Thighs
Typically 6+ Sessions
Overview
Thigh tattoos are often bigger, bolder pieces, chosen when you planned on keeping them hidden. Then come shorts, swimsuits, and a life that looks different than it did. The outer and front thigh have more cushion, so they handle treatment well. The inner thigh is more sensitive, and we treat it that way, with prescription-strength numbing and cryo air on the skin from start to finish. Larger pieces are treated in planned stages, and we photograph every visit so you can see the progress. Ink on the legs can clear a little more slowly than on the upper body, so plan for some patience. You'll be draped and covered in a private medical suite throughout. One practical tip: wear loose shorts or a skirt to your appointment. Tight jeans and a freshly treated thigh don't mix.
100% Inclusive, All Patients Receive:
Licensed Provider
Picosecond Laser
Cryo-analgesia
Aftercare Products
Postcare Instructions
Follow-up Calls
Typical Progression
Session 1: Photographs and a first pass. Larger pieces are mapped into sections and treated in planned stages. The skin frosts white for up to twenty minutes, then settles.
Session 2: Six to eight weeks later. Outlines soften and the darkest black starts to lift. Any sections not reached at the first visit are treated.
Session 3: Fading is obvious next to your day-one photos. Shading clears ahead of linework, and settings are adjusted to how your skin has responded.
Session 4: The tattoo starts to read as a shadow. Leg ink can clear a little more slowly than upper-body ink, so steady progress here is on track.
Session 5: Remaining dense areas and color are targeted.
Session 6: Review against the original photographs, then decide whether to keep going toward full clearance or stop at a fade. Remaining sessions are spaced further apart.
No pressure and no waiting room.
Meet our medical team by video, ask anything, and find out exactly what removal will look like for your tattoo.
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FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers to the questions we hear most. Don't see yours? Contact us anytime.
Does laser tattoo removal hurt? How is Inked Away™ different?
Tattoo removal's painful reputation comes mostly from older laser technology and clinics that offer little more than an ice pack. It doesn't have to be that way. Inked Away was built by physicians around one goal: comfort. Our PicoWay picosecond laser works in trillionths of a second, so far less heat reaches your skin than with older lasers. On top of that, we layer the comfort tools only a medical practice can offer: -30°C cryo air to numb the skin throughout your session, prescription-strength topical numbing, and local anesthetics for the most sensitive areas. Most of our patients describe the experience as comfortable, and many tell us it was easier than getting the tattoo in the first place. Actual laser time is often just a few minutes, and you can ask us to pause at any time.
Is Inked Away a medical clinic?
Yes. Inked Away is a physician-owned medical practice solely focused on tattoo removal services. It was founded and is led by two physicians, Wesley R. Prickett, M.D., and Matthew J. Stottle, M.D., both board-certified in anesthesiology and pain medicine. Their entire careers are built on keeping people comfortable and safe through procedures, and our goal is to bring a more comfortable approach to tattoo removal. Your treatment happens in a medical suite. We use cutting-edge, medical-grade lasers and greatly increase comfort with cryoanesthesia. All procedures follow written clinical protocols authored and signed by our physicians. We are not a spa, a studio, or a storefront that added a laser.
Who actually performs my treatment?
Every treatment is performed by a licensed medical provider: our advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) or one of our physicians. No aestheticians, no medical assistants, no laser technicians. Real nurses and doctors.
How does laser tattoo removal actually work?
Tattoo ink sits in the dermis, the layer of skin beneath the surface, which is exactly why tattoos are permanent (the skin cannot shed it). Our laser delivers pulses measured in picoseconds (trillionths of a second) at wavelengths that ink absorbs strongly and surrounding tissue does not. The pulse is so brief that it fractures ink particles mechanically, which is what makes picosecond technology so gentle on the skin compared to older, outdated laser technology still widely used. Your own immune system does the rest, clearing the fragments over the following weeks. That process continues long after you leave, which is why your tattoo keeps fading between appointments.
How many sessions will I need and how often do I have to come?
Most tattoos fall in the range of [6–12] sessions; dense blackwork and previously treated tattoos can take more. We give you an honest estimate at your consultation and revise it as we watch how your skin responds. One thing we would rather tell you now than have you discover at session three: we treat the deepest layer of ink first. That produces a better final result and slower-looking early progress. If your first two or three sessions feel underwhelming, that is the plan working, not failing. It depends on many factors, such as tattoo size, ink density, colors present, age of tattoo, location, skin type, general health, and other factors.