Decide on the type of tattoo removal method. While there are several to choose from, including dermabrasion, intense pulse light therapy, chemical peels and surgical removal, the generally accepted best method uses lasers to break apart the ink within the skin. This often leads to blistering and may require multiple treatments to effectively remove the tattoo. When considering removal take into account the size and cover of the cover-up tattoo, level of pain, potential scarring and expense of the procedure.
Set a budget and timeline for the removal of the cover-up tattoo. Especially in the case of laser and light treatment, multiple procedures will be needed to remove the tattoo, because the skin needs to recover between treatments. Regardless of the method of removal, the price can be in the high hundreds or low thousands to complete the removal.
Contact a dermatologist, cosmetic surgeon or other tattoo removal service about having the tattoo removed. Finding a good tattoo removal service is like finding a good tattoo artist, so take some time and ask to see examples of previous work. These specialists can look at the tattoo, offer further insight into the options and often offer removal service themselves.