Reviewed By
Dr Vishal Patel
BDS Liverpool · MSc Aesthetic & Restorative Dentistry Manchester · GDC 103127 · AACD Member · Invisalign Diamond II Provider · IFAAS (International Fellowship in Advanced Aesthetic Science) · Facial anatomy & cadaver course, Dr Ali Pirayesh, University of Amsterdam · Harley Academy foundation training in injectable aesthetics · IBSA-trained (Profhilo) · NeoStrata-trained (skin peels) · Lynton Lasers trained, incl. ONDA
Last Updated
September 15, 2026
The honest, colour-by-colour account of what clears quickly, what takes patience, and what no laser can fully promise.
Coloured tattoo removal — what's realistic for blue, green and red. Black clears most predictably. Blue and green can respond to a Q-switched laser but need more sessions, and may not clear fully. Red usually fades cleanly. Bright yellow, white and some cosmetic pinks are the stubborn ones. At Dental & Wellness London in Islington, we assess each pigment honestly before we begin — and tell you what we cannot promise.

We assess each tattoo pigment by pigment, not as a single object — the honest colour-by-colour account of what clears quickly, what takes patience, and what no laser can fully promise.

| Consultation & Patch Test | We read your tattoo pigment by pigment, explain which colours are likely to clear quickly and which will need patience, and perform a free patch test to see how your specific ink responds. |
| Treatment Sessions | A Q-switched laser, which fires in nanoseconds, is used for treatment, with settings chosen for your ink and skin. Sessions are spaced several weeks apart. |
| Realistic Estimate, In Writing | Session count and total cost are confirmed before you commit to a course. Where a colour is genuinely stubborn — yellow, white, some pastel pinks — we say so honestly rather than promise a result we cannot deliver. |

Prices are set out below. Your written plan confirms the fee before any treatment begins.
| Metric | Price (Per Course) |
|---|---|
| Tattoo removal | From £750 per course of up to 10 appointments |
| Large, multi-colour or full-sleeve work | Quoted in writing after assessment |
| Typical course — black/dark pigments | 6–10 sessions |
| Typical course — stubborn colours (green, sky blue) | More sessions; some colours may not clear fully |
0% APR finance over 12 months via Tabeo, subject to status.
If your question isn't answered here, call reception on 020 8127 4567 or email reception.
Yellow, white and pastel pinks are the most stubborn, because they reflect rather than absorb much laser light. Green and blue are moderately challenging and may need more sessions with a Q-switched laser, and some may not clear fully. Black and dark blue are usually the most cooperative. We assess your specific pigments at a free patch test before estimating a course.
Many coloured tattoos can be cleared close to invisible, but full clearance depends on the pigments involved. Some difficult colours fade substantially without reaching zero. If a colour cannot be safely or fully removed, we tell you that before you begin rather than after several sessions.
Because green absorbs a narrower band of laser light than black and holds onto pigment more tightly. The black lifts first; the green follows more slowly. This is normal and expected, not a sign anything is going wrong. We pace the course to the most stubborn colour in the piece.
The sensation is similar regardless of colour — most people compare it to the original tattooing, brief and manageable with cooling. Removal is never painless, but coloured work isn't inherently more uncomfortable than black. The difference is usually the number of sessions, not the feeling of each one.
No — cosmetic pigments, especially those containing white or titanium dioxide, can darken on a first laser pass, so we screen and patch test cosmetic work with extra caution and sometimes recommend against laser entirely. For coloured cosmetic tattoos near the eyes or lips we'll discuss saline alternatives where laser isn't appropriate.
Tattoo removal is from £750 per course of up to 10 appointments, and the patch test is free. Large, multi-colour and full-sleeve work is quoted in writing after assessment, once we have seen the tattoo and your skin.
Yes — it's included with your first consultation. It's an essential safety step that tests how your specific skin and ink respond before you commit to a full plan and budget.
Yes. 0% APR finance over 12 months via Tabeo, subject to status. Tattoo removal is from £750 per course of up to 10 appointments, and large or sleeve work is quoted in writing after assessment. The patch test is free.
The laser breaks the ink into fragments your body then clears over the following weeks. It takes several rounds of that to clear a tattoo fully, which is why sessions are spaced six to eight weeks apart across a course of six to eight visits for most tattoos.
Large, multi-colour and full-sleeve work is quoted in writing after assessment, because the number of sessions depends on size, colour complexity and individual response. Our tattoo removal is from £750 per course of up to 10 appointments, and the patch test is free. Finance, where used, is 0% APR over 12 months via Tabeo, subject to status.
Usually six to twelve for full removal, spaced six to eight weeks apart, depending on ink colour, density, age and depth. We give you a realistic range at consultation after a patch test rather than a fixed promise.
For pigments at risk of paradoxical darkening, often yes. Saline removal uses no laser energy, so it does not trigger oxidation. It is slower — ten or more sessions — but safer for high-risk pigments, and we can refer you to a saline provider if that is the right route.
Because cosmetic pigments respond unpredictably — some lighten, some stay unchanged, some darken permanently. A patch test in a small area shows which response your specific pigment will have before you commit to treatment on a visible part of your face. Skipping it risks lasting disfigurement.
If you're weighing up removing a coloured tattoo, book a consultation and free patch test. We'll give you an honest, pigment-by-pigment read on what's realistic before you commit to a course.
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