Many people want to remove tattoos but worry about scarring. The deeper the tattoo, the greater the concern about potential skin damage during the treatment process.
While removing the tattoo is important, restoring the skin as close to its original state as possible is equally crucial.
Pigment removal and skin recovery are different tasks
Tattoo removal lasers destroy pigment. However, there may be limitations in recovering the damaged skin tissue itself.
Removing pigment and restoring the skin are different stages.
Therefore, recently, the Pinhole Technique using a CO2 laser is sometimes performed together after tattoo removal laser treatment.
What the Pinhole Technique does
The Pinhole Technique is a method of reorganizing the skin with a CO2 laser. It regularly creates microscopic holes in the skin to induce regeneration of scars or damaged skin.
After general laser removal, redness, pigmentation, or micro-scars may remain. In such cases, very low-intensity, fine CO2 laser irradiation can stimulate skin regeneration and help prevent scars.
It can be seen as the final finishing stage for the skin. More details can be found in the Pinhole for Burn & Surgical Scar treatment guide.
What might remain and what the Pinhole Technique addresses
| What might remain after laser removal | What the Pinhole Technique addresses |
|---|---|
| Redness | Induces skin regeneration with micro-thermal stimulation |
| Pigmentation | Evens out skin tone |
| Micro-scars | Induces collagen regeneration to smooth texture |
| Depressed marks | Can be alleviated to some extent |
This process can help prevent scars, and some existing marks may also be alleviated. Individual results may vary.
Things to include in your plan
- How many sessions will be needed to clear the pigment
- How the skin recovers between sessions
- Whether to include recovery treatments in the final stage
It's easy to think that simply removing the pigment is the end, but a recovery process that considers the skin condition must accompany it for satisfactory results.
If you have any questions, you can ask them via Chat now.
Beyond removal to restoration
If you are concerned about scarring, we recommend planning for the CO2 laser Pinhole Technique as well.
The pigment removal stage is covered in the R-Zero Pico-Frectat Tattoo Removal guide, and the overall treatment flow can be found in the Tattoo Removal Treatment guide.
Authored and Medically Reviewed by Chief Director Lee Sang-joo (Dermatologist) Board-certified Dermatologist · Severance Hospital Dermatology Resident · Yonsei University College of Medicine Graduate School, Doctor of Medicine Author of Skin Barrier · Current Adjunct Professor, Department of Dermatology, Yonsei University College of Medicine View Medical Staff Profile
First published 2025-06-16 · 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.