Treatment Estimator

Use the Kirby-Desai scale to estimate how many laser sessions a tattoo may need

The Kirby-Desai scale is the tool laser technicians use to estimate how many treatments a tattoo is likely to need. Answer the six questions below — pick the picture that looks closest. It's a starting point only: every tattoo is different, and the best assessment comes from an in-person consultation.

Step 1 of 6Skin type

How your skin usually reacts to the sun (the Fitzpatrick scale).

Step 2 of 6Tattoo location

Areas with better circulation tend to clear ink more quickly.

Step 3 of 6Amount of ink

Roughly how much ink the tattoo contains.

Step 4 of 6Ink layering

Has this area been tattooed more than once, e.g. a cover-up?

Step 5 of 6Scarring & tissue changes

Any existing scarring or skin damage in the tattooed area.

Step 6 of 6Colours

The colours present in the tattoo. Black responds best to laser.

Your estimate

Answer all six to see your estimate

0 of 6 answered

What affects the number of sessions?

The Kirby-Desai scale scores the six things that most change how quickly a tattoo clears. Skin type matters because the laser has to distinguish ink from skin — lighter skin tolerates higher energies. Location matters because removal relies on your circulation to carry broken-down ink away: tattoos near the heart (chest, upper back) clear faster than hands, ankles and feet. Dense professional ink takes more sessions than a faded amateur piece; a cover-up means the laser is working through two layers of ink; existing scarring slows everything down; and colour matters most of all — black responds best, while blues, greens and pastels are much harder to shift.

The score is an estimate, not a promise — your immune system does the actual clearing, and everyone's is different. At your consultation and patch test we give you an honest, in-person assessment, including whether removal is worth it for your tattoo at all.

Once you have your session estimate, our price list shows the per-session price for your tattoo's size — total cost is simply the two multiplied.

This estimator is for general guidance only and is not medical advice. Many factors affect how a tattoo responds, and the only way to get a reliable assessment is an in-person consultation.

Want to understand the process first? Read our laser removal FAQ or see our prices.