Pain level
Moderate
Like a rubber band snap. Sessions are short, and numbing is available.
Recovery
A few days
Frosting, then mild swelling and a light scab. Keep it covered and out of the sun.
Sessions
7 to 10
Spaced 6 to 8 weeks apart so your body can clear the ink between visits.
Results
Lightened or cleared
Full clearance for many small pieces; a clean canvas for a cover-up in fewer visits.
Commonly treats
Permanent makeup, small cosmetic tattoos, faded pieces
Brows, eyeliner, wrists, fingers, ankles, and old designs headed for a cover-up.
Individual responses vary. Results are not guaranteed.
Quick Answer
Laser tattoo removal at Banyan & Bamboo in South Austin (3005 S Lamar Blvd #D-112, 78704) uses the Rohrer Spectrum Q-switched laser, with one wavelength for black and dark blue ink and another for red and orange. We focus on small cosmetic tattoos, faded body art, and permanent makeup such as brows and eyeliner, including lightening ahead of a cover-up with your artist. Pricing starts at $75 for a design up to 1 by 1 inch and runs $75 to $250 or more by area, pulse count, and ink colors. Most pieces clear in 7 to 10 sessions, 6 to 8 weeks apart. The 6-Pack saves 15 percent, and every session after the sixth is 25 percent off. Consultations are complimentary and open now; first appointments the week of November 2, 2026 under Medical Director Dr. David L. Sneed, DO.
Start Here
What you notice
Microbladed brows that healed too dark, too wide, or the wrong tone, or eyeliner that has migrated.
What the treatment does
Q-switched pulses shatter the cosmetic pigment so your body clears it, and we work in short, careful passes near the eye.
The most common reason people come to us.
What you notice
A name, a symbol, or a finger or wrist piece you've outgrown.
What the treatment does
Small designs clear fastest. Pricing starts at $75 for anything up to 1 by 1 inch.
Wrists, fingers, ankles, behind the ear.
What you notice
An old piece that's already soft and blurred and just needs to go.
What the treatment does
Faded ink has less pigment to clear, so these often finish on the shorter end of the series.
Our own test piece was a 10-year-old faded black and pink tattoo.
What you notice
A design your tattoo artist can't work over as it is.
What the treatment does
Two to four lightening sessions open up what your artist can do, and we coordinate the timing with them.
Bring a photo of the original and your artist's name.
Is It Right for You
Laser tattoo lightening is a good fit if you:
We focus on small and cosmetic work. For a full sleeve or a large back piece, we'll point you to a specialist rather than take on a project the small format isn't built for.
Why It Takes a Series
The Science
A Q-switched laser fires in nanoseconds. That pulse is so short the ink particles shatter from the shock rather than from heat, which is what protects the skin around the tattoo.
Different inks absorb different wavelengths. One reaches black and dark blue; the other handles red and orange. Permanent makeup pigments vary, so your provider tests a small area first, and some cosmetic pigments can darken briefly before they lighten.
Between sessions, your immune system clears the fragments through the lymphatic system. That's why visits are 6 to 8 weeks apart and why most pieces take 7 to 10 sessions.
Private treatment rooms · South Lamar
Treatment Plan
Priced per session by size, pulse count, and ink colors. Your provider confirms your price at your consultation, before anything is treated.
Prices are per session and confirmed by your provider at your complimentary consultation. Text 737-321-8182 to book.
Cost
From $75 per session for a design up to 1 by 1 inch, and $75 to $250 or more for larger or multi-color pieces. The 6-Pack saves 15 percent, and because most pieces take 7 to 10 sessions, every session after the sixth is 25 percent off. Tattoo removal is cosmetic, so it isn't covered by insurance or HSA accounts. Financing is available through PatientFi.
Split a laser series into monthly payments with PatientFi. Apply in minutes, with no effect on your credit score to check.
What to Expect
Step 1
A complimentary visit with your laser provider. We review your goals, skin, and health history, choose the handpiece and area, and you leave with a plan, a price, and a date.
Step 2
Keep the area out of the sun and skip self-tanner for 2 weeks before. Arrive with clean skin and no lotion or makeup on the area. Bring a photo of the original design, and your artist's name if a cover-up is planned.
Step 3
Eye shields on. Your provider reviews the ink colors and area, confirms the price, and treats in short passes. Each pulse feels like a rubber band snap; the ink frosts white for a few minutes, which is normal.
Step 4
Mild swelling and a light scab for a few days. Keep it clean, covered, and out of the sun, and don't pick. We book your next session 6 to 8 weeks out and photograph progress each visit.
Safety and Skin Tone
The wavelength we use for black ink passes through skin pigment with less absorption than shorter ones, which is why it's the safer choice on deeper skin tones. Settings are approved by Dr. Sneed for each skin type and a test spot comes before the first full session.
Permanent makeup needs extra care: some cosmetic pigments contain iron oxide that can darken briefly under the laser before it lightens. Your provider tests a small area first and will tell you what to expect for your specific pigment.
Laser treatments at Banyan & Bamboo are performed by our laser-trained team, led by Brittany Cantu, AME, our lead laser provider and Laser Safety Officer with 20+ years of laser experience, under the supervision of Medical Director Dr. David L. Sneed, DO. Every laser plan starts with a complimentary consultation, and a good faith exam covers all of your treatments for the year.
FAQ
Consultations Open Now · South Austin
Consultations are open now, treatment booking opens October 26, and first appointments begin the week of November 2, 2026. Book a complimentary laser consultation online, or text 737-321-8182 and we'll find you a time. Call 512-890-1130 with questions. 3005 S Lamar Blvd Suite D-112, Austin TX 78704 · 512-890-1130
