Last reviewed June 2025 by Vlad, Founder & Laser Tattoo Removal Specialist at Rico Clinic.
If you live in Verdun and you’ve been staring at a tattoo you no longer want, you’re in good company — and you’re closer to a real solution than you think. At Rico Clinic, we’ve been safely removing tattoos since 2017, and in that time we’ve completed 546+ treatments for clients across Montreal. We hold a 5.0 rating across 135+ Google reviews, and after roughly eight years doing this work, we’ve learned that the people who walk away happiest are the ones who knew exactly what to expect before they started. This guide is written to give you that.
I’m Vlad. I founded Rico Clinic, and I do this work with my own hands every week. My goal here isn’t to sell you — it’s to answer the real questions you’d ask me if you were sitting across the consultation desk. Let’s get into it.
Why Verdun residents choose Rico Clinic
Verdun has changed a lot, and the people booking removal with us reflect that. You’ve got long-time residents who’ve watched the neighbourhood transform, and you’ve got younger families who got priced out of the Plateau and put down roots near the waterfront. What both groups share is a life-stage shift — and tattoos that suddenly feel like they belong to an earlier chapter.
We hear the same stories again and again from Verdun. A parent who never thought twice about a forearm piece now wants it gone before the school photos and the soccer-field afternoons. Someone moving from late-night service work into a 9-to-5 with family-friendly hours, who’d rather not explain visible ink at every interview. People who simply like the idea of a clean slate now that life by Parc Arthur-Therrien and the Verdun Beach boardwalk looks different than it did a few years ago. If any of that is you, you’re exactly who we built this clinic for.
Getting to us is easy, and that matters more than people expect — removal isn’t one visit, it’s a handful spread over months, so a manageable trip keeps you consistent. We’re at 4934 Chemin de la Côte-des-Neiges, roughly 8–10 km from Verdun. If you drive, it’s about 18 minutes off-peak (closer to 30 in rush hour), and there’s street parking right on Côte-des-Neiges in front of the building. On transit, the simplest route is the green line from De L’Église, Verdun or Jolicoeur to Lionel-Groulx, then the orange line south to Plamondon — about 25 minutes door to door, with the clinic a short walk from the station.
Inside, the clinic is built for privacy. We run three rooms — a consultation space and two treatment rooms — so your visit is calm and discreet, not a conveyor belt. A lot of our Verdun clients tell us the biggest relief was simply being treated like a person, not a procedure.
How laser tattoo removal actually works
Here’s the part that surprises most people: the laser doesn’t “erase” your tattoo. It breaks the ink into pieces small enough for your own body to carry away. The science behind it is called selective photothermolysis — first described by dermatologists Anderson and Parrish in 1983 — and the idea is elegant. The laser fires in ultra-short pulses that are absorbed by the tattoo pigment but largely spared by the surrounding skin. Each pulse shatters the trapped ink particles, and over the following weeks your immune system flushes the fragments out. That’s also why removal takes time: it’s your body doing the clearing, not the machine.
Different ink colours absorb different wavelengths of light. We work primarily with a 1064 nm wavelength, which is ideal for dark inks like black and dark blue, and a 532 nm wavelength for warmer colours such as red and orange. Greens and bright blues are the stubborn ones and can need more sessions — something we’ll flag honestly at your consultation rather than after you’ve paid for three visits.
For most tattoos, plan on 6 to 12 sessions, spaced 6 to 8 weeks apart. That spacing isn’t us being slow — it’s the minimum your skin needs to recover and your body needs to clear the last round of ink before we go again. An old, faded, black amateur tattoo might clear in fewer sessions; a dense, colourful professional piece will take more. We never increase the laser’s intensity to chase faster results, because that’s exactly how you get burns and scarring. Slow and safe wins here, every time.
What a session actually feels like
Let’s be honest about the discomfort, because everyone wants to know. Most clients describe it as moderate — like the snap of a hot elastic band against the skin, or tiny flicks of bacon grease. It’s brief, and it’s very manageable.
Here’s how a visit goes. We start by applying a numbing cream and leaving it on for 10–15 minutes to take effect. Then we clean the area, hand you protective goggles for your eyes, and set the laser to the right wavelength and speed for your tattoo’s colour and size. During treatment we use a cooling air system that blows cold air over the skin, which takes a real edge off the sensation. We also take short breaks between passes — there’s no rushing, and you set the pace.
Sensitive spots feel more than others. Tattoos on the head, neck, ribs, hands and feet tend to sting more than ones on the forearm, thigh or shoulder, simply because there’s less padding over the bone. If your piece is in a tender area, tell us — we’ll go gently and pause as often as you need.
Healing and aftercare, step by step
What you do after the session matters as much as the session itself. Done right, your skin heals clean. Here’s the routine we send every client home with.
Right after: we apply a healing ointment and a dressing. The area may look red, slightly raised or “frosted” (a temporary white discolouration) — that’s normal and fades within hours. Some swelling and mild blistering over the next day or two is also expected.
Days 1–7: keep the area clean and moisturised with the healing cream we recommend, and cover it loosely if clothing will rub against it. Do not pick, scratch or pop any blisters or scabs — this is the single biggest cause of scarring. Let everything come off on its own.
The big two rules: stay well hydrated (your body is doing real work flushing the ink), and keep the treated area out of direct sun until it’s fully healed. Sun on freshly-lasered skin is the fastest route to pigment changes. If you’re heading to Verdun Beach or biking the riverfront, cover the area or wait until it’s healed. Once it is, a high-SPF sunscreen over the spot between sessions keeps your skin in the best shape for the next round.
You can shower normally, but skip swimming pools, hot tubs and the gym sauna for a few days while the skin is healing. Light exercise is usually fine once any blistering has settled.
How many sessions you’ll need — and what it costs
Cost is the question on everyone’s mind, so let’s be transparent. At Rico Clinic, sessions range from $50 to $800. The price depends on the size of your tattoo, its colours, how old it is, and where it sits on your body. A small black wrist tattoo is at the affordable end; a large, dense, multi-colour back piece is at the top. Because removal is a series of visits, we offer multi-session packages that bring the per-session cost down.
What we won’t do is quote you a price online and surprise you in the chair. Your free consultation exists precisely so we can look at your actual tattoo, tell you roughly how many sessions it’ll take, and give you a clear, fixed per-session price. No pressure, no surprises. And if financing makes it easier, we can walk you through that too — read more on the Rico Clinic blog.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does laser tattoo removal cost in Montreal?
Sessions at Rico Clinic range from about $50 to $800, depending on the size, colours, age and location of your tattoo. A small, single-colour piece sits near the low end; a large multi-colour back piece sits higher. We give you a fixed per-session quote at your free consultation, and multi-session packages lower the per-visit cost.
How many sessions will I need to remove my tattoo?
Most tattoos take roughly 6 to 12 sessions for full removal, spaced 6 to 8 weeks apart so your skin can heal and your body can clear the broken-down ink. Older, faded, black-ink amateur tattoos often need fewer; dense professional or colourful work needs more. We map out a realistic timeline at your consultation.
Is laser tattoo removal safe during pregnancy?
We don’t perform laser tattoo removal while you’re pregnant or breastfeeding. There’s no strong evidence it harms the baby, but because removal relies on your immune system to flush the ink and there’s no long-term safety data in pregnancy, the responsible choice is to wait. Your tattoo will still be there when you’re ready.
Will laser tattoo removal leave a scar?
When it’s done correctly, scarring is rare. The laser targets ink, not your skin, and we use conservative settings rather than rushing results. Most scars people see after removal come from picking at scabs or over-aggressive treatment. Follow the aftercare, don’t pick, and the skin underneath usually heals clean.
Can I bring my kids to a tattoo removal appointment?
We understand — for a lot of Verdun parents, childcare is the real scheduling hurdle. The treatment area uses a medical laser and requires protective eyewear, so it isn’t a space for young children to be in during the procedure. If it’s unavoidable, call ahead and we’ll do our best to help you work it out. Many parents simply book during a school or daycare window.
What our clients say
We don’t ask you to take our word for it. Rico Clinic holds a 5.0 rating across 135+ Google reviews, and the themes are remarkably consistent. Clients mention how professional and unhurried the experience feels, how genuinely the team explains each step, and — the part that matters most — the visible fading they see session after session. People come in nervous about pain and pricing and leave surprised by how straightforward the whole thing was. Whether it’s your first visit or your last, the goal is the same: a smooth, supportive process and skin you’re happy in.
Book your free consultation
If you’re in Verdun and ready to start, the next step is simple: come in for a free consultation. We’ll look at your tattoo, answer every question, and give you an honest plan and price — with zero obligation to book treatment.
Book your free consultation online, or call us at (514) 346-8044. We’re at 4934 Chemin de la Côte-des-Neiges, open Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 6 PM. Whenever you’re ready to leave that tattoo in the past, we’re here to help you do it safely.
— Vlad, Founder & SMP / Laser Tattoo Removal Specialist. Last reviewed June 2025.