Today cosmetic medical lasers designed to eradicate tattoos range from a single wavelength of light to a broad spectrum of light, the varieties of which are intended to obliterate the ink in the tattoo without damaging the skin. Certain colors of light are absorbed by specific corresponding colors of the tattoo ink. The light energy vaporizes or fragments the ink particles. You body then absorbs these ink fragments naturally and the color fades over the next couple weeks. Size, color, location and the age of the tattoo determin the number of treatments necessary to effectively complete removal.