FAQ

We did one thing and did it very well. For nearly 5 years our exclusive focus was on laser tattoo removal. Now, we have branched out into laser hair removal and skin treatments. Our passion has evolved from simply wanting to remove tattoos as quickly as possible, to offering simplicity and affordability in all laser treatment options. We want to make your laser treatment a good experience, so we provide a welcoming atmosphere, comfortable environments and a team you can always trust. This client’s Yelp review and update sums it up well:

“I went for a consultation and first session 9/14/12 and could not have asked for a better experience. I was quite nervous but they took the time to explain everything to me and showed compassion with my nervousness. It was not pain free, even with numbing cream though the actual treatments were about 10 seconds. I have a very large black tattoo, 5 inches square of solid color. Painful but quick. They explained the aftercare instructions in depth and were very pleasant.”
“Update: I have been coming here for almost a year and have had 6 treatments. I have had a great experience. Getting close to done. This place is super clean, they are truthful and not exaggerating when you ask questions and the staff is great. I almost wish I had more to remove!”– B.R

We view possible side effects as unacceptable outcomes and work hard to minimize them. We hire compassionate skin experts and train them for about 2 months on our services. Each team member has experience with over 1,000 treatments and our lead specialist has over 5,000. We continually test lasers and have the best on the market. We develop our own laser protocols, including the ART, using careful testing. We respect your time and offer a convenient location, evening and weekend hours, and short 15-minute (conventional) and 1.5 hrs for ART visits so that your treatment isn’t time consuming.

We make laser treatments affordable. Zapatat^®️ is one of the few providers that charges only for the measured inked area for tattoo removal. We publish our prices so there is no mystery. Our prices are generally 40 to 60 percent less than any legitimate competitor (see “Pricing.“) That said, you should not decide purely on price. Providers who match our published prices generally charge based on the tattoo’s overall size, use inferior lasers, are not medically supervised, and/or are trying to up-sell you. Many higher priced providers don’t have much client volume or experience. Either way, it will cost you more, will take longer and will increase risk of skin damage. One client says it best on Yelp:

“Clean office, knowledgeable and friendly staff, GREAT pricing. Was quoted almost TRIPLE the cost at Centers for Laser Surgery in DC. I got some work done there before and they scarred me and the tats barely faded. I can already see results on my arm from Zapatat. Been to a bunch of laser centers in the area, this one is the best. Great deal for great service. The laser was quicker than others I’ve experienced as well which is always nice since it’s pretty much agony. People who don’t say they see any results, GIVE IT TIME! It’s not going to happen in a day or a week. I’ve been through this several times, the first shot is to open it up. You will not see a lot of fading. The second time you will notice more. This is a major process, takes a good 10 times to get stuff out for most average tats. Give your skin time to adjust, it’ll work. It’s not like everything else in your life that you can just give a quick fix to and be done with it.” – C.L.

“I’ve visited the Arlington location for 4 treatments. My initial fear was my skin complexion. Being African American I thought it would cause scabbing that would look worse and appear darker than the tattoo I was removing but actually it turned out very well. The most damage was some swelling. I love them! S.M.

Most clients describe laser treatments like rubber bands slapping against the skin. The sensation and intensity can vary from person to person and can depend on the tattoo’s location. Women generally tolerate treatment more easily than men but they also tend to have smaller tattoos. The treatment is over quickly and it’s very rare that a person doesn’t tolerate it. Thanks to our advanced lasers and skilled specialists, the treatment is usually 3 to 10 seconds of laser time. Inferior lasers take 20-30 minutes and cause a lot of pain and skin injury. The laser sensation lessens as treatments progress. We use cryo-cooled air to reduce sensation by half and provide topical numbing for very sensitive clients or large tattoos and R20s.

We will talk about after care several times because it’s so important. After the treatment we will cover the tattoo site with sterile petroleum jelly, a breathable dressing and will give you some cold packs. You won’t feel pain but will feel heat and then sunburn for a day or two. Some people will experience itching. Only some people will get blistering or scabbing. Either way is normal. It’s important that you leave blisters and scabs alone. Do not pop or pick them. We will gladly drain a blister if it is bothering you. Do not be concerned if you do not get blistering or scabbing. You may or may not see immediate results but the fading will mostly happen over time. Heavily inked tattoos may not show visible fading after the first one or two conventional treatments even though it is working.

It’s up to you. Both conventional and the ART®️ (advanced R20) work well but ART®️> provides faster results in half the total time and half the visits. Both are safe on any skin-type and work on colored tattoos. Zapatat®️ has completed over 1,000 ART®️ (advanced R20) sessions and is the world leader by a very wide margin. The total time to remove will depend on the ink density, location on your body and your fitness level. Higher density areas take longer while shading disappears in one treatment. ARTSM is ideal for people in a hurry, who are doing cover-ups and for those who want to minimize visits and can afford the higher up-front cost. This Yelp review describes the experience.

Today I made my first visit to Zapatat®️ to remove a tattoo I’ve only had a year a half. The first thing I noticed was the modernity of the office and how friendly the staff was. After a quick consultation, I decided to move forward with the R20 treatment as I am trying to have my tattoo removed by a deadline. The initial reaction I had to the laser was surprising, but it hurt no more than the tattoo itself did. After the laser passed through the third time it no longer hurt and the fourth pass I couldn’t feel at all. My tattoo is very dark and I am African American, but I definitely saw fading. I will post before and after pictures when I go back in October. Super excited to work with the Zapatat®️ staff. They’re very professional, knowledgeable and I felt so at ease in their office. I also talked to the owner who was delightful. If you’re looking for a clean facility and want to work with people who know what they’re doing, I suggest Zapatat®️! –R.D