Six questions about your tattoo and skin give the Kirby-Desai score, a published clinical estimate of how many laser sessions removal takes; with 6 to 8 weeks between sessions, how many months; and with your state’s average price or your clinic’s, what it costs.
Kirby-Desai score 9 · 6–8 weeks apart
About 9 laser sessions11 to 15 months · $2,448–$5,931 at the US range, $272–$659 a session (CareCredit).
See a doctor or dermatologist right away if, after a session, you have
Sessions from the Kirby-Desai scale (Kirby, Desai et al., J Clin Aesthet Dermatol 2009); 6–8 weeks apart from that paper, CareCredit and the NHS; prices from CareCredit, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and LaserAway; the warning signs from the American Academy of Dermatology and Cleveland Clinic. Checked 2026-09-28. An estimate, never a promise: only a dermatologist who sees your tattoo can plan it. Ours: the months and the total.
Quick answer: laser removal took about 10 sessions on average (3 to 20) in the study behind the Kirby-Desai scale, 6 to 8 weeks apart, so it usually runs from several months to over a year. A session costs $353 on average in the US, most between $272 and $659 (CareCredit), so a 9-session tattoo is about $2,448 to $5,931. The Kirby-Desai scale estimates your number of sessions from six things about your tattoo and skin.
How to use it
Pick your skin type, where the tattoo is, its colours, how much ink it has, any scarring and whether it covers an older tattoo. The answer is the Kirby-Desai score, which is the estimated number of laser sessions, the months that takes at 6 to 8 weeks apart, and the cost at your state’s average price or your own clinic’s quote. It is an estimate for planning, never a promise: a dermatologist who sees your tattoo makes the plan. Getting a new one instead? Our tattoo cost calculator and tattoo pain chart help, and the tattoo healing tracker follows the days after.
The Kirby-Desai scale
Dermatologists Kirby, Desai and colleagues scored 100 patients’ tattoos in six categories and compared the total with the laser sessions each tattoo really took (J Clin Aesthet Dermatol, 2009): “Parameter scores are then added to yield a combined score that will show the estimated number of treatments needed for successful tattoo removal.” Removal took 9.91 ± 3.18 sessions (3 to 20) against an average score of 9.87, a correlation of 0.757. The scale assumes a Q-switched Nd:YAG or Alexandrite laser and 6 to 8 weeks between treatments.
| Category | Your tattoo | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Skin type (Fitzpatrick) | I (always burns, never tans) | 1 |
| II (usually burns, tans with difficulty) | 2 | |
| III (sometimes mild burn, gradually tans) | 3 | |
| IV (rarely burns, tans with ease) | 4 | |
| V (very rarely burns, tans very easily) | 5 | |
| VI (never burns, tans very easily) | 6 | |
| Where it is | Head or neck | 1 |
| Upper back, chest or shoulders (upper trunk) | 2 | |
| Lower back, belly or hips (lower trunk) | 3 | |
| Upper arm or thigh | 4 | |
| Forearm, hand, lower leg or foot | 5 | |
| Its colours | Black only | 1 |
| Mostly black, some red | 2 | |
| Mostly black and red, some other colours | 3 | |
| Many colours | 4 | |
| How much ink | Amateur: letters, words or small symbols | 1 |
| Minimal: one colour, simple design | 2 | |
| Moderate: one colour, complex design | 3 | |
| Significant: many colours, complex design | 4 | |
| Scarring or raised skin in it | None | 0 |
| A little | 1 | |
| Some | 3 | |
| A lot | 5 | |
| A cover-up over an older tattoo? | No | 0 |
| Yes | 2 |
The lowest possible score is 4 sessions and the highest 26. The paper: “Tattoos scoring greater than 15 points may be difficult to remove and should be assessed by the physician to decide whether laser removal is the method of choice for the patient.”
Sessions, months and cost
Treatments need time between them for the skin to heal and the body to clear the shattered ink: 6 to 8 weeks in the paper, a six-week interval at CareCredit, and “at least 8 weeks apart” at the NHS’s Bristol Laser Centre. The months below are ours: the gaps between the sessions, added up.
| Sessions | Time at 6–8 weeks apart | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | 4 to 6 months | $1,088–$2,636 |
| 6 | 7 to 9 months | $1,632–$3,954 |
| 8 | 10 to 13 months | $2,176–$5,272 |
| 10 | 12 to 17 months | $2,720–$6,590 |
| 12 | 15 to 20 months | $3,264–$7,908 |
| 15 | 19 to 26 months | $4,080–$9,885 |
| 20 | 26 to 35 months | $5,440–$13,180 |
Prices per session: CareCredit’s national average is $353, “but can range between $272 and $659”; the American Society of Plastic Surgeons puts laser skin treatments like tattoo removal at $697 on average; LaserAway charges from $100 to $960 a session depending on the tattoo’s size. Your clinic’s quote beats all of them.
Three worked examples
A black upper-arm tattoo, one colour, simple, on type II skin: 2 + 4 + 1 + 2 = about 9 laser sessions, 11 to 15 months, $2,448–$5,931 at the US range.
A colourful, detailed forearm piece on type IV skin: 4 + 5 + 4 + 4 = about 17 laser sessions, 22 to 29 months, and over 15 points, so the paper would have a physician assess it first.
Amateur black lettering on the upper back, type III skin, in Texas: 3 + 2 + 1 + 1 = about 7 laser sessions, 8 to 11 months, $2,282 at Texas’s average of $326 a session.
Before you book: safety
- Who should do it: “the American Academy of Dermatology recommends that you consult a board-certified dermatologist” (AAD). Not while pregnant or breastfeeding, and you need a healthy immune system.
- What is normal: some redness, swelling and a little blistering after a session; light or dark spots that tend to disappear within 6 to 12 months (AAD). “Laser tattoo removal can leave behind skin that is lighter than the skin around it” (FDA).
- See a doctor or dermatologist right away for signs of infection: redness that darkens or spreads, pain that gets worse, a rash of painful bumps, fever or chills, pus or an open sore (AAD). Severe pain or swelling: “visit your provider or go to the emergency room immediately” (Cleveland Clinic).
- Creams do not work: “The FDA has not approved tattoo removal ointments and creams or do-it-yourself tattoo removal kits.”
Average price per session by state
| State | Average a session |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $287 |
| Alaska | $430 |
| Arizona | $360 |
| Arkansas | $299 |
| California | $437 |
| Colorado | $355 |
| Connecticut | $363 |
| Delaware | $351 |
| District of Columbia | $478 |
| Florida | $349 |
| Georgia | $313 |
| Hawaii | $562 |
| Idaho | $356 |
| Illinois | $349 |
| Indiana | $318 |
| Iowa | $312 |
| Kansas | $315 |
| Kentucky | $336 |
| Louisiana | $333 |
| Maine | $362 |
| Maryland | $416 |
| Massachusetts | $387 |
| Michigan | $318 |
| Minnesota | $326 |
| Mississippi | $307 |
| Missouri | $309 |
| Montana | $350 |
| Nebraska | $316 |
| Nevada | $346 |
| New Hampshire | $372 |
| New Jersey | $388 |
| New Mexico | $313 |
| New York | $389 |
| North Carolina | $329 |
| North Dakota | $323 |
| Ohio | $319 |
| Oklahoma | $303 |
| Oregon | $380 |
| Pennsylvania | $344 |
| Rhode Island | $364 |
| South Carolina | $327 |
| South Dakota | $317 |
| Tennessee | $321 |
| Texas | $326 |
| Utah | $364 |
| Vermont | $369 |
| Virginia | $345 |
| Washington | $387 |
| West Virginia | $310 |
| Wisconsin | $330 |
| Wyoming | $324 |
Common mistakes
- Budgeting for the first session only. The price is per session, and most tattoos take many.
- Booking the next session early. The body clears the ink between sessions; 6 to 8 weeks is what the scale assumes.
- Forgetting the cover-up underneath. A cover-up hides a second tattoo, and the scale adds 2 points for it.
- Stopping when it looks faded. “Keep all of your appointments for laser tattoo removal. Too often, people stop treatment before they see optimal results” (AAD).
More on Needle Style
Funny tattoos, feet tattoos for women, leg sleeve tattoos, shoulder tattoos for women and butterfly tattoos.
Sessions from the Kirby-Desai scale; intervals from the paper, CareCredit and the NHS; prices from CareCredit, the ASPS and LaserAway; safety from the AAD, Cleveland Clinic and the FDA. Checked 2026-09-28.
FAQ
How much does laser tattoo removal cost?
About $353 a session on average in the US, most between $272 and $659 (CareCredit), times the number of sessions: a 9-session tattoo is roughly $2,448 to $5,931.
How many sessions does it take to remove a tattoo?
The Kirby-Desai scale estimates it from six things: your skin type, the tattoo’s location, colours, amount of ink, scarring and whether it is a cover-up. In its study removal took 3 to 20 sessions, about 10 on average.
How long does tattoo removal take?
Sessions are 6 to 8 weeks apart, so 9 sessions take about 11 to 15 months from the first to the last.
What is the Kirby-Desai scale?
A scale published by dermatologists in 2009 that adds up points for skin type, location, colours, ink, scarring and layering; the total is the estimated number of laser sessions.
Why do tattoos on the feet and hands take longer?
The paper: blood and lymph supply is highest in the head and neck and lower in the distal extremities, and the body clears ink more slowly where it is lower. The scale gives the forearm, hand, lower leg and foot 5 points, the head and neck 1.
Does tattoo removal hurt?
It can feel uncomfortable or painful; a dermatologist can give you a numbing cream or shot (AAD).
Do tattoo removal creams work?
No: the FDA has not approved any tattoo removal cream, ointment or do-it-yourself kit.