It doesn’t matter whether you were inspired by celebrities’ cute tattoos or got inked with that one design you thought best expressed who you were. Sometimes, you reach a point in life where your tattoos just don’t feel like they belong anymore.
The only trouble is, tattoos are permanent and removing them isn’t half as quick as getting them done. Since getting tattoo removal requires patience (i.e. time), perseverance (i.e. some pain), and pulses (i.e. laser beams zapping at your skin), you really want to choose a tattoo removal clinic that’ll get the job done well.
To help you out, we’ve rounded up some of the best tattoo removal clinics in Singapore and – before you rush head first into getting your ink erased – some things to expect about the treatment process!
What to expect before a tattoo removal
South Korean actress Han So Hee’s tattoos (seen on her waist and forearm), before she got them removed.
1. Not all tattoo removal treatments are created equal
Did you know that there are a variety of laser technologies used to remove tattoo pigments on the skin? Some lasers are more painful on the skin or cause scarring or damage to the surrounding skin tissue, whereas others are less so.
For this reason, it’s always best to consult an experienced aesthetic doctor in Singapore to find out the tattoo removal laser treatments that are suited for you, before getting your ink removed in the safest, most effective way possible.
2. It takes more than one session
If you thought you could walk into the clinic, let the doctor zap at your skin, and – just like that, bid your regretted tattoo good riddance, we hate to be the ones to break it to you. You’re mistaken.
Tattoo removal typically requires between six to eight sessions, spaced between four to eight weeks apart, before the tattoo is completely removed. Larger tattoos often require 10 treatment sessions or more and can take about a year.
Don’t head down to the clinic expecting your tattoo to be gone in one session, otherwise, you won’t just be sore but sorely disappointed.
3. You can remove coloured ink too
The dated belief about tattoo removal is this: only black pigments can be destroyed in the process, whereas lighter colours will still remain.
Thankfully, today’s laser technologies allow for even “stubborn” colours like red, yellow, and green to be zapped at and removed completely. The lasers’ multiple wavelength features allow them to penetrate the skin to different degrees, thus targeting different coloured pigments during the treatment.
4. You might experience some discomfort
Even though you might experience some pain or discomfort during the tattoo removal treatment, it really varies from person to person.
Usually, a topical numbing cream will be applied to your skin, where the tattoo is, so the discomfort is dulled. Some clinics also use a chiller to direct cold air onto the area that’s being treated, which offers added pain relief during the session.
Doctors might even prescribe painkillers, especially if it’s a large tattoo that you’re getting removed.
Feel free to discuss pain management options with your doctor during the consultation, so you’ll be able to walk into your first session with greater peace of mind.
5. You can lighten your tattoo enough to cover it up with another
Instead of removing your tattoo completely, you can also opt to have it lightened enough so that a new one can go over it. Doing so will save you some sessions, and you’ll get to flaunt a new inked design on your skin too!
Where to go for tattoo removal in Singapore
1Aesthetics, Medical & Surgery
Dr Wan Chee Kwang at 1Aesthetics, Medical & Surgery doesn’t just rely on Pico laser technology when it comes to tattoo removal at his clinic.
Instead, the aesthetic doctor uses a multi-pronged approach to remove tattoos safely and effectively: the Discovery Pico Plus, Fractional CO2 Laser, and Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy.
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The Discovery Pico Plus, a triple wavelength picosecond q-switched laser, directs short and powerful laser beams onto the skin, effectively shattering tattoo pigments whilst causing minimal damage to the skin.
Dr Wan Chee Kwang first prepares the skin with the Fractional CO2 Laser, which creates small channels in the skin to reduce pain during the pico laser treatment. In the final step, the doctor uses Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy to stimulate lymphatic drainage, giving better results in one session.
Psst! The treatment rooms are decorated according to different cheerful themes, which might help ease your nerves as you step in for a tattoo removal session.
Address: 8 Eu Tong Sen Street, The Central Tower 1, #14-90, Singapore 059818
Opening hours: 10am – 7.30pm (Mon to Fri) | 10am – 6pm (Sat)
Contact: 6612 5173 or WhatsApp 8489 9962
Website | Facebook | Instagram
Sozo Aesthetic Clinic
Sozo Aesthetic Clinic uses Pico laser technology (as compared to Q-switched Laser) to deliver high-energy laser beams to the skin in much shorter bursts. Translation? Effective tattoo removal, with less damage to the surrounding tissue.
Specifically, the clinic uses the Lutronic PicoPlus laser, which offers the most versatility (amongst other Pico lasers) in tattoo removal because of has not two, not three, but four wavelength features.
Committed to providing the best for its patients, Sozo Aesthetic Clinic is praised by patients for its friendly team of staff as well as doctors who attentively take them through each step of the treatment.
Tattoo removal is priced starting at S$50 (for small tattoos) at this aesthetic clinic.
Address: 1 Raffles Place, One Raffles Place, #05-12/13, Singapore 048616
Opening hours: 10.30am – 8pm (Mon to Fri) | 10am – 3pm (Sat) | Closed on Sun
Contact: 6935 1811, or WhatsApp 9610 5102
Website | Facebook | Instagram
The Clifford Clinic
Typically, tattoo removal sessions are spaced six to eight weeks apart, and it takes about 12 months or more for the tattoo to be removed.
However, if you really can’t stand seeing that dated inked artwork or – never a good idea – your ex’s name on your skin any longer, you’d be happy to know that there’s a fast way out at The Clifford Clinic.
The Clifford Clinic offers the Express Protocol, where patients go for up to four sessions of tattoo removal each month. The clinic underlines that this “maximises the speed and efficiency of tattoo removal, allowing the fastest tattoo removal while preserving the safety of the skin.”
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Here, doctors use either a Pico laser or a nanosecond pulsed Q-switched Nd:YAG laser to zap away the ink and pave the way for your tattoo to fade over time.
It’s also best that you arrange for a consultation with a doctor at the clinic to find out whether the Express Protocol is suitable for you.
Address: 50 Raffles Place, Singapore Land Tower, #01-01, Singapore 048623
Opening hours: 10am – 8pm (Mon to Fri) | 10am – 5pm (Sat) | Closed on Sun & PH
Contact: 6532 2400 or WhatsApp 8318 6332
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MY Medical Aesthetics
You’re in really good hands when you have your tattoo removed at MY Medical Aesthetics in Singapore!
The clinic’s medical director Dr Lim Ming Yee and his team are known for being attentive in guiding patients through each treatment step, answering their questions, as well as providing advice on aftercare.
Reviewers have called the doctor “compassionate”, “professional”, and “gentle”, and give high praise to the team of staff who make them feel supported from start to finish too.
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MY Medical Aesthetics uses the Discovery Plus Pico Laser to shatter tattoo pigments into tinier fragments (compared to using a Q-switched laser), later to be eliminated naturally by the body’s immune system.
The Discovery Plus Pico Laser also has a Ruby laser wavelength that’s effective at dispersing stubborn ink colours.
Address: 111 Somerset Road, #03-25/26/27, Singapore 238164
Opening hours: 10am – 7pm (Mon to Fri) | 10am – 3pm (Sat) | Closed on Sun & PH
Contact: 6362 8238, or WhatsApp 9770 8328 or 8127 8238
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Amaris B. Clinic
We’ve been talking about Pico lasers, which refer to any type of laser that delivers pulses of energy in picoseconds – that is to say, it sends energy in ultra-short bursts.
Amaris B. Clinic in Singapore uses a brand called Picocare, which is considered to be a highly efficient option among all Pico lasers. The Picocare 450 technology has various wavelength capacities, enabling it to disperse even darker ink shades like black, dark blue, and brown.
Before you head for your first tattoo removal session, you’ll first attend a consultation with the clinic’s medical director, Dr Ivan Puah. He’ll discuss your condition, the treatment process, aftercare, and expected results, and you should feel free to raise any questions you may have during the consultation.
The doctor and team are also known for being attentive and compassionate towards their patients, which means you can rest assured that you’ll be well taken care of during your tattoo removals.
Address: 140 Arab Street, Singapore 199827
Opening hours: 9.30am – 7pm (Mon to Fri) | 9am – 5pm (Sat) | Closed on Sun
Contact: 6536 4211
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V Medical Aesthetics & Laser Clinic
With proven results for its customised skin and body treatments, V Medical Aesthetics & Laser Clinic has expanded to nine clinics in Singapore, including at convenient locations like Orchard, Somerset, and Novena.
Each tattoo removal session takes about a short 30 minutes and the clinic also promises zero to minimal downtime, which means you can comfortably go about your day without disruptions after the treatment.
You might experience mild redness, depending on your skin condition, but it should subside within three to five days.
Using Pico lasers for tattoo removal, Medical Aesthetics & Laser Clinic prices your first session at an affordable S$88 NETT. This price is inclusive of a doctor’s consultation and the numbing cream too.
Address: Click here to view all clinic locations
Opening hours: 10.30am – 8.30pm (Mon to Sat) | Closed on Sun & PH
Contact: Call or WhatsApp 9860 9990
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Halley Medical Aesthetics
Often, sunset shades of red, orange, and yellow are stubborn tattoo ink colours to remove from the skin. It’s why, for tattoo removal, Halley Medical Aesthetics uses a Pico laser – the Fotona StarWalker PQX Pico Laser, with three wavelength capacities of 532nm, 755nm, and 1064nm to achieve the best results.
The shortest wavelength is what makes targeting the hard-to-remove sunset shades possible. The middle wavelength shatters black, blue, and green pigments, and the final wavelength does the trick when it comes to dispersing black ink on darker skin tones.
Address: 277 Orchard Road, #03-15, Singapore 238858
Opening hours: 10am – 9pm (Mon to Sun)
Contact: 6737 8233
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Freia Medical
Should you be concerned about the anticipated discomfort you’ll experience during your tattoo removal session, don’t be afraid to discuss pain management options with your doctor at Freia Medical!
Typically, an anaesthetic cream will be applied topically to the area of concern 20 minutes before the treatment begins.
Later, a Zimmer cold air chiller device will also be used to direct cool air onto the treated area, thus providing the patient pain relief from start to end.
During your consultation, doctors will also be happy to discuss other pain-relief options with you, such as taking oral painkillers so that you don’t have to grit your teeth through an entire tattoo removal session for a large ink design on your body.
The clinic notes that customers often describe the sensation as a rubber band snapping against their skin: uncomfortable but tolerable.
Address: 101 Irrawaddy Road, Royal Square Novena, #14-11/12/13, Singapore 329565
Opening hours: 9am – 7pm (Mon, Wed, Thu) | 9am – 9pm (Tue, Fri) | 10am – 3pm (Sat) | Closed on Sun & PH
Contact: 6735 8180, 8223 0609
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Astute Medical Clinic
Since 2017, Astute Medical Clinic has been offering aesthetic solutions ranging from laser treatments for the face and slimming body treatments to tattoo removal in Singapore.
Using Pico laser for tattoo removal, the treatment involves using high-energy beams directed at the ink pigments in the skin, shattering the pigments but causing minimal damage to the surrounding tissue.
The clinic’s staff are praised by patients for being warm and attentive to their needs, and the doctors are applauded for taking the time to answer patients’ questions and achieving excellent treatment results!
Address: Click here to view all two outlets
Opening hours: 11am – 8pm (Mon to Fri) | 10am – 7pm (Sat) | Closed on Sun
Contact: 9155 2243 (East Coast), or 8870 0860 (Chinatown)
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Ensoul Medical Clinic
Dr Chiam Chiak Teng at Ensoul Medical Clinic is the doctor in charge of tattoo removal, and his choice of lasers for the treatment is either the Q-switched Laser or the Alexandrite Picosecond Laser.
Depending on the patient’s skin condition, the tattoo, and their desired results, Dr Chiam will advise the patient on a treatment option most suitable for them during the consultation.
You can also trust him to take you through the process step by step as well as answer all questions that you may have about the tattoo removal procedure and aftercare.
Address: 360 Orchard Road, International Building, #08-01/08, Singapore 238869
Opening hours: 10am – 8pm (Mon to Fri) | 10am – 6pm (Sat) | Closed on Sun & PH
Contact: 6836 2833, WhatsApp 8878 0300, or email [email protected]
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The Aesthetics Centre
Located on the ground floor of the Great World City Office Tower, The Aesthetics Centre is helmed by Dr Anita Soosay, who has over a decade of experience as an aesthetic doctor in Singapore.
A certified LASER physician since 2007, Dr Soosay has experience in operating many types of lasers including the Q-switched Nd-YAG, CO2 laser, and Copper Bromide laser.
What we’re particularly curious about, however, is her special interest in providing laser treatments for darker skin! Since deeper-toned skin is more prone to hypopigmentation, she’ll take extra care and use the right techniques to avoid leaving a lighter patch on the skin after the tattoo is removed.
Address: 1 Kim Seng Promenade, Great World City Office Tower, #01-137, Singapore 237994
Opening hours: 11am – 8pm (Mon, Thu) | 9am – 6pm (Tue, Wed, Fri) | 10am – 2pm (Sat) | Closed on Sun & PH
Contact: 6820 3308 or 6820 3309
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Veritas Clinic Singapore
Instead of zapping your skin to shatter the ink pigments right away, Dr Chua Cheng Yu at Veritas Clinic Singapore makes sure to “prime” your skin so that pain is reduced during the tattoo removal process.
How? Dr Chua will use the Fotona FracPICO laser to create tiny channels in the skin (from the surface of the skin to the pigments) before using a Q-switch laser to shatter the ink pigment.
As the channels allow for gas, steam, and ink particles to escape, subsequent laser pulses are able to reach the deeper pigments and remove them more effectively!
Address: 13 Stamford Road, Capitol Singapore, #B2-35, Singapore 178905
Opening hours: 11am – 8pm (Mon to Fri) | 11am – 6pm (Sat to Sun)
Contact: Call 6283 3885 or 8129 9789, or WhatsApp 8129 9789
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Featured image credit: Han So Hee, Sozo Aesthetic Clinic
