating more than one tattoo you will receive a discount on all of the tattoos

Payment plans through Cherry 

Always ask about our current promotions during your consultation.

Cosmetic inks are quite different from traditional body tattoo ink. The removal process still works the same way inside of the body but the ink itself typically contains different ingredients. Cosmetic inks often are labeled as temporary or semi-permanent but as many of us have come to realize they are not. Depending on the artist, ink and skin type some clients with cosmetic brows do notice they’ve fully faded over time but for the majority of people this is not the case. Cosmetic ink is made to mimic natural hair follicles and skin tones. This means the mixture of colors is going to be very different from body ink. Having a large amount of warm undertones means during the removal process there is a chance that when the ink fades it changes to warmer tones with hues of red, orange and yellow. This is very normal for some clients and we cannot guarantee whether this will or will not happen. What we can guarantee is that we have the correct wavelengths and techniques to treat every stage of the fading process for cosmetic inks.

Yes we do and have completely removed yellow brow ink. For clarification yellow brows are the result of cosmetic tattoo removal that has faded to warmer tones naturally or from a form of tattoo removal. For some they have called it impossible to treat but we knew if there was ink still inside of the skin we could treat it. Yellow brows typically require more treatments to fully remove and sometimes will require patience but it is not a matter of if we can remove them.

Treating yellow brows can be quite tricky but at Think Again we’ve dedicated time and research to treat even the hardest of cases which is how we developed a process to treat what others said was impossible. 

If you currently have yellow brows or it is just a concern towards treating your cosmetic ink, we’d love to see you for a free consultation where we can answer any questions you may have and go further into this topic with you. We also would be more than happy to do a test spot to ease the mind of anyone who is wary of fully committing to cosmetic tattoo removal.

Fractional lasers are well known in the medspa world for facial rejuvenation, scar revision, improving texture, skin tightening, and mostly over all anti-aging. So why do we use this for tattoo removal?

Fractional lasers create microchannels on top of the skin, which when used properly after laser tattoo removal can help release pressure and trapped heat underneath the skin. Your skin’s response is to produce heat during the treatment and trapped heat under the skin essentially is what causes a blister. By incorporating fractional laser we have decreased chances of blistering by up to 85% which means a much smoother healing process for you. 

But it goes further than just this!

After a fractional laser treatment the body’s response is to repair the area which means encouraging blood circulation and production of collagen and elastin. Blood circulation is what carries the shattered ink particles out through the lymphatic system, so fractional treatments also help aid in the removal process. Collagen essentially is the skin’s strength and elastin is the flexibility of the skin. Production of collagen and elastin supports the integrity of the skin and ensures a healthy healing process. Oftentimes we have clients with existing damage or scarring ask if their tattoos are treatable and by utilizing our fractional laser we’re confident we can help improve the skin which would mean potential to treat the ink in the future. 

If you have damage from previous laser tattoo removal treatments and would like a second opinion we’d love to have you come in for a consultation and take a look at the area to see if fractional laser treatments would be right for you.