Why We Use Multiple Laser Settings During Your Tattoo Removal Session
At Fade Laser, we tailor every tattoo removal treatment to the individual. No two tattoos are exactly alike, so using the same laser setting throughout an entire session simply isn’t the most effective or safest approach.
The PicoSure® Pro laser gives our practitioners exceptional control over wavelength, energy and pulse settings, allowing us to customise treatment as we work. This flexibility is one of the reasons it’s considered one of the world’s most advanced tattoo removal lasers.
Here’s why we adjust the laser settings during your treatment.
Different Ink Colours Respond Differently
Tattoo pigments absorb laser energy in different ways. Black ink typically responds very well to laser treatment, while colours such as blue, green, red and yellow often require different wavelengths or energy levels to achieve the best results.
By selecting the most appropriate settings for each colour, we can target the ink more effectively while protecting the surrounding skin.
Ink Depth Varies Throughout the Tattoo
Even within a single tattoo, ink isn’t always deposited at the same depth.
Professional tattoos often contain densely packed, deeply placed pigment, while lighter shading or older areas may sit closer to the surface. Cover-up work can add further complexity with multiple layers of ink.
Throughout your session, your practitioner may adjust factors such as:
Energy (fluence)
Pulse duration
Spot size
This allows us to target different layers of pigment safely and effectively.
Your Skin’s Response Guides the Treatment
During treatment, we continually monitor how your skin is reacting. We look for normal responses such as:
Temporary whitening (“frosting”)
Redness
Mild swelling
Heat within the treated area
If your skin becomes more reactive than expected, we’ll adjust the settings accordingly. While temporary blistering, pigmentation changes and other side effects are recognised risks of laser tattoo removal, our priority is always to minimise these risks while achieving the best possible results.
Different Areas of the Body Heal Differently
Not every part of the body responds to laser treatment in the same way.
Areas with good circulation, such as the arms or chest, often tolerate stronger treatment than areas like the hands, feet or ankles, where healing can be slower.
Adjusting the laser settings allows us to treat each area appropriately and support optimal healing.
Cover-Up and Layered Tattoos Require a Tailored Approach
Cover-up tattoos can be particularly challenging because they often contain:
Multiple ink colours
Several generations of tattoo ink
Dense layers of pigment
These tattoos frequently require different settings throughout the treatment to target both the newer and older layers of ink as effectively as possible.
Experience Matters
Over more than 10 years of specialising in laser tattoo removal, our practitioners have developed extensive experience in treating tattoos of every size, colour and complexity.
Where appropriate, we may use advanced treatment techniques, including varying wavelengths, energy levels and multi-pass approaches, to maximise ink clearance while protecting your skin.
Balancing Results with Safety
A common question we hear is whether using higher settings will remove a tattoo more quickly.
While higher energy can sometimes break down ink faster, it also increases the risk of:
Scarring
Hypopigmentation (lightening of the skin)
Hyperpigmentation (darkening of the skin)
Longer healing times
Our goal isn’t simply to use the highest possible setting — it’s to use the safest and most effective setting for your tattoo, your skin type and your stage of treatment.
Every adjustment we make is based on clinical judgement, experience and your skin’s response during the session.
If you have any questions about your treatment, or would like to discuss your progress, we’d be happy to help. Book a consultation with our team and we’ll assess where you are in your tattoo removal journey and recommend the most appropriate next steps.
