Laser Tattoo Removal Downers Grove | Metamorphosis Med Spa

Tastes change, and a tattoo that once meant something may no longer fit. Laser tattoo removal fades unwanted ink over a series of sessions, whether you want it gone completely or lightened enough to cover with new artwork. We offer laser tattoo removal at our physician-led med spa in Downers Grove, for patients from across DuPage County and the western suburbs of Chicago.

How laser tattoo removal works

The laser delivers very short pulses of light that are absorbed by the ink. The ink breaks into tiny particles, which your body's immune system then clears away naturally over the following weeks. Each session breaks down more of the remaining ink, so the tattoo fades a little further every time, while the surrounding skin is left intact.

Fading is gradual by design. Most of the change happens in the weeks between appointments, as your body carries the broken-down ink away, which is why sessions are spaced well apart and not booked back to back.

Removal or fading for a cover-up

Not everyone wants a tattoo gone entirely. If you are planning a cover-up, a few sessions to lighten the old design can give your tattoo artist far more freedom with the new one. Tell us what you have in mind at your consultation and we will plan the treatment around it.

The laser can also be aimed at one part of a design, such as a name, a date or a single element you no longer want, while the rest is left alone.

How many sessions will you need?

Most tattoos need several sessions, spaced six to eight weeks apart to give the skin time to heal and the body time to clear the ink. The number depends on:

Ink color: black and dark ink respond best; some colors, such as green and light blue, take longer.
Size and density: large or heavily saturated tattoos hold more ink to break down.
Professional or amateur: professional tattoos usually contain more ink, placed deeper, than amateur ones.
Age of the tattoo: older tattoos have often faded naturally and may clear sooner.
Location: tattoos closer to the heart tend to clear faster than those on the hands, ankles or feet, where circulation is lower.
Your skin: settings are chosen for your skin type to protect the surrounding skin.
Your health: the immune system does the clearing, and smoking has been linked to slower results.

Because sessions are weeks apart, removing a tattoo completely is a project measured in months, and often more than a year. We will give you a realistic estimate once we have seen the tattoo.

What to expect at your appointment

Your consultation

We look at the tattoo, ask about your health and any medications, and talk through your goal, whether that is full removal, partial removal or fading for a cover-up. You will leave with an honest idea of how many sessions to plan for and what the result is likely to be.

Before treatment

Keep the tattoo out of the sun and skip self-tanner on the area. Tanned skin is more prone to pigment changes after treatment.
Let a new tattoo heal fully before starting. Recently tattooed skin is not ready for laser treatment.
Tell us about medications, particularly anything that makes your skin sensitive to light, and whether you tend to form raised or keloid scars.
Arrive with clean skin, free of lotion or makeup over the tattoo.

During treatment

You wear protective eyewear while the laser is passed over the tattoo in quick pulses. Most people compare the feeling to a rubber band snapping against the skin, and we will go over ways to keep you comfortable. Treatment is fast: a small tattoo takes only a few minutes. The ink often turns a frosty white straight afterwards, which is normal and fades within minutes.

After treatment

The treated area may look red, swollen or slightly raised for a few hours, and some people get blistering or scabbing that heals over a week or two. Keep the area clean and covered as advised, avoid picking at it and protect it from the sun. We will give you full aftercare instructions at each visit.

Leave blisters and scabs alone. Picking is the most common cause of scarring.
Avoid soaking the area in baths, pools and hot tubs until the skin has healed.
Use sunscreen on the area once it has healed, throughout your course of treatment.

Results and risks

Many tattoos fade until they are hard to see, but complete removal cannot be guaranteed. Stubborn colors or very dense ink may leave a faint shadow. The treated skin can become temporarily lighter or darker than the skin around it, most often in deeper skin tones or after sun exposure, and this usually evens out with time. Scarring is uncommon when aftercare is followed. We will go over the risks for your skin and your tattoo before you start.

When to start tattoo removal in the Chicago suburbs

Fall and winter are a good time to begin. The treated area is easier to keep covered and out of the sun under cold-weather clothing, and it has time to heal between sessions before sleeves get shorter again.

If you are working toward a date, such as a wedding, a new job or enlistment, start as early as you can. The gaps between sessions cannot be shortened safely, so the calendar matters more than anything else.

Tattoo removal near Downers Grove

Metamorphosis Med Spa is at 3825 Highland Ave, Suite 5G, Downers Grove, in Tower One of the professional building at Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital. A course of tattoo removal means a visit every six to eight weeks, so it helps to choose somewhere close to home. We are a short drive from Westmont, Lisle, Woodridge, Darien and Lombard, and patients also travel to us from Naperville, Wheaton, Glen Ellyn and Hinsdale. See all the communities we serve.

We are a physician-led practice with weekday and Saturday-morning appointments, and consultations are complimentary. Call 630.968.1100, or visit our contact page for a map, directions and opening hours.

Frequently asked questions

Does laser tattoo removal hurt?

It is uncomfortable but quick. Most people say it feels like a rubber band snapping against the skin, and many find it comparable to getting the tattoo in the first place. Sessions for small tattoos are over in minutes.

Will my tattoo disappear completely?

Often it will fade to the point where it is very hard to see, especially with black ink. Some colors are more stubborn, and a faint trace can remain. We will tell you what is realistic for your tattoo at your consultation.

Can you remove just part of a tattoo?

Yes. The laser treats only the ink it is aimed at, so a name or a single element can be removed or lightened while the rest of the design stays.

Will laser tattoo removal leave a scar?

Scarring is uncommon when the skin is given time to heal between sessions and aftercare is followed. If the tattoo itself left raised or scarred skin, that texture may remain once the ink has gone.

How much does laser tattoo removal cost?

Cost depends on the size of the tattoo and the number of sessions. We will give you a clear quote at your consultation, and payment plans are available.

Removing a small tattoo on the face, or microbladed brows? See laser tattoo removal for the face.