- Pete Davidson began removing roughly 200 tattoos in 2020 and said in 2025 that he was only 30% finished after spending about $200,000.
- The comedian says the laser-removal process is “It’s pretty brutal,” with treatments requiring repeated sessions and weeks of healing.
- Davidson chose to remove the tattoos partly because he believes a clean slate could support his acting career and reflect a new stage in his life.
Pete Davidson Says Tattoo Removal Could Take Years
Pete Davidson has provided a fresh update on the lengthy process of removing his tattoos, saying the treatment remains extremely difficult and could continue for around eight more years. The 32-year-old comedian began laser tattoo removal in 2020, when he had approximately 200 tattoos.
By 2025, Davidson said he had spent about $200,000 on the process but was only 30% finished. E! News asked Davidson about his progress at the premiere of How to Rob a Bank, where he appeared alongside co-star and rumoured James Bond candidate Nicholas Hoult.
“It’s pretty brutal,” he told the outlet, before adding: “But you never know, they might come back. I’ve only been wearing sweaters for like six months, so you don’t know what’s going on.” Davidson then reiterated that the tattoo-removal process was truly ‘brutal’.
Why Tattoo Removal Requires So Much Time
Davidson previously described the medical demands of the treatment during an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Last year, the Saturday Night Live alum said his tattoos were ‘almost gone’, but explained that each laser session requires significant recovery time.
“They gotta burn off a layer of your skin and then it has to heal for, like, six to eight weeks and you can’t get in the sunlight,”
He continued:
“And then you gotta do it, like, 12 more times.”
Davidson’s comments indicate why the removal cannot be completed quickly. Each tattoo may require numerous treatments, while the healing period limits what he can do between appointments and prevents exposure to sunlight.
How Acting Influenced Pete Davidson’s Decision
Davidson has also linked the removal process to his changing professional ambitions. In 2021, he told Seth Meyers that he had not expected to pursue a significant career in film and television after Saturday Night Live.
“I didn’t think that they would put me in stuff (in) the movie business or anything. I thought after this, SNL, I thought it was a wrap,”
However, Davidson said his perspective changed after he became sober and reconsidered how he viewed himself. He later told Variety in 2025:
“I used to be a drug addict and I was a sad person, and I felt ugly and that I needed to be covered up. And I don’t think there’s anything wrong with tattoos, but mine, when I look at them, I remember a sad person that was very unsure,”
He added:
“So I’m just removing them and starting fresh, because that’s what I think works best for me and for my brain.”
Davidson has said that removing the tattoos may also make it easier for him to take on acting roles without extensive makeup or wardrobe adjustments. He explained that seeing some of the designs reminded him of periods of his past that he no longer wanted to carry with him.
“When I look in the mirror, I don’t want the reminder of ‘Oh yeah, you were a ******* drug addict. Like, that’s why you have SpongeBob smoking a joint on your back,’”
He also said:
“They should have meaning. Not just that I was high watching Game of Thrones.”
Davidson’s Estimated Completion Timeline
Davidson previously told PEOPLE that he could be around 40 by the time every tattoo has been removed. The estimate reflects the number of treatments required, the need to schedule them around his work and the healing time after each procedure.
“It takes years to get rid of a tattoo. You’ve got to burn it off, and it takes 10 to 12 sessions per tattoo,”
Davidson continued:
“So I have to cram that in between work, and you then need six weeks to heal. Anytime I get one session done, I can’t do anything. So it’s going to be, like, until I’m 40 when I’m a clean slate.”
Why This Matters
Pete Davidson’s experience highlights the long-term commitment involved in extensive tattoo removal, particularly when a person has many large or densely inked designs. The process involves repeated laser sessions, recovery periods and restrictions that must be managed alongside professional obligations.
For Davidson, the decision also has a personal and career-related dimension. He has connected the tattoos to difficult memories and said he believes removing them could help him move forward while giving him greater flexibility as an actor. His latest update shows that, despite years of treatment and substantial expense, the process remains ongoing.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Pete Davidson start removing his tattoos?
Davidson began laser tattoo removal in 2020, when he had approximately 200 tattoos.
How much has Pete Davidson spent on tattoo removal?
Davidson said in 2025 that he had spent about $200,000 and was only 30% finished with the process.
When could all of Davidson’s tattoos be removed?
Davidson has said he could be around 40 by the time the removal is complete, because each tattoo may require 10 to 12 sessions and roughly six weeks of healing after treatment.
