Last reviewed June 2025 by Vlad, Founder & SMP / Laser Tattoo Removal Specialist at Rico Clinic.
If you live in Villeray, Saint-Michel or Parc-Extension and you have a tattoo you would rather not see anymore, you have options closer than you think. At Rico Clinic, we have been removing unwanted ink in Montreal since 2017 — that is roughly eight years and 546+ treatments of hands-on experience, with a 5.0 rating across 135+ Google reviews. The clinic is run by Vlad, our founder and laser tattoo removal specialist, who personally consults on and performs treatments. This is not a chain or a med-spa side service. It is a focused practice where removing tattoos is what we do every day.
This guide walks you through everything a first-timer from VSP wants to know: how the laser actually works, what a session feels like, how to heal cleanly, how many sessions you should expect, and what it costs. No pressure, no jargon — just the straight answers we would give you across the consultation desk.
Why Villeray, Saint-Michel & Parc-Extension residents choose Rico Clinic
Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension is one of the most diverse boroughs in the city, and the people who come to us reflect that. We see Parc-Extension neighbours from the South Asian and Greek communities, young creatives settling into Villeray, and families across Saint-Michel from the Haitian and Latin American communities. The reasons are just as varied: a tattoo that no longer fits a career path, an older piece you are prepping to cover up, or simply a decision from another chapter of life that you are ready to close. Whatever brought you here, you will be treated with discretion and zero judgment. We are a bilingual clinic — you can do your whole consultation and treatment in English or French.
Getting to us is genuinely easy from anywhere in the borough. We are at 4934 Chemin de la Côte-des-Neiges, a few minutes’ walk from Plamondon metro on the orange line. From Jean-Talon, Parc or De Castelnau, you hop the orange line south and you are at our door in about 20 minutes — no transfers, no fuss. Driving instead? Figure roughly 15 minutes off-peak and about 25 in rush hour, with street parking available right on Côte-des-Neiges. If you know the borough by its landmarks — the west edge of Jean-Talon Market, Avenue du Parc, Patro Le Prevost, or the growing Université de Montréal campus in Parc-Ex — you are already within an easy trip of the clinic.
One thing many neighbours specifically ask about: skin tone. Parc-Extension and Saint-Michel are home to a lot of people with deeper, more melanin-rich skin, and the honest truth is that laser tattoo removal on darker skin requires more care, not avoidance. We adjust energy settings, run conservative first sessions, and spot-test before committing to a full pass. If that is your situation, you may want to read our dedicated guide on laser tattoo removal on darker and Black skin before your visit.
How laser tattoo removal actually works
The science behind tattoo removal is more elegant than people expect. The foundational principle — selective photothermolysis — was established by dermatologists Anderson and Parrish in their landmark 1983 paper. In plain terms: a laser fires extremely short, high-energy pulses of light that are absorbed by the tattoo pigment but largely spared by the surrounding skin. The energy shatters the ink into particles small enough for your body’s immune system to carry away over the following weeks. The tattoo does not get “wiped off” in one go — it fades, session by session, as your body clears the fragments.
Different ink colours respond to different wavelengths of light. Black and dark inks absorb a 1064 nm wavelength well, which is why they are usually the fastest to fade. Brighter colours — reds, oranges, some lighter tones — respond better to a 532 nm wavelength. Greens and blues are the stubborn ones and can take more patience. We work with this technology generically and tailor the wavelength, energy and spacing to your specific tattoo and skin, rather than running everyone on the same settings. We will never crank the laser higher just to rush results — that is how you get burns and scarring, and it is not how we work.
What a session actually feels like
Here is the honest play-by-play. When you arrive, we clean the area and apply a numbing cream, which we leave on for about 10–15 minutes to take effect. You will put on protective goggles, and then the treatment itself begins. Most people describe the sensation as a series of quick, hot snaps — similar to an elastic band flicked against the skin, or tiny splashes of hot oil. It is moderate, not unbearable, and it is brief.
The size of your tattoo matters more than anything: a small piece can be done in just a few minutes, while a larger one takes longer. Location matters too — bony, thin-skinned areas like the wrist, ankle, ribs or neck tend to feel sharper than fleshier spots like the outer arm or thigh. We take short breaks between passes whenever you need them, and we use a cold-air cooling system to take the edge off. Nobody is racing you through it. The vast majority of our clients are surprised by how manageable it is once they know what to expect.
Healing and aftercare, step by step
Good aftercare is half the result. Right after a session, the area will look pink, slightly raised, and sometimes a little frosty-white for a short while — that is a normal reaction to the laser, not damage. Here is how to look after it:
- Days 1–3: Expect some redness, mild swelling and tenderness, almost like a sunburn. Keep the area clean and apply the healing cream we send you home with. A light bandage is fine if the spot rubs against clothing.
- Days 3–7: Blistering or scabbing can appear — leave it completely alone. Do not pick, scratch or pop anything. This is your skin doing exactly what it should. Keep applying the cream for the full week.
- Weeks 1–6: The skin settles and your immune system quietly clears the shattered ink. This is the slow-but-real part where the fading happens between visits.
Two rules matter most: stay hydrated, and keep the treated area out of direct sun until it has fully healed. UV exposure on fresh treatment is the fastest way to cause pigment problems, so cover it or use a high-SPF sunscreen once healed. Skip the gym, saunas, hot tubs and swimming pools for a few days while the skin is open. If something looks genuinely wrong — severe swelling, signs of infection — call us, and seek medical attention if needed.
How many sessions you’ll need — and what it costs
Tattoo removal is a process, not a single appointment. Most tattoos take somewhere between 6 and 12 sessions to fully clear, spaced 6 to 8 weeks apart so your skin can recover and your body can flush the ink between visits. That spacing is not us being slow — it is what protects your skin and gives the best final result. A few factors decide where you land in that range: the age of the tattoo (older fades faster), its size, how deeply and densely the ink was packed, the colours involved, and your own skin and immune response.
On cost, we keep it transparent. Sessions at our Montreal clinic run from $50 to $800 depending on the size and complexity of the tattoo, and we offer multi-session packages that bring the per-session cost down over a full course. It all starts with a free consultation, where we look at your tattoo in person and give you a clear, personalized plan and quote — no surprises. You can explore everything we do on our services overview, and browse more of our writing on the blog.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does laser tattoo removal cost in Montreal?
At Rico Clinic, individual sessions range from $50 to $800, depending on the size, colours and complexity of your tattoo. A small, simple piece sits near the low end; a large, dense or multicolour tattoo costs more per session. We also offer multi-session packages that lower the per-session price across a full course. The exact number comes from your free consultation, where we assess the tattoo in person.
How many sessions will I need?
Most tattoos take 6 to 12 sessions to fully remove, spaced 6 to 8 weeks apart. Older, smaller, black-ink tattoos often clear faster, while large, dense or brightly coloured pieces take longer. If your goal is just to fade a tattoo enough for a cover-up rather than erase it, you will typically need fewer sessions.
Does laser tattoo removal hurt?
It is moderately uncomfortable but very manageable. Most people compare it to an elastic band snapping against the skin. We apply numbing cream beforehand, use a cold-air cooling system, and take breaks whenever you need them. Sensitive, bony areas feel sharper than fleshier ones, but sessions are short.
Will it leave a scar?
When the laser is used correctly and you follow aftercare, scarring is uncommon. The biggest risks come from over-treating the skin or from picking at scabs and blisters during healing. We deliberately use safe energy settings — we will never push the laser harder to speed things up — and we guide you through aftercare to protect your skin.
Is laser tattoo removal safe for darker skin tones?
Yes, with the right approach. Deeper, melanin-rich skin needs more conservative energy settings and careful spot-testing to avoid pigment changes. We are experienced with a wide range of skin tones — a real consideration in a diverse borough like Parc-Extension — and we always start cautiously and adjust based on how your skin responds.
How do I get to the clinic from Parc-Extension or Villeray?
Take the orange line south from Jean-Talon, Parc or De Castelnau to Plamondon, then walk a few minutes to 4934 Chemin de la Côte-des-Neiges — about 20 minutes door to door. Driving is roughly 15 minutes off-peak, with street parking on Côte-des-Neiges.
What our clients say
We did not earn a 5.0 rating across 135+ Google reviews by rushing people through. Clients across Montreal consistently mention the same things: a calm, private clinic; honest advice about what is realistically achievable; and visible fading they can actually see between sessions. Many tell us they felt informed and comfortable from the first consultation — which matters when you are doing something this personal. We would rather give you a straight assessment than oversell a result, and our reviews reflect that.
Book your free consultation
If you are in Villeray, Saint-Michel or Parc-Extension and you are ready to start, the first step costs nothing. Come in for a free consultation, and we will look at your tattoo, answer every question, and map out a clear plan and price.
Book your free consultation online, or call us at (514) 346-8044. We are open Monday to Friday, 9 AM – 6 PM, at 4934 Chemin de la Côte-des-Neiges, Montréal.
Last reviewed June 2025 · Vlad, Founder & SMP / Laser Tattoo Removal Specialist, Rico Clinic.