If you live in Westmount and you have been quietly thinking about removing a tattoo, you are not alone — and you do not have to go far. Rico Clinic sits just a few minutes away in Côte-des-Neiges, and we have been performing scalp micropigmentation and laser tattoo removal here since 2017. That is roughly eight years in one place, with 546+ treatments completed and 135+ Google reviews at a 5.0 rating. Your treatments are performed by Vlad, our founder and SMP / laser tattoo removal specialist, who built this clinic around discretion and real results.
Last reviewed June 2025.
Why Westmount residents choose Rico Clinic
Westmount is one of the most private corners of Montreal — leafy, established, and full of people whose careers and reputations matter to them. Many of our Westmount clients are professionals: lawyers, people in finance, healthcare executives, and the kind of established families who simply value their privacy. When you are weighing whether to remove a tattoo, the last thing you want is a busy, exposed clinic. Ours is the opposite: a quiet, three-room space designed so that you are never on display.
Getting here from Westmount is genuinely easy. We are only about 3 km northeast of you, along the familiar Sherbrooke and Côte-des-Neiges corridor. By car it is roughly 8 minutes off-peak and about 18 minutes at rush hour, with street and metered parking right on Côte-des-Neiges. If you prefer the metro, hop on the orange line at Vendôme and ride four stops south to Plamondon — from there it is a 6-minute walk, around 18 minutes door to door. Whether you are coming from near Westmount Square, Greene Avenue, Murray Hill Park, or Westmount Park, it is a short, low-fuss trip.
The reasons people in Westmount come to us tend to be specific. Often it is professional: a visible tattoo on the neck or wrist that no longer fits an executive-track career, and that you would rather not explain in a boardroom. Sometimes it is timing — clearing old ink before a wedding, a milestone birthday, or another moment where you want to look exactly like yourself. And sometimes it is artistic: fading older work so an upscale artist can give you a clean cover-up. Whatever brought you here, we treat it as your business and no one else’s.
How laser tattoo removal actually works
Tattoo ink sits deep in your skin in particles too large for your body to clear on its own. A removal laser sends very short, high-energy pulses of light into the skin. The ink absorbs that energy and shatters into much smaller fragments, which your immune system then carries away over the following weeks. The principle behind this is called selective photothermolysis, first described by dermatologists Anderson and Parrish in 1983 — it is why a well-calibrated laser can break up pigment while leaving the surrounding skin intact.
Different ink colors respond to different wavelengths of light. We work with technology that delivers 1064 nm light, which is well suited to darker inks like black and dark blue, and 532 nm light, which targets warmer colors such as red. Black tends to clear most readily; greens, light blues, and some yellows are the most stubborn and may need extra patience. Your skin tone matters too — on richer, melanin-rich skin we deliberately use gentler settings and conservative spacing to protect the skin, never chasing speed at the cost of safety.
This is not a one-visit procedure, and any honest clinic will tell you the same. Most tattoos take 6 to 12 sessions, spaced 6 to 8 weeks apart so your skin can fully recover and your body can flush the cleared ink between visits. That spacing is not a delay tactic — it is what keeps the process safe and the results clean.
What a session actually feels like
Here is exactly what happens when you come in. We start by applying a numbing cream and leaving it on for about 10 to 15 minutes so it can take full effect. Then we clean the area, you put on protective goggles, and we select the right wavelength and settings for your specific ink and skin. The laser passes feel like a quick, hot snap against the skin — most people describe it as a rubber band flicking against you, repeatedly. It is brief.
Sensitive spots — the neck, the area near bone, the inside of the wrist — tend to feel sharper than the forearm or thigh, so if your tattoo is somewhere tender we slow down and take short breaks whenever you need them. A cold-air device can take a lot of the sting out, and we will use it if it helps. A small or medium tattoo is often done in just a few minutes of actual laser time; you are usually in and out quickly.
Healing and aftercare, step by step
Aftercare is simple, but it matters. Right after the session we apply a healing cream and dress the area. Expect some redness, mild swelling, and possibly small blisters or pinpoint scabbing over the next few days — this is normal and a sign your body is responding.
- Days 1–3: Keep the area clean and dry. Apply the healing ointment as directed and leave any blisters alone — do not pick or pop them.
- Days 3–7: Keep moisturizing. Light scabbing may form and flake off on its own. Let it.
- Throughout: Stay well hydrated, avoid swimming pools and saunas, and skip the gym for the first day or two if the area is irritated.
- The big one: Keep the treated skin out of direct sun until it is fully healed, and use sunscreen on it afterward. Sun exposure is the single most common cause of complications between sessions.
How many sessions you’ll need — and what it costs
Cost depends on the size of the tattoo, the colors involved, where it sits on your body, and your skin type. At Rico Clinic, sessions range from $50 to $800, and most tattoos need 6 to 12 sessions overall. A small, single-color piece sits at the low end; a large, multicolor back or sleeve sits at the high end. We offer multi-session packages that bring the per-session cost down, and your free consultation exists precisely so you walk away with a clear, honest plan and price before you commit to anything. No surprises.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the best laser tattoo removal near Westmount?
Rico Clinic is about 3 km from Westmount in Côte-des-Neiges — roughly 8 minutes by car off-peak, or four orange-line stops from Vendôme to Plamondon. We have been removing tattoos here since 2017 with a 5.0 rating across 135+ Google reviews, so you get an experienced specialist close to home without crossing the city.
How discreet is laser tattoo removal at Rico Clinic?
Very. We run a private, three-room clinic — a separate consultation room and two treatment rooms — so you are never treated in an open or shared space. We understand that many Westmount clients are removing visible ink for professional reasons and value their privacy, and we treat your visit as completely confidential.
How long do laser tattoo removal sessions take?
The visit is short. You spend about 10 to 15 minutes letting the numbing cream work, and the actual laser time for a small or medium tattoo is usually just a few minutes. Larger pieces take a bit longer. Most clients are in and out well within the hour.
Will laser tattoo removal leave a scar?
When the laser is used correctly and you follow aftercare, scarring is uncommon. The technology targets ink rather than your skin, and we deliberately avoid overly aggressive settings. The main risk factors are picking at blisters or scabs and getting sun on the area before it heals — both of which the aftercare steps above are designed to prevent.
Can I remove a tattoo on my neck or face?
Yes, these areas can be treated, and they are common requests from professionals. Skin near the face and neck is more sensitive, so we use extra care, gentler passes, and as many short breaks as you need. We will assess the specific location and your skin during your free consultation and tell you honestly what to expect.
What our clients say
Our reputation is built in this community. Rico Clinic holds a 5.0 rating across 135+ Google reviews, and clients consistently mention the same things: a calm, professional atmosphere, clear pricing with no pressure, and visible results session over session. People come to us because they were treated like a person, not a transaction — and that is exactly the experience we protect for every Westmount client who walks through the door.
Book your free consultation
If you are ready to take the first step, the easiest thing to do is book your free consultation online. We will look at your tattoo, talk through your skin type and goals, and give you a clear plan and price — no obligation. Prefer to talk first? Call us at (514) 346-8044. We are open Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 6 PM, at 4934 Chemin de la Côte-des-Neiges, just minutes from Westmount. You can also browse more of our articles on laser tattoo removal to learn what to expect.
Written by Vlad, Founder & SMP / Laser Tattoo Removal Specialist at Rico Clinic. Last reviewed June 2025.