Break Up With Bad Ink
Why Choose Profile MD For Laser Tattoo Removal?
Fully Customizable Treatment Plans
State-of-the-Art Laser Technology
Board Certified Medical Providers
Hundreds of Positive Google Reviews
As Maryland’s leader in Laser Tattoo Removal, Profile MD combines the latest in laser technology with years of clinical experience to safely and effectively remove your unwanted tattoo. Our team of providers has performed thousands of treatments and offer free consultations.
Laser Tattoo Removal in Maryland
Do you have tattoo regret? According to Pew Research Center, 32% of Americans have tattoos, 22% have more than one, but roughly 24% say they have tattoo regret! If you find yourself regretting a tattoo, let Profile MD safely and effectively remove it!
Profile MD uses the latest laser technology and techniques to maximize treatment efficacy. We offer discounts on treatment packages and proudly work with Cherry to offer comfortable low payment options to all our patients.
Right here in Severna Park, and conveniently located for patients throughout the Baltimore area, Profile MD has built a reputation as one of Maryland’s most trusted destinations for laser tattoo removal. Whether you’re coming to us from Annapolis, the Baltimore metro area or right around the corner, our team is ready to walk you through every step of the process.
Laser Tattoo Removal Before and After
Swipe to see treatment progression
How Does Laser Tattoo Removal Break Down Ink?
This carefully targeted treatment works at the cellular level, delivering concentrated pulses of light energy that are absorbed by the tattoo ink. Because the ink particles are larger than the surrounding skin cells, they absorb the energy disproportionately, causing them to shatter into fragments small enough for your immune system to identify and clear away. Over a series of sessions, the body progressively flushes out these particles, and the tattoo fades dramatically.
What Kind of Lasers Are Used?
There are different types of lasers used to remove tattoos. Different lasers and wavelengths are used to effectively remove certain colors. The most commonly used lasers are:
- Q-switched or Picosecond Nd: YAG
- Q-switched ruby
- Q-switched alexandrite
The type of laser used during your procedure will be dependent on the colors of the tattoo. Profile MD uses the latest picosecond laser (PiQO4) from Lumis for many of our treatments.
Picosecond lasers like the PiQO4 are a highly advanced alternative to older Q-switched technology. They deliver energy in pulses measured in picoseconds (that’s a trillionth of a second!), creating a photoacoustic effect that shatters ink particles more thoroughly and with less heat transfer to the surrounding skin. Practically speaking, this means faster results and a more comfortable experience.
Our Tattoo Removal Process
At Profile MD, we understand prospective clients want to have a clear understanding of the laser tattoo removal process before committing to it. This is what the entire laser tattoo removal process from Profile MD looks like:
Initial Consultation
You’ll meet with our team of professionals to go over the ins and outs of the procedure. This step is more open-ended to allow for questions or concerns you may have. We’ll also discuss expected results, process timelines, and options going forward. Profile MD aims to create a safe and comfortable environment for our clients during the initial consultation and beyond. If desired Profile MD can provide a virtual consultation prior to booking treatments.
Procedure Prep
Before you arrive, make sure the tattooed area is free of hair and products like lotion or makeup. If the area is clean beforehand, the area allows for easy accessibility during the treatment. Additionally, we’ll do a deeper cleanse, take photographs, and provide an anesthetic cream to take some sting out of the laser. This prescription will be sent to your pharmacy.
Laser Session
The laser session can last as little as two to three minutes, but this all depends on the size and color of the tattoo. Once the laser treatment is finished, an ointment is then applied to the area to keep it moisturized before a protective dressing is applied.
For effective fading and removal of the tattoo, the laser session will need to be repeated multiple times. On average, another six to 10 times with four to six weeks in between.
Does It Hurt?
Pain is a concern for many, but it’s not nearly as bad as one may think. The pain is best compared to having a rubber band snap across your skin. If the pain is still a concern, anesthetic cream or injections with local anesthesia is an option.
Does Laser Tattoo Removal Work Anywhere on the Body?
Technically, yes, but the location of the tattoo can affect your experience, timeline and results. The location (and size) of your tattoo influences how we structure your treatment plan, how many sessions you may need and what kind of results you can realistically expect.
The Circulation Factor
Tattoos placed closer to the heart tend to respond more quickly to laser tattoo removal treatment because of better circulation. Your lymphatic system is responsible for clearing away the shattered ink particles after each session, and stronger blood flow in a given area speeds that process up. As a result, a tattoo on your chest or upper back may fade faster than one on your foot or ankle for exactly this reason.
Skin Thickness and Sensitivity
Location also affects sensitivity during treatment and the healing process. Areas of the body with thinner skin or less subcutaneous fat, including the fingers, feet, and neck, require a more careful approach and may need extra attention during recovery. Tattoos on hands and fingers also fade faster naturally from sun exposure and friction, which can complicate the removal process somewhat.
Why Size Matters
A small, single-color design on your wrist is a very different undertaking from a large-scale back piece with dense layering and multiple ink colors. Larger tattoos take more sessions, not just because there’s more surface area to cover, but because the body needs time between sessions to clear cleared ink before the next round.
At Profile MD, our providers assess all of these factors during your initial consultation. We look at placement, size, ink density and skin tone together to give you an honest, personalized picture of what removal will look like for your specific tattoo.
What Makes a Good Laser Tattoo Removal Candidate?
If you’re considering laser tattoo removal, it’s important to understand some individuals are more suited for the treatment than others. Let’s discuss why people choose to get tattoos removed in the first place and who best fits as a candidate.
Why People Get Tattoos Removed
People seek tattoo removal for several reasons. Even when a person is 100% satisfied with their tattoo, certain factors may force them to resort to laser tattoo removal. Here are some of the common reasons people choose to get their tattoos removed:
- The person no longer has a connection with the writing or imagery of the tattoo
- Regret or embarrassment over the tattoo
- Tattoo no longer looks the same after changes to the body
- The tattoo has faded and doesn’t have the same visual appeal as it used to
- The tattoo or the placement of the tattoo conflicts with job requirements
- The person desires a coverup tattoo
Procedure Candidacy
Those who are pregnant aren’t suitable for laser tattoo removal. Additionally, if you have any active infection or a suntan it is best to wait for treatment.
If you’re on the fence or unsure whether you’re a candidate, schedule a consultation with us for assurance and clarification on every aspect of the treatment.
Selective Tattoo Removal
Selective tattoo removal entails many of the same details, but the procedure only removes a portion of the tattoo. This is an option for those not looking to remove the whole tattoo.
Isn’t Laser Tattoo Removal Really Painful?
This is one of the questions we hear most often from patients at our Severna Park clinic, and considering the history of tattoo removal methods, we understand the concern. It’s true that older methods like dermabrasion or salabrasion, which removed tattoos by essentially “sanding” them off, were invasive, painful, and often left significant scarring.
Thankfully, modern laser tattoo removal brings a completely different approach. Today’s picosecond lasers work by shattering ink particles with rapid bursts of light energy rather than mechanically damaging the skin. The sensation is often described as a quick snapping or stinging feeling, similar to a rubber band flicked against your skin. Most patients tolerate it well, especially since sessions are typically brief.
That said, patients should still expect to experience mild to moderate discomfort with laser tattoo removal. Pain tolerance varies from person to person, and certain areas of the body are naturally more sensitive, including the ribs, inner arms and feet.
A few factors that can influence your comfort level:
- Tattoo location and proximity to bone or nerve-dense areas
- Size of the tattoo and session duration
- Your individual pain sensitivity
- Whether numbing cream or local anesthesia is used
At Profile MD, we take your comfort seriously. We will work with you prior to your session to determine your comfort level with the treatment (including planning to use a topical anesthetic as necessary). Our team will talk through all of this with you during your consultation, so there are no surprises.
How Long Will Removing My Tattoo Take?
Number of Sessions
The layers, color, and scarring of the tattoo will affect the number of sessions you’ll have to undergo. Some see complete removal after four sessions while others need 10. On average, individuals who get laser tattoo removal need between six to 10 sessions. Some cover up tattoos or very dark “tribal” type tattoo can take significantly more treatments.
Time Between Sessions
Skin needs time to heal after a laser session. It’s common to wait anywhere from four to six weeks between each session. This allows the ink to be flushed from the body. Stacking sessions closer than the recommended time can lead to permanent damage and side effects.
Kirby-Desai Scale
The Kirby-Desai scale is a popular tool and guideline used to determine the number of treatments an individual will have to receive for complete removal. The factors used to determine the number of treatments include:
- Location of tattoo
- Ink colors
- Layers of the tattoo (if the tattoo is a cover-up)
- Amount of ink
- Pre-existing scars
- Fitzpatrick skin type
Side Effects of Laser Tattoo Removal Treatments
These are the common side effects of laser tattoo removal:
- Redness
- Tenderness
- Swelling
- Blistering
- Scabs
- Bruising
- Hyper/hypopigmentation
Will It Leave a Scar?
The area can scar. This may especially be true if there is pre-existing scarring. Scarring from the treatment itself, however, is uncommon. It’s also important to note that picking scabs or failing to follow aftercare guidelines can lead to permanent scarring.
Looking for a scar removal solution? Learn more about our professional scar removal treatments.
The Success of Laser Tattoo Removal
Laser tattoo removal is an effective and powerful procedure known for completely removing tattoos. The success of laser tattoo removal is directly related to the number of treatments and ink used.
The age of the tattoo, the quality, the colors of ink used, and your skin type and tone can also affect how completely laser tattoo removal can eliminate the appearance of your unwanted ink.
How the Tattoo Affects Your Results
Older tattoos generally respond better than newer ones, since ink that has already begun to slowly break down and migrate within the skin is easier to target. Amateur tattoos, which tend to have inconsistent ink depth and density, often clear faster than professional ones. Darker ink colors like black and dark blue absorb laser energy most readily, while lighter shades (yellows, pinks and greens) require specialized wavelengths and more sessions to address effectively.
The Role of Skin Type and Tone
Patients with lighter Fitzpatrick skin types typically have the greatest contrast between the ink and surrounding skin, which can make treatment easier. For patients with medium to deeper skin tones, our providers at Profile MD select wavelengths and settings carefully to minimize the risk of pigmentation changes while still achieving strong results. This is one of the key reasons why working with an experienced, medically supervised team like our own matters so much.
Why Choose Profile MD to Remove Your Unwanted Ink
You have options for laser tattoo removal in Maryland—so why us? Choosing Profile MD is a choice backed by confidence you’ll be satisfied with the service and results from your consultation through your laser tattoo removal. Our providers have years of collective experience and have successfully treated thousands of tattoos.
Our medical director, Dr. Ross VanAntwerp, brings over 30 years of clinical experience and a Fellowship with the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery to every treatment offered at our practice. Dr. Jared Mallalieu and our broader care team round out an exceptional group of providers who prioritize your safety and satisfaction above all else.
If you’re in the Baltimore area, Severna Park, Annapolis, Pasadena, Arnold or anywhere in between, we’d love to meet you. Schedule your free consultation today, and let’s talk about what’s possible.
Contact us today to schedule your consultation and see if laser tattoo removal is the right choice for you.
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With years of medical experience our doctors, Dr. Jared Mallalieu and Dr. Ross VanAntwerp, specialize in bringing out the best in people through our unique laser and cosmetic procedures. Get in touch with us for your free, no-obligation consultation.