Spectrum Q-Switched Nd:YAG · 1064 / 532 nm
Laser Tattoo Fading & Removal in Salinas, CA
Q-switched Nd:YAG treatment for selected body tattoo pigment, whether the goal is significant fading or lightening ink ahead of a cover-up.
Pricing is based on size, quoted up front. Response depends on your specific tattoo, and we will tell you honestly what we think is achievable before you commit to a series.
From
$85 per session
Provider
Angelica Alcaraz, BSN, RN
Serving Salinas, Monterey, Seaside, Marina, Prunedale, Castroville, Gonzales and Soledad. Se habla español.
Size-based pricing
Tattoo Removal Starting at $85 per Session
Tattoo removal is priced by the area being treated, because a thumbnail-sized piece and a half-sleeve are not the same job. Find your size below and you will know roughly what a session costs before you walk in.
| Tier | Size Guide | Per Session | Book |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small area — 1" x 1" | About 1 sq in | $85 | Book Small area — 1" x 1" tattoo removal |
| Business card — 2" x 3" | About 6 sq in | $100 | Book Business card — 2" x 3" tattoo removal |
| Flash card — 5" x 5" | About 25 sq in | $200 | Book Flash card — 5" x 5" tattoo removal |
| Larger than 5" x 5" | More than about 25 sq in | Quoted at consultation | Book Larger than 5" x 5" tattoo removal |
XL tattoos are quoted individually. Final quotes can also account for ink density, color complexity, location, layering and prior treatment history. Eyebrow and permanent makeup removal is priced separately at $200 per session.
Wavelength and pigment
Which Ink Colors Respond Best
The Spectrum Q-switched Nd:YAG runs two wavelengths. 1064 nm is particularly useful for black and dark pigment, and 532 nm is useful for red and selected warm-colored pigments. Wavelength choice must match the pigment being targeted.
Black and dark pigment
Absorbs 1064 nm efficiently. This is the workhorse case for a Q-switched Nd:YAG and where most patients see the clearest progress.
Selected red and warm pigment
Often responds to 532 nm. Reds, oranges and some warm tones can fade well when the wavelength is matched to the pigment.
Blue, green and yellow
Not efficiently targeted by 1064/532 nm alone. These pigments frequently plateau, and picosecond technology may offer an advantage for some of them.
White, flesh-toned and mixed cosmetic pigment
Can darken paradoxically after laser exposure. These require assessment and often a test spot before any full-area treatment.
Setting expectations
Why Body Tattoos Can Plateau
- Dense professional ink may be deposited at multiple depths.
- Some colors are not efficiently targeted by 1064/532 nm alone.
- Residual pigment may become progressively harder to clear.
- Distal body locations can clear more slowly than areas with stronger circulation and lymphatic drainage.
- Session spacing matters, and more frequent treatment is not automatically better.
- Complete clearance is not a realistic universal endpoint.
Realistic results
What Affects the Number of Sessions
Some tattoos fade substantially after a limited number of sessions, while others require a longer series or retain residual pigment. We do not promise the same number of sessions for every tattoo, because these variables differ for everyone:
- Ink composition and density
- Depth and layering, including cover-ups over older work
- Color mix and how well each color matches an available wavelength
- Age of the tattoo
- Location on the body and local circulation
- Skin type and healing history
- Prior removal attempts
- How your body clears fragmented pigment between sessions
Risks and side effects
What Can Go Wrong
Laser tattoo removal is a medical treatment, not a cosmetic touch-up, and it carries real risks. You should know them before your first session, not after.
Pigment change
Temporary or lasting lightening or darkening of the treated skin can occur, and is more likely in deeper skin tones or with aggressive settings.
Paradoxical darkening
Certain pigments, particularly white, flesh-toned, pink and some cosmetic inks, can turn darker after laser exposure rather than lighter.
Scarring and texture change
Blistering, crusting and textural change are possible. Risk increases with over-treatment, sessions spaced too closely, and picking at healing skin.
Ghosting
Some tattoos leave a faint shadow or outline of the original design after pigment stops responding, even when treatment has otherwise gone well.
A different goal
Tattoo Fading for a Cover-Up
Full clearance is not always necessary, and chasing it is often the more expensive path. If you already have a cover-up planned, the goal changes: your artist only needs the existing work light enough to design over cleanly.
Fading for cover-up typically takes fewer sessions than pursuing maximum clearance. Bring your artist’s plan to the consultation so we can aim at the right endpoint rather than treating past it.
Removing eyebrow or permanent makeup pigment?
Cosmetic brow pigment behaves differently from body tattoo ink and is our primary specialty. It has its own page, its own pricing and its own safety steps.
Common questions
Tattoo Removal FAQ
Book your visit
Book an appointment
Bring a photo of the tattoo, or just bring the tattoo. Your consultation is complimentary.
- Studio
- 307 Main St, Suite 130
Salinas, CA 93901
Inside the Mechanics Bank building - Call
- (831) 272-2506
- Hours
- Mon–Fri: 10:30am – 6pmSaturday: 10:30am – 2:30pmSunday: Closed
Start Fading That Tattoo
Come in for an assessment of your tattoo’s size, colors, depth and history. You will leave knowing your size tier, what a realistic goal looks like, and where the limits are.