Your immune system cannot breakdown large ink particles so it is necessary to break the ink particles into very fine particles. The pigment in your tattoo will absorb the energy from the laser and shatter. The incredibly fast pulse (one trillionth of a second – PicoSecond) of energy from the laser causes a shockwave effect that shatters the ink. As a result, the ink particles are broken into rocks and then pebbles and finally tiny sand granules.