Last reviewed June 2025 by Vlad, Founder & SMP / Laser Tattoo Removal Specialist at Rico Clinic.
If you live on the South Shore and you have been thinking about removing a tattoo, you have probably run into the same problem most people do: a lot of clinics talk in vague promises and even vaguer prices. This page is the opposite. We have been removing tattoos and doing scalp micropigmentation at Rico Clinic in Côte-des-Neiges since 2017 — that is roughly eight years, more than 546 treatments, and 135-plus five-star Google reviews. Below is a plain, honest walk-through of how laser tattoo removal actually works, what it feels like, how many sessions it really takes, what it costs, and why so many people from Longueuil, Brossard, Boucherville and beyond decide the short hop across the river is worth it.
Why South Shore residents choose Rico Clinic
The Rive-Sud is its own world — Longueuil, Brossard, Saint-Lambert, Boucherville, Saint-Bruno, La Prairie, Châteauguay and the bedroom communities scattered between them. It is mostly francophone, family-oriented, and built around larger homes and longer trips into the city. That last part matters when you are choosing a tattoo removal clinic, because the wrong choice means a frustrating commute you have to repeat again and again.
Here is the honest geography. From most of the South Shore, Rico Clinic is about 12 to 35 kilometres north, depending on where you start. By car it is typically 20 to 25 minutes off-peak, longer at rush hour — so most clients aim for a mid-morning or early-afternoon slot. If you prefer transit, the yellow line from Longueuil–Université-de-Sherbrooke or the REM from Brossard, Du Quartier or Panama gets you into the city, then a short orange-line ride south to Plamondon puts you a few minutes from our door. There is free street parking right on Côte-des-Neiges in front of the building, which most South Shore drivers find easier than fighting for downtown spots.
The reason the distance works in your favour is the rhythm of the treatment itself. Laser tattoo removal is not a weekly appointment. Sessions are spaced six to eight weeks apart, so over the whole course you are only coming in a handful of times across several months. For South Shore clients that turns the visit into a deliberate, occasional appointment — the kind you plan around, often pairing it with errands downtown or a stop at DIX30 on the way home. We see a particular pattern in the people who drive in from across the river: established adults reconsidering work they got years ago. A name that no longer fits the present. A piece from a different chapter. Visible ink someone wants gone before a career step, a milestone birthday, or simply because it stopped feeling like them. If any of that sounds familiar, you are exactly who this clinic was built for.
How laser tattoo removal actually works
Tattoo ink sits in a layer of your skin where your immune system normally cannot reach it — that is why a tattoo is permanent in the first place. Laser removal works by sending very short, very high-energy pulses of light into the skin. The ink particles absorb that light and shatter into fragments small enough for your body to carry away and flush out naturally over the following weeks. Your immune system does the actual removing; the laser just breaks the ink down into pieces it can handle.
This is not new or experimental science. The principle behind it, selective photothermolysis, was published by Anderson and Parrish in 1983 and has guided laser dermatology ever since. The key idea is that different wavelengths of light are absorbed by different colours of ink. We use a 1064 nm wavelength for darker inks like black and dark blue, and a 532 nm wavelength for warmer colours such as red. Black is the easiest colour to remove; greens and bright blues are the stubborn ones and can take more sessions. We will tell you honestly where your tattoo falls before we start.
How many sessions you need depends on real factors, not guesswork: the age of the tattoo, how deep and dense the ink was packed, the colours, where it sits on your body, and your own skin. Most tattoos take six to twelve sessions for full removal, spaced six to eight weeks apart. That spacing is not us stalling — your skin and immune system need that time to clear the broken-down ink and recover between treatments. We never increase the laser intensity beyond what is safe to chase faster results, because that is how people end up with burns or scarring. Done properly, this is a patient process, and patience is what protects your skin. You can read more about the full range of treatments we offer on our services overview.
What a session actually feels like
Most people are more nervous about the pain than they need to be. Here is exactly what happens. We start by applying a numbing cream to the area and leaving it on for ten to fifteen minutes so it can take effect. Then we clean the skin, hand you protective goggles for your eyes, and set the laser to the right wavelength and settings for your tattoo’s colour and size.
When the laser passes over the tattoo, most clients describe the sensation as moderately uncomfortable — the classic comparison is a thin rubber band snapping against the skin, with a brief warmth. It is very manageable, and it does not last long. How much you feel depends a lot on location: tattoos on the head, neck and ribs tend to feel sharper, while arms, hands, thighs and feet are usually easier. We run a cooling air system over the area throughout, which takes a real edge off, and we pause between passes any time you want a breather. A typical small-to-medium tattoo is treated in just a few minutes of actual laser time. You stay in control the whole way through.
Healing and aftercare, step by step
What you do after the session matters as much as the session itself, and the good news is it is simple. Right after we finish, we apply a healing cream and cover the area. You will likely see some redness, mild swelling, and possibly small blisters or a frosted-white look over the tattoo — all normal, all temporary.
For the first few days, keep the area clean and dry, and apply the healing cream we recommend for about seven days. Do not pick at scabs or blisters; let them resolve on their own, because picking is the main thing that causes scarring. Stay hydrated — your body is literally flushing the ink out, so help it. The single most important rule is to keep the treated area out of direct sunlight until it has fully healed, and to use sunscreen on it afterward; sun exposure on healing skin is what causes pigment problems. Most people are back to normal activities the same day, though it is wise to skip the gym, saunas and swimming pools for a few days while the skin settles. By the time your next session comes around six to eight weeks later, the area will be healed and ready.
How many sessions you’ll need — and what it costs
Let’s talk numbers honestly, because vague pricing helps no one. At Rico Clinic, sessions range from $50 to $800. That spread is wide because tattoos are wildly different: a small, single-colour piece on the forearm is at the low end, while a large, dense, multi-colour back piece is at the high end. The price is driven by size, the colours involved, and your skin type. Most tattoos need six to twelve sessions in total, spaced six to eight weeks apart, which means the full process usually runs across several months to a bit over a year.
Because removal is a series rather than a one-off, we offer multi-session packages that bring the per-session cost down — worth asking about if you are committing to a full removal. It all starts with a free consultation: we look at your tattoo in person, explain what is realistic for your specific case, and give you a clear quote and timeline before you commit to anything. You will leave knowing exactly what to expect. If you want to read more about the process and other clients’ experiences first, browse our blog.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it worth driving in from the South Shore for laser tattoo removal?
For most South Shore clients, yes. Sessions are short and spaced six to eight weeks apart, and the drive across the river is usually 20 to 25 minutes off-peak. Because you only come in a handful of times over several months, the trip becomes an occasional, deliberate appointment rather than a weekly chore — and many clients pair it with downtown errands or a stop on the way home.
How much does laser tattoo removal cost?
At Rico Clinic, sessions range from $50 to $800 depending on the size of the tattoo, the ink colours involved, and your skin. Small, simple pieces sit at the low end; large, dense, multi-colour work costs more. We quote you a clear per-session price and package options at your free consultation, with no surprises.
How many sessions will I need?
Most tattoos take six to twelve sessions for full removal, spaced six to eight weeks apart. Older, faded, black-ink tattoos tend to clear faster; newer, dense, or colourful work takes longer. We give you an honest estimate after seeing your tattoo in person.
Does laser tattoo removal hurt?
Most people describe it as moderately uncomfortable, often compared to a rubber band snapping against the skin. We apply numbing cream beforehand and use a cooling air system during treatment. Sensitive areas like the neck feel sharper than the arm or thigh, and we pause between passes whenever you need a moment.
Will it leave a scar?
When the treatment is done correctly and you follow aftercare, scarring is uncommon. The laser targets the ink, not the surrounding skin. We work conservatively, never overtreating to chase faster results, and we coach you through aftercare so your skin heals cleanly between sessions.
What our clients say
We did not earn 135-plus five-star reviews on Google by overpromising. Clients who come to us from across Montreal — and from across the river — consistently mention three things: the professionalism, the warm and unhurried customer service, and the visible results. People appreciate that we are straight with them about how many sessions it will take and what it will cost, and that the clinic is private and comfortable rather than clinical and rushed. Whether it is someone’s first session or their last, the goal is the same: a smooth, supportive, genuinely effective experience. Our 5.0 average rating reflects that.
Book your free consultation
If you are on the South Shore and ready to start, the first step is easy and costs nothing. Book a free consultation and we will look at your tattoo, answer every question, and give you a clear, honest plan and quote — no pressure. Book your free consultation online, or call us at (514) 346-8044. We are at 4934 Chemin de la Côte-des-Neiges in Montréal, open Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 6 PM, with free parking right out front. We look forward to helping you close this chapter for good.
Reviewed by Vlad, Founder & SMP / Laser Tattoo Removal Specialist, Rico Clinic. Last reviewed June 2025.