Concerns · Pigmentation · CityLink Mall
Tattoo Removal in Singapore
Laser tattoo removal works by breaking ink into fragments the body can clear. It is a gradual, doctor-led process, and how far a tattoo fades depends on the ink, the colours and the skin.
Written & medically reviewed by Dr Sin Yong · 8 October 2026
Quick answer
- Laser tattoo removal works by breaking ink into fragments the body can clear. It is a gradual, doctor-led process, and how far a tattoo fades depends on the ink, the colours and the skin.
- Medical, performed by Dr Sin Yong at IN Eternity Clinic (Pacific Plaza, Orchard): Pico Laser (T2 Frax Radiance).
- Assessment first; individual results vary. Medical pricing is given at consultation.
Tattoo removal in Singapore is usually done with lasers that break ink into particles small enough for the body to clear. People come for many reasons: a name that no longer fits, a design that has faded or blurred, eyebrow embroidery that has turned red or grey, or a tattoo that needs lightening before a cover-up. The process is gradual. Ink fades over a series of sessions spaced weeks apart, and the outcome depends heavily on the ink and the skin.
Tattoo ink sits in the dermis as particles too large for the immune system to remove. A very short laser pulse is absorbed by the ink and heats it so quickly that it shatters. Scavenger cells then carry the fragments away through the lymphatic system over the following weeks. Black ink absorbs a broad range of wavelengths and usually responds well. Green, light blue and yellow tend to be more stubborn, and multicoloured tattoos often need more than one wavelength.
Professional tattoos hold dense ink at a fairly even depth, while amateur and cosmetic tattoos can behave unpredictably. Some cosmetic pigments that contain white, flesh-toned or red ingredients can turn darker when lasered, so a small test area is often treated first. SkinRev does not perform this treatment; it is a medical laser procedure performed by Dr Sin Yong at IN Eternity Clinic. Good photographs of the tattoo and its history, such as its age, colours and whether it was done professionally, help the doctor give a realistic picture.
“Tattoo removal is a fading process measured in months, and some colours or cosmetic pigments may lighten a great deal without ever disappearing completely.”
— Dr Sin Yong, IN Eternity Clinic
- Where the ink sits
- In the dermis, held inside skin cells below the epidermis
- Pulse duration
- Picoseconds (10⁻¹² s) or nanoseconds (10⁻⁹ s); ink particles have a thermal relaxation time under 10 ns
- Wavelength and colour
- 1064 nm suits black and dark blue ink; 532 nm suits red and orange; other colours need other wavelengths
- Colours that respond more slowly
- Green, light blue, yellow, white and some cosmetic pigments
- How ink is cleared
- Fragments are removed by immune cells through the lymphatic system over weeks
What goes where
The honest ladder:
non-invasive first, medical when it is needed
At SkinRev Lab · non-invasive
There is no non-invasive treatment at SkinRev Lab that changes this concern. We will say so at the first visit and pass your enquiry to IN Eternity Clinic.
At IN Eternity Clinic · Dr Sin Yong
Pico Laser (T2 Frax Radiance) — Picosecond pulses shatter ink into finer particles than nanosecond lasers, which may help with stubborn or coloured ink. Dr Sin Yong selects settings by ink colour, depth and skin type, and spaces sessions so the skin recovers between them. How it works
Enquiries to SkinRev Lab about medical treatments are passed to IN Eternity Clinic, where Dr Sin Yong performs them.
Removing ink is a medical laser treatment, so it is performed by Dr Sin Yong at IN Eternity Clinic rather than at SkinRev; SkinRev can pass on your enquiry. It suits most professional and amateur tattoos and many cosmetic tattoos. Expect a more cautious plan if you tan easily or have dark marks after past injuries, if you form keloids or thick scars, if the tattoo sits over a scar, or if it is a cosmetic tattoo with white or flesh-toned pigment. Laser is not started on sunburnt or freshly tanned skin, during pregnancy, or over skin with an infection or rash. If you only want lightening for a cover-up, say so, because the aim and the number of visits then differ from full removal. People with darker skin need settings that protect the surface pigment, so honest expectations are set at the first consultation.
Where this happens
Assessment and non-invasive care — SkinRev Lab, CityLink Mall #B1-28, 1 Raffles Link, Singapore 039393. Underground from City Hall MRT and Esplanade MRT; a short walk from Raffles Place, Marina Bay, Suntec and Bugis. Open daily 11am–8pm.
Medical treatment — IN Eternity Clinic, 9 Scotts Road, #12-01 Pacific Plaza, Singapore 228210, beside Orchard MRT (three stops from City Hall on the North-South line). Mon–Sat 11am–8pm, closed Sunday. Treatments are performed by Dr Sin Yong. WhatsApp +65 8815 3008.
What the research says
The evidence,
with sources
Laser removal has a long evidence base. A review of laser tattoo removal concluded that Q-switched lasers can effectively and safely remove professional, amateur, traumatic, cosmetic and medical tattoos, and that some colours respond more completely to particular wavelengths (Kent and Graber). A clinical update by Singapore-based authors stresses that tattoo colour and the person's skin type are central when choosing the laser and settings, and describes multi-pass and picosecond approaches (Ho and Goh).
Because ink particles have a thermal relaxation time under 10 nanoseconds, picosecond lasers were expected to work better. A 2016 systematic review found only sparse evidence that they outperform nanosecond lasers, mostly for black and blue ink, with side effects such as pain, temporary redness, blistering and changes in skin colour (Reiter et al.). A larger 2022 systematic review of 36 studies found both laser types safe and effective for black ink, with picosecond lasers showing an advantage for blue, green and yellow pigments (Gurnani et al.). Most included studies were case series rather than controlled comparisons, so the reviewers called for better studies before firm recommendations can be made.
References
- Kent KM, Graber EM. Laser tattoo removal: a review. Dermatol Surg. 2012;38(1):1-13.
- Ho SG, Goh CL. Laser tattoo removal: a clinical update. J Cutan Aesthet Surg. 2015;8(1):9-15.
- Reiter O, Atzmony L, Akerman L, et al. Picosecond lasers for tattoo removal: a systematic review. Lasers Med Sci. 2016;31(7):1397-1405.
- Gurnani P, Williams N, Al-Hetheli G, et al. Comparing the efficacy and safety of laser treatments in tattoo removal: a systematic review. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2022;87(1):103-109.
Common questions
Your questions,
answered
How many sessions does tattoo removal in Singapore usually take?
There is no fixed number. It depends on the amount and depth of ink, the colours, whether the tattoo is professional or amateur, its location and your skin type. Small, older, amateur black tattoos tend to fade faster than dense, multicoloured professional work. Sessions are usually spaced six to eight weeks or more apart to let the body clear ink, so removal is planned over months.
Is laser removal of a tattoo painful?
Most people compare it to the snap of a rubber band or to the original tattooing, and it is over quickly for small tattoos. Numbing cream and cooling air are used to make it more comfortable, and the session itself often takes only minutes. Areas over bone, such as the ankle or ribs, can feel sharper. The treated skin feels like a mild sunburn for a few hours afterwards.
How much does tattoo removal in Singapore cost?
Laser removal is a medical treatment, so pricing is given at consultation at IN Eternity Clinic. It depends mainly on the size of the tattoo, the colours involved and the number of sessions likely to be needed. Dr Sin Yong will look at the tattoo, explain how it is likely to respond, and outline a plan before you decide.
Will my tattoo be completely gone?
Many tattoos fade until they are hard to see, but complete clearance cannot be promised. Some colours and cosmetic pigments are stubborn, and a faint shadow or slight change in skin colour may remain. Individual results vary. If you are planning a cover-up, partial fading may be all you need, which usually takes fewer visits than full removal. The doctor will tell you honestly at consultation if a tattoo is unlikely to clear well.
Can laser remove eyebrow embroidery and other cosmetic tattoos?
Often, yes, but with extra care. Cosmetic pigments may contain ingredients that turn darker or greyish when lasered, so a small test area is usually treated first. Eyebrow tattoos are close to the eyes, so eye protection is essential and settings are chosen cautiously. Lip and eyeliner tattoos need specific assessment by the doctor before any treatment is planned. Bring any record of the pigment used, if you have one.
What is the aftercare and downtime after each laser session?
Expect redness, swelling and sometimes a whitish frosting right after treatment, which settles within hours. Pinpoint bleeding, crusting or blisters may follow for several days. Keep the area clean, apply the recommended ointment and dressing, avoid picking, swimming pools and saunas until healed, and protect the area from sun. Most people return to normal activities the same day.