Laser Tattoo Removal in Bali

Our pico laser delivers pulses lasting just 450 picoseconds (trillionths of a second) with very high peak power. These ultra-short pulses shatter tattoo ink into tiny particles with a pressure wave rather than heat, so the surrounding skin is spared. Four wavelengths let us match the laser to the colour of your ink. Over the following weeks your immune system carries the ink fragments away, and the tattoo fades a little more after every session.

At SŌMA, pico laser tattoo removal costs IDR 2,000,000 per session for a small tattoo (about USD 112 / AUD 158), IDR 2,500,000 for a larger tattoo (about USD 141 / AUD 197) and IDR 2,000,000 for eyebrow or eyeliner tattoo removal. Prices exclude 11% government tax. Your consultation is free: we confirm the size category, the number of sessions you are likely to need and the total estimated cost before you start, so there are no surprises. Send a photo of your tattoo on WhatsApp for a free first estimate.

Most tattoos need around 5 to 10 sessions, spaced 6 to 8 weeks apart, and some need more. The number depends on the ink colours, how dense and deep the ink is, the age and size of the tattoo, where it is on the body and your skin type. Amateur and older tattoos usually clear faster than dense professional work. We give you a realistic estimate at your consultation; complete removal cannot be guaranteed for every tattoo.

Laser tattoo removal is safe when it is performed by trained professionals with the right laser and settings. SŌMA is a licensed medical clinic (Klinik Utama), not a tattoo studio or beauty salon. Before treatment a doctor reviews your medical history and medications, checks your skin type and the inks in your tattoo, and tests a small area first for cosmetic or light-coloured tattoos. Every session uses eye protection and doctor-set parameters, and you go home with written aftercare. Temporary redness, swelling and blistering are normal; scarring and lasting pigment changes are uncommon when aftercare is followed.

Most people describe it as a quick snapping sensation, like a rubber band flicking against the skin. Because picosecond pulses put less heat into the skin than older lasers, most clients find it more comfortable. We apply numbing cream before treatment and use cooling during and after it. Sessions are short: usually 10 to 30 minutes depending on the size of the tattoo.

Yes. Our pico laser has four wavelengths to treat a broad range of ink colours: 1064 nm for black and dark blue, 532 nm for red, orange and yellow, and dedicated 755 nm and 585 nm handpieces for green and blue inks, which older single-wavelength lasers struggle with. Black and dark inks still fade fastest; bright colours such as green, light blue and yellow usually need more sessions. White, flesh-toned and some cosmetic inks can darken when treated, so we always test a small area first.

Older Q-switched lasers fire nanosecond pulses. Our pico laser's 450-picosecond pulses are more than ten times shorter, so they break ink into finer particles that the body clears more easily, with less heat in the skin. With four wavelengths it can also target more ink colours than a single-wavelength laser. Studies of picosecond lasers report high clearance rates, especially for black and blue ink, but direct comparisons with nanosecond lasers are still limited, so we give you an honest estimate of sessions at your consultation.

Yes. Our pico laser has dedicated settings for eyebrow and eyeliner tattoos and can fade microblading and other cosmetic tattoos. Cosmetic pigments often contain iron oxide or titanium dioxide, which can turn darker (paradoxical darkening) when hit by a laser, so we always treat a small test spot first and review it before treating the whole area. Eyeliner tattoos close to the lash line need extra eye protection, and your doctor will advise whether yours can be treated safely.

Yes, if you plan it well. Sessions need to be 6 to 8 weeks apart, so one visit will not remove a tattoo, but it starts the fading process, and each session in Bali costs a fraction of what many clinics charge in Australia, Singapore or Europe. Many clients have one session per trip, or start here and continue at a clinic at home. We give you a written treatment record with the settings used, so your next clinic can carry on safely. Book your session early in your stay rather than the day before you fly, and keep surf and dive days away from the treated area until it has healed.

Keep the treated area clean and dry, apply the ointment we give you and keep it covered as instructed. Avoid the sea, swimming pools, hot tubs and saunas until the skin has fully healed, usually 1 to 2 weeks. Do not pick blisters or scabs. Keep the area out of the sun, and once healed protect it with SPF 50 between sessions: Bali sun on treated skin raises the risk of pigment changes. We recommend scheduling sessions away from surf or dive days.

Redness, swelling and tenderness are normal for a few days. Pinpoint bleeding, blistering and crusting can occur and usually settle within 1 to 2 weeks. Temporary lightening or darkening of the skin is possible, especially on darker or tanned skin, and scarring is rare when aftercare is followed. Your doctor will review your medical history and adjust the settings for your skin type.

Usually yes, with extra care. A fresh tan increases the risk of pigment changes, so we recommend avoiding sun exposure on the area for 2 to 4 weeks before treatment. Our laser uses a flat-top beam that spreads energy evenly, and has a twin-pulse mode that splits each pulse in two, designed to lower the risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. For darker skin types your doctor will choose more conservative settings and may test a small area first.

Yes. Fading an old tattoo with a few pico laser sessions gives your tattoo artist a lighter base for a cover-up or rework, and usually takes fewer sessions than full removal. Wait until the skin has fully healed, typically 6 to 8 weeks after your last session, before getting tattooed again.