The first question almost everyone asks about tattoo removal is what it costs. The honest answer has two parts: the price of a single session, and the number of sessions your tattoo will need. Understanding both is the difference between a realistic budget and an unpleasant surprise halfway through the process.
This guide lays out real numbers in Canadian dollars, the factors that move them up or down, and the questions worth asking before you commit to any studio.
The per-session starting point
At Studio Kiku, laser tattoo removal starts at $100 per session. That minimum applies to very small pieces, think finger tattoos, small script, or a tiny symbol. Larger tattoos are quoted individually at a free consultation, because the session price is based on the size of the piece.
The same pricing applies at all three studios in Vancouver, Langley, and Vaughan, and the price quoted at consultation is the price you pay. There are no upsells and no surprise fees.
Why the session count matters more than the session price
A $100 session sounds affordable, and it is. But the total cost of removal is the session price multiplied by the number of sessions, and that second number is where most online estimates fall apart.
Most dark, saturated tattoos need 9 to 12 sessions for complete removal. Lightening a tattoo so a new design can go over top is a shorter road, usually 3 to 6 sessions. Sessions are spaced a minimum of 8 weeks apart so your body has time to clear the shattered pigment between treatments.
That range depends on the tattoo itself: the colours used, how deep and saturated the pigment is, how old the piece is, where it sits on your body, and how your own immune system responds. Two tattoos that look similar can clear at very different speeds.
"The tattoos people think will be easy are often the stubborn ones, and the ones they dread sometimes fall out in half the sessions," says Billy DeCola, Studio Kiku founder. "That is why quoting happens at a consultation, after someone has actually looked at the piece."
Flat-rate packages: paying for the outcome instead of the sessions
Because the session count is the real variable, per-session pricing puts the uncertainty on you. A flat-rate package flips that.
The Complete Tattoo Removal Package covers the entire removal journey for one price: treatments continue until your tattoo reaches its maximum level of fading, whether that takes 8 sessions or 14. The quote is based on the tattoo's size, colour, age, and location on the body, and in-house financing is available. For anyone committed to full removal rather than fading, it turns an open-ended cost into a fixed one.
What about PMU and other removal work?
Permanent makeup removal is priced differently because the treatment areas are small and consistent. Brow removal (microblading, powder ombre, nano strokes, and combo brows) is $239 per session, and lip blush removal is $250 per session. Scalp micropigmentation removal starts at $200 per session and scales with coverage area.
The full price list for every service, including saline removal and laser facials, is published on the pricing page. Transparent pricing is rare in this industry, and publishing the numbers is a deliberate choice.
Questions to ask any studio before paying
- Is the quote based on your actual tattoo, or a generic size chart?
- What laser is being used? A true picosecond laser like the PicoWay typically needs fewer sessions than older q-switched technology, which changes the total cost even at a higher per-session price.
- Is there a flat-rate option if you want complete removal?
- Are there hidden fees for numbing, aftercare supplies, or consultations?
Get a real number for your tattoo
Every removal journey at Studio Kiku starts with a free consultation, in person or virtual. You leave with a quote for your specific tattoo and a realistic session estimate, with no obligation to proceed. Book a free consultation at the Vancouver, Langley, or Vaughan studio and find out exactly what your removal will cost.