How To Choose Your Laser Tech
TLDR:Anyone can buy a laser and take a weekend course.
So you want to fade or remove your tattoo. Where do you even start?
When you’re trusting someone with a powerful laser on your skin, you deserve to know what you’re getting into.
Lasers can be dangerous pieces of equipment. The experience of your laser technician plays a huge part in the success of your treatments, the total number of treatments, as well as your risk of adverse reactions like blistering, scarring, hyperpigmentation, or hypopigmentation.
We believe strongly in straight talk about the process so you can make informed decisions about your skin.
Don’t be afraid to ask your tech questions! We’ve rounded up a few for you here.
How much experience do you have?
Experience is everything in laser tattoo removal. An experienced technician can work wonders with almost any laser device, while an inexperienced tech cannot know what they do not know, and may lead to more treatments or accidental negative side effects.
As you progress through your treatments, it’s especially important to know your tech’s experience with late-stage removal as the risk of oxidation, scarring, hyperpigmentation, or hypopigmentation.
Anyone can buy a laser and take a weekend course. It’s important that your technician has the experience – or has access to a mentor who can guide them through the process.
At Legacy, our main laser technician Madi has been removing ink since 2016, trained directly by Edmonton laser legend Ben Alway until his passing in 2023, with additional certification from Lorenzo Kunze Jr of the International Laser Academy. All of our staff are ILA certified, and we bring Lorenzo to Edmonton annually to keep our techniques current and stay up to date with the latest science.
What laser do you use? Is it Health Canada approved?
Not all lasers are created equal – or even Health Canada approved. Be sure to ask for:
- the specific make and model
- Health Canada approval status
- when it was last serviced (should be every 6-12 months)
We use the PicoWay system by Candela (plus a Quanta Evo we’re bringing back online soon). Both lasers are top-tier, Health Canada-approved machines that we service every 6 months.
Other highly regarded devices include:
- The Helios II by Xcite tech
- The PicoSure by Cynosure
What experience do you have with my skin type?
This matters more than most people realize. Darker skin tones require extra care and expertise to avoid hypopigmentation, hyperpigmentation, or scarring. This doesn’t make removal an impossible goal, but experience with diverse skin types makes a huge difference.
Have you been inspected by local authorities?
In Alberta, laser businesses should be inspected by both Alberta Health Services and the Alberta Association for Safety Partnerships (AASP). You can verify this yourself:
- Check AHS Inspection Records
- Contact AASP to confirm laser safety inspection: radiation@aasp.ca or 1-866-223-9008
Inspections are valid for 5 years, unless the business transports their laser to another location – after which the laser needs to be inspected again.
Our inspection record is spotless and available here.
Do your own research
Look beyond the website and check:
- Google reviews (look for specific details about the actual experience )
- Before and After photos with consistent lighting and angles (See ours here)
- How long they’ve been in business
- Ask your tattoo artist who they recommend
We maintain a 5-star rating with over 100 genuine reviews. See for yourself.
Trust your gut
You should never feel pressured to buy packages or commit on the spot. Take your time, shop around, and trust your instincts. The right laser technician will:
- treat you like a person, not a dollar sign
- answer all your questions openly
- be honest about what’s possible
- never make wild promises about one-session removal
- tell you if they don’t know an answer (we sure will!)
The bottom line
Cheap lasers and inexperienced techs can leave you with blistering, scarring, hyperpigmentation, or hypopigmentation – all much harder to fix than your original tattoo.
The right provider might not be the cheapest, but your skin is worth the investment. If budget is a factor, just take longer breaks between treatments. The best thing about laser tattoo removal is that the longer the gap, the more effective each treatment becomes.
Ready to talk to actual humans who know what they’re doing? Book your free consultation with us at Legacy Tattoo Removal. No pressure, just straight talk from Edmonton’s most experienced laser team.