Tattoo removal in Seoul with a pico laser: sessions, cost and fitting it around your trip

Thinking about having a tattoo removed while you are in Seoul? This guide is for anyone deciding whether to start pico laser tattoo removal on a trip: what a session costs, how many sessions to expect, and how a multi-session treatment fits around travel. LIV Plastic Surgery is a non-surgical anti-aging clinic in Gangnam, one minute from Sinsa Station (Line 3, Exit 4) and next to Garosu-gil. International patients pay from the same price list as Korean patients, consultations are available in English, and you book directly with the clinic — no agency, no deposit.

How pico laser tattoo removal works at LIV

LIV removes tattoos with the Lucas pico laser. A picosecond pulse is about 1,000 times shorter than that of a conventional nanosecond laser, so the ink is shattered into finer particles with less heat build-up in the surrounding skin. The fragments are then absorbed by the body's immune cells (macrophages) and cleared through the lymphatic system — which is why removal takes a series of sessions rather than one visit.

What it is used for:

• black tattoos
• colour tattoos
• eyeliner tattoos
• eyebrow tattoos
• semi-permanent make-up

For colour work, Lucas has three wavelengths: 1064 nm for black, dark blue and brown, 755 nm for blue and green, and 532 nm for red, orange and yellow. Black responds well; blue and green are harder and need more sessions. For colour tattoos the clinic combines Lucas with the Clarity II laser where needed.

A session, minute by minute

• Numbing cream: about 30 minutes before the laser.
• Laser time: 15–30 minutes, depending on the size of the tattoo.
• Straight after: fine scabs form on the treated area and last 3–7 days. Leave them alone — not picking scabs is part of the clinic's aftercare guidance.
• Pain: from a snapping rubber band to a pinching feeling, varying by person; the short pico pulse means less heat build-up and so less pain, and the numbing cream minimises discomfort.
• Scarring: the pico laser minimises heat damage, so the clinic puts the risk of scarring as very low; with appropriate energy settings and intervals, most people heal without scarring.

Tattoo removal cost in Seoul: LIV's published prices

These are the prices LIV publishes on the tattoo removal page (the price list covers the clinic's other treatments). Tattoo removal is priced per area, per session. The CO2 laser rows sit in the same section but are for moles, flat warts and age spots, not tattoo ink — for a tattoo, the first line is the one that matters.

"Per area" is the unit the clinic prices by, and in general one area means one small tattoo. For a large tattoo, or several tattoos in different places, send photos and the clinic gives an estimate at the consultation based on the size and the number of areas. Because removal takes several sessions, the figure to plan with is the per-session price multiplied by the number of sessions estimated for you at the consultation (next section).

Consultation only is fine

You can come in for a consultation without committing to treatment. The 1:1 consultation fee is KRW 10,000 (about US$7 at the same reference rate); if you go ahead with treatment the same day, it is deducted in full from the treatment cost. The surgeon examines the tattoo and recommends a plan; you can take your time deciding.

How many sessions will I need, and how far apart?

Here is exactly what the clinic says.

• How much comes off: most tattoos can be removed by more than 90%. Complete removal depends on the ink colour, its depth, the age of the tattoo and your skin type.
• Colour: black ink responds well; green and blue may need more sessions.
• Age of the tattoo: older tattoos are generally easier, because the immune system has already removed some ink over the years; new tattoos can also be removed effectively.
• Number of sessions: depends on the type of tattoo — see the table below. Your own estimate is given at the consultation.
• Interval: 6–8 weeks. Clearing the shattered ink takes 4–6 weeks, and the next session should only go ahead once the skin has fully recovered; treating too often increases skin damage and the risk of scarring.

Estimated sessions by tattoo type

These are the estimates the clinic publishes on its tattoo removal page. They are ranges by type, not a quote for your tattoo.

In practice, a tattoo is a course, not a single appointment: one visit to Seoul covers one session.

Can I start tattoo removal on holiday? Fitting the sessions around your trip

Session one, during your trip

Yes, in most cases. LIV's booking flow for international patients is an in-person consultation followed by treatment the same day in most cases; most of its non-surgical treatments take 30 to 90 minutes and need no hospitalisation. For a tattoo session, budget for the consultation, about 30 minutes of numbing cream and 15–30 minutes of laser — one slot in a half-day.

The days after the session

• Fine scabs for 3–7 days: keep them intact; mild swelling is also possible. Once the scabs have come off, the area is usually still a little pink; in general this fades over a few weeks, at a pace that varies from person to person.
• Sun: laser-treated skin is more sensitive and the risk of UV pigmentation goes up, so the clinic asks for SPF 50+ sunscreen and a hat or parasol for at least 2–4 weeks, and advises against laser treatment during periods with a lot of outdoor activity.
• Sauna and intense exercise: avoid for 1 week — this is on the clinic's aftercare list, together with applying the prescribed ointment as directed.
• Swimming, sea water and hot springs: keep the treated area out of them until the scabs have come off by themselves — typically 1–2 weeks, though this varies from person to person.
• Flying home: pico laser tattoo removal is a non-surgical treatment and in general there is no restriction on flying, so a flight home the same day or the next day is usually fine; the clinic confirms the timing with you individually at the consultation.

Session two onwards

With 6–8 weeks between sessions, the next one falls after most trips end. How you continue — on a later visit to Seoul, or in some other way — is something to agree with the surgeon at the first consultation. Between sessions you are not on your own: after you fly home you can send photos through WhatsApp or the live chat, the clinic reviews how the area is healing and answers questions, and you receive a written aftercare guide in English.

Booking from abroad, without an agency

There is no broker and no deposit: you message the clinic directly and get a quote before you travel. Enquiries are answered within one business day.

1. Contact the clinic on WhatsApp (+82 10-6888-2773) or the live chat on this site, in English; the contact form also works.
2. Remote consultation and quote. Send a few clear photos of the tattoo and say what you want removed; the clinic suggests a plan and a price estimate.
3. Schedule your visit. Choose a date and time that fits your itinerary.
4. Visit and same-day treatment. Meet the surgeon for the in-person consultation, then have the first session the same day in most cases.
5. Remote aftercare. After you return home, follow-up and questions are handled through your messenger or chat.

Practical details:

• Clinic hours: Monday to Friday 10:00–19:00, Saturday 10:00–16:00, closed on Sunday (Korea time).
• Getting there: Sinsa Station (Line 3), Exit 4 — a 1-minute walk. From Incheon Airport about 70–90 minutes by AREX train or limousine bus, or about 60 minutes by taxi; from Gimpo Airport about 40 minutes by taxi or subway. Address: 4F, Jaeun Building, 80 Naruteo-ro, Seocho-gu, Seoul.
• Language: consultations in English; interpretation is arranged free of charge on request.
• Payment: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB, UnionPay and Korean won in cash.

Points to check before you go ahead

• The two weeks before a session: avoid excessive sun exposure and irritating products on the area — worth mentioning when you book if your itinerary starts with beach days.
• Tell the clinic about any skin condition on the area (inflammation, wounds) and any medication you take, especially photosensitising drugs.
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding: laser treatments are not recommended during pregnancy or while breastfeeding; the clinic recommends waiting until both are complete.
• Realistic expectations: "more than 90%" is the clinic's typical figure, not a promise that the tattoo disappears completely.

Treatments at LIV are planned and performed under Dr. Sooyoung Kim, a board-certified plastic surgeon with four SCI-indexed research publications and a member of the Korean Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery; see our medical team. Other laser treatments are listed on the laser page, and more answers for international patients are on the medical Q&A page.

Before you book

The number of sessions, the final price and how to continue after you leave Seoul are decided with the surgeon at your consultation; the figures above are LIV's published starting points for planning. Send your questions through the international patients page or the contact form; the clinic replies within one business day.

This guide is general information, not medical advice or a diagnosis. Suitability and the final plan are decided at your in-person consultation. Prices are per session, exclude VAT, and are confirmed after consultation.