Unfortunately, it's very expensive. Dermabrasion has also been used for tattoo removal, which is sort of like having the tattoo sandpapered off your skin, as have chemical peels and acids. My feeling is that treatment with a ruby laser is the way to go. Check with a plastic surgeon for a more in depth discussion of your options and recommendations about who should do the procedure. And if the doctor has a lousy attitude about tattoos, go somewhere else.
Every person is different, and pain tolerances vary.
Most individuals will say that getting a tattoo is basically annoying. A good tattoo artist will begin your piece in a non-critical area so that if you do twitch from the sensation, it is not damaging to the overall piece. A good way to tell what it may feel like is to pinch yourself in the general area where you want a tattoo. Do this by pinching with your fingernails. This is basically the highest level of pain you will experience.