How many sessions for tattoo removal? Most tattoos need several laser sessions spaced weeks apart. One study of 100 patients averaged about 10 treatments, with a range of 3 to 20. Your count depends on ink color, amount of ink, location, skin type, scarring and layering, and the FDA notes that complete removal is not always possible.
Written by Jen Adams, BSN, RN
Medically reviewed by Dr. Josh Allen, D.O., Medical Director, October 23, 2026
Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Results vary by individual. Talk with a licensed provider before starting laser tattoo removal.
Laser tattoo removal works by breaking ink into smaller particles that your immune system clears over time. According to the FDA, it takes multiple treatments with a few weeks in between, and the number depends on factors such as the tattoo’s size and colors.
Published research gives a sense of the range:
Your provider will estimate your own range at a consultation after looking at the tattoo in person.
The Kirby-Desai scale is a published tool for estimating how many sessions a tattoo will need. It scores six factors, and the total roughly tracks the number of treatments:
| Factor | Score range | What raises the score |
|---|---|---|
| Skin type (Fitzpatrick) | 1 to 6 | Darker skin types |
| Location | 1 to 5 | Farther from the head and torso, toward hands and feet |
| Color | 1 to 4 | More colors beyond black |
| Amount of ink | 1 to 4 | Professional, dense, or complex designs |
| Scarring | 0 to 5 | More scarring in the tattooed skin |
| Layering | 0 or 2 | A cover-up over an older tattoo |
Two examples, using the scale’s own scoring:
The authors note that tattoos scoring above 15 may be difficult to remove and need a closer assessment.
What the scale can’t tell you. It was built from one clinic’s records, using Q-switched lasers with 6 to 8 weeks between treatments. The authors called for larger studies to confirm it. Treat a score as a starting estimate, not a promise.
Black ink is generally the easiest color to remove. The FDA lists dark blue and black as the easiest colors and green, red, and yellow as the hardest. The Kirby-Desai paper explains that black pigment particles are small and absorb every laser wavelength.
On the Kirby-Desai scale, “black only” gets the smallest color score, 1 point. Your actual count still depends on the other five factors: how much ink there is, where the tattoo sits, your skin type, and any scarring or layering. A dense, professional black tattoo on the lower leg can take more sessions than a small amateur one on the shoulder.
The FDA says sessions need a few weeks in between so the skin can heal. In the research, 6 to 8 weeks is a common interval. It’s the spacing the Kirby-Desai scale assumes, and the interval used in a picosecond study published in 2020.
Waiting longer between sessions is generally fine if your schedule calls for it. The Kirby-Desai authors note that providers often space treatments further apart for darker skin types to lower the risk of side effects. Your provider will set the interval based on how your skin healed after the last session.
Not everyone wants a tattoo fully removed. If your goal is a cover-up, you only need the old tattoo faded enough for your artist to work over it, which typically means fewer sessions than full removal.
Before you start:
If the tattoo you want to remove is itself a cover-up, the Kirby-Desai scale adds 2 points for layering, because layered tattoos are larger and darker.
It can. The Kirby-Desai authors explain that for darker skin types, providers use lower laser settings and wait longer between sessions to reduce side effects. That can mean more sessions overall, and the scale scores skin type from 1 to 6 to reflect it.
Newer evidence is encouraging. A study in people with skin types III and IV, published in 2020, used a dual-wavelength picosecond laser on 52 tattoos, with up to six sessions 6 to 8 weeks apart. After six sessions, 88.5 percent of the tattoos had at least 75 percent of their pigment cleared. Side effects were mostly short-lived, with one case of prolonged skin lightening. The study didn’t include skin types V or VI.
Your provider will choose settings and spacing based on your skin type.
Have your tattoo assessed in person.
Laser tattoo removal is priced at your consultation.
Not always. The FDA says complete removal can take many treatments, and in some cases may not be possible. A few things affect how far you’ll get:
Your provider can tell you what’s realistic for your tattoo before you start. For care between sessions, see our guide to laser tattoo removal aftercare.
Laser treatments at InjectCo are performed under physician oversight by our Medical Director. To compare technologies, see picosecond vs CO2 lasers.
It varies. In a published study of 100 patients, removal averaged about 10 treatments, with a range of 3 to 20. Ink color, amount of ink, location, skin type, scarring, and layering all affect the count.
Black ink is generally the easiest color to remove, but the count still depends on the amount of ink, location, and your skin type. Your provider can estimate your range at a consultation.
The FDA says sessions need a few weeks between them so your skin can heal. Studies commonly use 6 to 8 weeks, and longer gaps may be used for darker skin types.
Usually fewer than full removal. Ask your cover-up artist how much fading they need, then share that goal with your provider so they can plan your sessions.
Not always completely. The FDA says green, red, and yellow are the hardest colors, and white or flesh-colored ink can turn black when treated by laser.
The FDA compares it to snapping a thin rubber band against the skin. If it’s painful, a small amount of numbing cream can be applied before treatment.
Most tattoos take multiple sessions spaced weeks apart, and the published average in one study was about 10. The Kirby-Desai scale offers a way to estimate your range, but your skin, ink, and goals set the real timeline, and complete removal can’t be promised.
A consultation lets your provider assess the tattoo in person and give you a realistic plan, whether you want it gone or faded for a cover-up.
Get a realistic session estimate.
Laser tattoo removal is priced at your consultation.
Dr. Allen earned his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed his emergency medicine residency with Texas A&M. As Medical Director, he reviews InjectCo’s treatments, protocols, and patient education content for accuracy and safety across all nine Texas locations.
