Laser tattoo removal

Conveniently located to serve Omaha, NE

VIEW MORE BEFORE & AFTERS

Learn more

Overview

Patient reviews

Q&A with Dr. Schlessinger

BOOK A CONSULT

Schedule your free virtual laser tattoo removal consultation today

BOOK ONLINE

Overview

Under the guidance of board-certified dermatologist and cosmetic surgeon Dr. Joel Schlessinger, Schlessinger MD in Omaha, Nebraska, offers over 25 years of laser tattoo removal experience, as well as other laser treatments such as hair removal, IPL or Intense Pulse Light, Fraxel® and more.

Laser tattoo removal has evolved dramatically over the years. Advances in the technology have made it more effective in tackling many different color pigments and sizes. The treatment itself is individualized and the process involved depends more on the color and overall size of the tattoo rather than on the design.

Our team providers and Dr. Schlessinger will closely analyze the tattoo’s structure to develop the ideal treatment plan for each individual patient. Cost for removal varies according to the size, location, color and quality of the tattoo. Dr. Schlessinger and his team perform a method called ‘the stacked’ treatment, which can dramatically shorten the number of sessions necessary for removal by performing the equivalent of four treatments in one session. We use a special patch, the Describe Patch, that allows for more treatments to be safely done during the same session.

Your consultation

Individuals who are interested in having their tattoo(s) removed, for any reason, will need to schedule a free virtual consultation in order for our providers to assess whether or not you’d be a good candidate for this to treatment.

Information about the treatment itself will be reviewed during the consultation. Our team of providers are trained to review the laser tattoo removal process, so patients know what to expect before, during and after this treatment. Any questions or concerns that patients might have about laser tattoo removal can be addressed with our providers during the virtual consultation.

Cost of laser tattoo removal

The price of laser tattoo removal varies based on several factors, including the size and coloration of the tattoo and its location on the body. Patients will be quoted and advised of all costs associated with their treatment at the time of their consultation.

Patient reviews

★★★★★

I had a consultation for laser tattoo removal. Everyone from the front desk receptionist to the nurses and doctors that assisted were incredibly friendly. I had Dr. Schlessinger for my initial consultation and he walked me through how the process would work and what I could expect. While waiting for the nurse I was shown a video about tattoo removal and that was extremely helpful as I haven’t been through the process at this location. I have previously had laser tattoo removal at another place in Omaha and the difference was insane! The last place I went didn’t offer to numb it and did not give me anything to help with the pain. The last place flew through it in about 10 minutes and never changed the laser (even though I have many different colors in my tattoo). The nurse at Skin Specialists gave me the option for numbing the area, which I didn’t do since it is such a large tattoo and I have gone through the process without numbing before. They did however provide Pro-nox which provided relief from the pain. The nurse took her time and talked me through the process as she was doing it. They changed the lasers and the strength a few times through the process. I was SHOCKED at how little this actually hurt, especially compared to the other place I have gone in the past. The care and the time the staff took to help me with this was very much appreciated and I had a great experience. I can’t recommend Skin Specialists enough!

– Hilary C.

READ MORE PATIENT REVIEWS

Before & afters

These are unretouched photos of Dr. Schlessinger’s own patients

VIEW MORE BEFORE AND AFTERS

Q&A with Dr. Schlessinger

Your commonly asked questions answered.

Laser tattoo removal requires the proper use of various types of lasers to target certain pigments in order to successfully remove tattoos completely. At Schlessinger MD, we have multiple lasers available. Our selection allows us to treat a variety of colors and tattoo patterns that might otherwise be challenging to treat.

Our team will begin the procedure by preparing the tattooed skin and administering a topical anesthetic over the area to be treated. The tattoo will then be anesthetized. Tattoo ink is made up of particles, which are placed into the skin with needles as you get a tattoo. Depending on the tattoo, you may have many ink color pigments that are embedded into the deep layers of your skin. A special device that delivers fast and precise laser pulses is used to target these pigments and eradicate that tattoo from your body.

Black ink can almost always be improved, or removed, in a series of treatments that are scheduled a month or so apart. The dark pigment makes it easier for the laser to target and zap the ink particles and the skin cells that contain them. Tattoos with colors such as yellow, white, orange, purple and green are far more difficult to remove completely and may require more treatment sessions to effectively remove them from your body. Certain colors may be nearly impossible to remove; mainly green and light blue.

If the color of light shot into the skin matches the color of the ink, the ink will heat up the particles and break them down. As the particles become smaller and smaller through multiple treatments, they’ll eventually go away by absorbing into your bloodstream to be removed from the body.

Because the laser delivers light that can generate heat, the heat can also cause scarring. This can be a particular concern on highly sensitive areas of the skin, such as removing permanent makeup tattoos on the lips, for example. That’s why it’s important to work with a licensed and skilled provider, such as Dr. Schlessinger and his team of PAs and nurses, who can help safely and effectively remove your tattoo while keeping the surrounding skin as safe as possible.

The stacked method is simply a method where via the use of the Describe Patch, a proprietary device, four treatments for tattoo removal can be done at the same time. The Describe Patch utilizes perfluorodecalin (PFD) to achieve great results. Dr. Schlessinger is the only practitioner in the Omaha area who uses it and has done so since 2015. Costs can be decreased by the use of this method as more treatments can be done at the same time. This also decreases the pain of anesthetizing the area multiple times as well. Dr. Schlessinger and his associates are experts in this, having used this method since 2015 and being the only practice in Omaha to offer it.

The process involved in laser tattoo removal varies from patient to patient and depends on the tattoo to be treated. Dr. Schlessinger and his team will discuss the procedure and what you can expect during an initial consultation in his Omaha, Nebraska office. You may view some of his before-and-after photos below.

The difficulty involved in laser tattoo removal depends on the ink color, size, and placement. Tattoos in areas of the skin that are hard to reach (such as those covering folds of the skin or on the face) may be more difficult to remove.

Some areas of the body may produce more scarring than others. Particularly vulnerable to scarring are the neck, upper arm and shoulder, and the chest.

People with darker skin may have some challenges removing tattoos completely without lightening the surrounding skin.

The success of laser tattoo removal depends more on the color of the ink or inks used than on the size of the tattoo itself. Some tattoos can be noticeably reduced in 3 to 5 sessions with 4 to 6 weeks between sessions. Others may take 10 to 12 sessions over a period of a year or even never respond satisfactorily. During the time between sessions, your body is removing the small particles of pigment vaporized by the laser.

After the procedure, you can expect your tattoo to fade over time. Some patients may still be able to see their tattoos depending on the position and colors involved, but it will only be minimally visible after multiple treatments and with time to let it resolve.

It is important to keep the area clean and to avoid swimming pools, lake water and other dirty activities in order to avoid contaminants in the treated area. Infections are very dangerous and must be avoided with proper post treatment care.

In some cases, patients may see a darkening or lightening of the skin in the area where the tattoo was removed. Occasionally, a patient may develop a reddened or darker area that looks like a burn. Most likely, it is a condition called post-inflammatory erythema (PIE), which can be caused by the laser procedure. Our team can advise you on how to lessen the inflammation until it goes away.

At Schlessinger MD in Omaha, Nebraska, we’re dedicated to optimizing every treatment to fit the individual needs of each patient. We take extra care in choosing the specific laser for your skin type and avoiding most side effects. Occasionally, however, it is possible to have a slight burn or blister. In our hands, however, this is quite rare.

It is also important to have realistic expectations. Tattoos are much harder to remove than they are to get done.

As your Omaha laser tattoo removal experts, we have a number of different lasers to choose from, and we know which will work best for you and your skin type and area to be addressed. Minor skin irritation can occur, but this is transient and lasts only a short time.

Tattoos are a concern for many people who may have outgrown them. Schlessinger MD has been treating unwanted tattoos since 1997 and has delivered hundreds, if not thousands of great results. Additionally, Dr. Schlessinger and our team are ethical and careful to let patients know who may not have a good result on their tattoo prior to starting treatment.

Older tattoos are easier to remove than newer ones. Tattoos with ink that’s black, brown and dark blue also show the best results from the procedure. Patients with darker skin and preexisting skin conditions may find that it’s more difficult to remove tattoos due to the higher risk of side effects.

Our team is very careful to make sure that his patients know what results to expect and when and how many treatments may be necessary, though it is impossible to say for sure due to the multiple inks that are used by various tattoo artists. In this area, in particular, treatments can vary greatly depending on the colors of the tattoo and the types of tattoo ink used.

“Tattoo removal is an important part of many peoples’ journey to a better state of mind. We offer advanced alternatives and solid advice as to whether or not the tattoo you may want removed can be taken off or not.”

Related content

LASER HAIR REMOVAL

LEG VEINS

BODY TREATMENTS

COOLSCULPTING®

Contact us to learn more about our cosmetic services.

Call Button
BOOK ONLINE
GET IN TOUCH