A quick estimate of how many laser treatments you’ll need to remove your tattoo — based on the scientifically backed Kirby‑Desai method.
Laser tattoo removal - Belgrade - dr Marija Bošković
Remove an unwanted tattoo or lighten it before a cover-up, with a medical assessment of your skin and a combination of two pico lasers, Picolo Premium and HELIOS 785, for different colours and the most persistent pigments.
What should you know if you decide on laser tattoo removal?
Most tattoos can be removed, but you should know that some tattoos are removed completely by the laser, while others may leave a faint shadow, a change in skin tone or a so-called ghost tattoo.
The effect of the laser depends on:
- the colour and chemical composition of the ink: black and dark blue pigments usually respond more predictably, while certain green, turquoise, yellow, white and fluorescent shades may require a different approach;
- the depth and amount of pigment: professional tattoos usually contain more ink and are placed more evenly than amateur ones, so they are removed more uniformly;
- the number of colours, overlaps and later corrections;
- the age of the tattoo and the body region where it is located;
- the type and current condition of the skin, and any tendency to pigmentation and scarring;
- previous removal attempts with laser, chemical removers, acids or other methods;
- the time given to the skin and the body between two sessions.
These conditions determine how quickly the tattoo will be removed and how your skin will react. That is why a specialist assessment by the doctor at our practice is essential: we need to assess how the pigment may react and how to reach the result without unnecessary risk to the skin.
Before
After 3 treatments
Before
After 3 treatments
How long does laser tattoo removal take?
The laser treatment itself takes considerably less time than patients often expect.
For most tattoos, the laser work takes approximately 5 to 10 minutes, while for very large areas it can take around 15-20 minutes.
However, preparation also needs to be taken into account. On arrival, the patient fills in a medical history form and signs a consent form, and if needed a local anaesthetic cream is applied, which takes approximately 30 minutes to work, or local lidocaine anaesthesia is given.
For this reason, patients usually spend around 30 to 45 minutes at the practice, depending on the size of the area and the type of anaesthesia.
What does the skin look like after treatment?
The skin’s reaction depends on the amount and colour of the pigment, the region and the parameters used. Immediately after the treatment you can expect:
- a temporary whitish reaction on the surface of the tattoo;
- redness, a feeling of warmth, tenderness and mild swelling;
- the appearance of small petechial dots
Most patients return to their usual daily activities immediately, although the doctor’s recommendation is to postpone exercise.
Contact the doctor if the redness starts to spread, the pain gets worse instead of better, or if pus, an unpleasant smell, fever or any other reaction that worries you appears. Early assessment reduces the risk of infection and scarring.
How to prepare for laser tattoo removal?
- Wait for a new tattoo to heal completely. In practice this usually takes at least 6-8 weeks, and longer if healing is slower.
- Do not expose the area to be treated to the sun, and do not use tanning beds or self-tanning products before your visit. Tanned and irritated skin carries a higher risk of burns and pigmentation changes.
- Inform the doctor about all medications and supplements, especially any therapy that affects blood clotting, photosensitivity, immunity or healing. Never stop a therapy on your own initiative.
- Tell us if you are prone to keloid scars or hyperpigmentation, if you get herpes, or if you have previously had an allergic reaction to tattoo ink.
- If you know the name, manufacturer or composition of the ink, bring that information with you. It is especially useful for white, fluorescent and so-called skin-tone corrections.
- Come to the treatment with clean skin, without creams, oils, perfume or self-tanner on the area.
Why do patients choose dr Marija Bošković's practice for tattoo removal?
The biggest fear of patients coming for tattoo removal is often not the pain during the treatment, but the question: “Will I be left with a scar after the tattoo?”
Patients in whom scar tissue already formed during tattooing are particularly concerned. Removing the pigment does not give the same aesthetic result if a raised or lighter “shadow” of a scar remains in its place.
That is why the approach at dr Marija Bošković’s practice is aimed both at removing the pigment and at preserving the integrity of the skin in the long term. More aggressive energies can speed up the visible lightening of a tattoo, but pronounced blisters, crusts and skin injuries increase the risk of unwanted consequences and scarring. The goal is not to remove the tattoo at any cost and as fast as possible, but to remove the pigment gradually while preserving healthy skin as much as possible.
A particular advantage is the ability to treat multicolour tattoos. The combination of the Picolo Premium and HELIOS 785 PICO systems allows the doctor to adapt the approach to the colour and behaviour of the pigment during the process, including blue, green, purple and other demanding shades.
Reviews from our patients on Google translated from Serbian.
A good assessment by the doctor matters more than promises of quickly erasing a tattoo. At a free consultation, dr Marija Bošković examines your skin and tattoo, discusses the result you want and proposes a safe plan, for complete removal or for lightening before a new tattoo.
Where to find us?
dr Marija Bošković – Laser and Aesthetic is located at Bulevar umetnosti 13 / 2 in New Belgrade.
There is a garage car park nearby, in Novi Merkator, while street parking in Zone 3 is available in the surrounding streets.
For more details you can watch the video how to find us.
We are open every day from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
