As tattoos have become more accessible, the number of people getting them has increased significantly. As you all know, tattoos are harder to remove than to get.
Among those who wish to remove tattoos because they are dissatisfied, many hesitate due to the pain of the removal process.
Pain Varies by Area
When getting a tattoo, there are particularly sensitive areas and areas where there is little pain. The same applies to removal.
Areas with thin skin or nerves close to the surface tend to experience severe pain. On the other hand, if the skin is thick, the pain tends to be less.
| Area Condition | Perceived Pain |
|---|---|
| Thin skin | Tends to be high |
| Nerves close to surface | Tends to be high |
| Thick skin | Relatively lower |
How Painful is the Procedure?
If you consider pain on a scale of 0 to 10, tattoo removal can be thought of as a procedure that ranks higher than the middle. Individual differences in perceived pain may exist.
Allow Sufficient Time for Anesthetic Cream
The first method is to apply topical anesthetic cream to the area to be removed and wait for at least 30 minutes. When the skin surface is anesthetized, the pain can be reduced accordingly.
Cooling the Area
The second method is to cool the treatment area. Spraying cold air onto the treatment area, like with a Zimmer cooler, can reduce pain.
Non-Sedative Anesthesia Delivered via Respiration
The third method uses nitrous oxide anesthesia. This is a non-sedative inhalation anesthesia that delivers a mixture of oxygen and nitrous oxide through respiration.
It helps alleviate pain, fear, and anxiety while the patient remains conscious, without inducing sleep.
- Anesthetic cream reduces surface pain.
- Cooling reduces the heat and irritation at the moment of laser application.
- Non-sedative inhalation anesthesia works to reduce both pain and tension.
Why We Use Three Methods Together
Yonsei Star Dermatology Sinchon uses a variety of anesthesia solutions together for tattoo removal procedures. We proceed so that you can receive treatment with reduced skin irritation and lowered pain.
Information on the treatment methods can be found in R-Zero Pico-Frectat Tattoo Removal and Nd:YAG Tattoo Removal, and the treatment flow is summarized in Tattoo Removal Treatment Guide. If you are curious about which area your tattoo is in, please contact us via chat now.
Authored and Medically Reviewed by Representative Director Dr. Lee Sang-joo (Dermatologist) Former Resident in Dermatology at Severance Hospital · Former Professor of Dermatology at Yeongdong Severance Hospital Doctor of Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine · Author of "Acne Bible" View Medical Staff Profile
First Published 2024-12-23 · Last Reviewed 2026-07-29
This article contains general medical information and is not a substitute for individual diagnosis and treatment. Results and recovery progress may vary by individual.