Does removal hurt more than getting the tattoo?

Most people say no — mainly because the treatment is so much shorter. The laser pulse is sharp, but it lasts a fraction of a second rather than the hours of getting tattooed.

How long does one session take?

The laser pass on smaller designs usually takes under a minute; larger tattoos are a few minutes. Preparing and cooling the skin takes the most time.

Yes. We cool the skin before and during the treatment, and where needed we offer a topical anaesthetic — especially for more sensitive areas or larger designs.

Which areas hurt the most?

Areas with thin skin close to bone are more sensitive — ribs, ankles, feet, hands. The forearm, calf and back are usually easier.

Does the skin hurt afterwards?

The skin can be red and warm, a bit like mild sunburn, for a few hours to a couple of days. Cooling and following the aftercare instructions noticeably ease it.

Does tattoo removal hurt?

What it really feels like

The comparison our clients use most often is this: it's like the snap of a hot elastic band against the skin — a short, sharp, warm sensation in one spot. A picosecond laser works in very fast pulses of light, so each "snap" lasts a fraction of a second. It's not a continuous pain like getting tattooed with a needle, but a series of short pulses.

Many people say plainly that removal is less of an ordeal than getting the tattoo in the first place — mostly because it takes so much less time. Pain thresholds are individual, but in practice it's a sensation you can manage, not something to fear.

How short a session is

This is often the biggest surprise: the treatment itself is genuinely quick. For smaller designs the actual laser pass usually takes under a minute; larger tattoos are a few minutes. The longest part of the visit is preparing the skin, cooling and going over aftercare — not the laser itself.

That matters for pain: even if a pulse is unpleasant, the sensation is over very fast. The full removal, on the other hand, is spread across many visits — usually 8 to 12 sessions about every 8 weeks. We cover the timeline in a separate guide: how many sessions tattoo removal takes.

Cooling and numbing

We don't leave you to tough it out. We improve comfort in two ways:

Skin cooling — we chill the area before and during the laser pass, which noticeably dulls the heat and soothes the skin afterwards.
Numbing — where needed we offer a topical anaesthetic, especially for more sensitive areas or larger designs.

We also work at your pace — you can ask for a break at any time. The goal isn't to "endure" the pain, but a calm, controlled treatment.

Which areas hurt more

How it feels depends on where the tattoo is. As a rule, areas with thinner skin closer to the bone are more sensitive:

More sensitive: ribs, ankles, feet, hands, the inner arm, and spots with thin skin close to bone.
Usually easier: the forearm, calf, thigh and back — where the skin is thicker and there's more tissue.

At your first visit we do an assessment and a test patch — so even before the full treatment you know what to expect for your particular spot.

“The treatment was quick, painless, and the result was incredible.”

Yelyzaveta, Klik Laser clientSee all reviews

Our approach

We work with a picosecond laser, cool the skin and offer numbing — and above all we tell you plainly how it will be. We start with a free consultation that includes an assessment and a test patch, so we can match the settings to your skin and tattoo. How you care for the skin between sessions also affects comfort and healing — we cover that in our guide on tattoo removal aftercare. If you just want to ask, call us: +48 733 640 892 or book a visit.