What kind or removal were you looking at? Is it just the standard tribal/Chinese symbol everyone born between 1975 and 1985 seems to now have or does it involve colour?
I ask because my dermatologist (bit of a weird chap, mind, he's a "celebrity" doctor very much in the Nip/Tuck swing of things) seems to be having quite a bit of success with laser removal of black ink on fairly pale skin. Not sure about colour but I vaguely remember reading that some colours (possibly red and yellow) can't be lasered because it doesn't "see" them. Also, muuucho expensive, I'm waiting for the not-so-soo-to-come day where I have approx. CHF 1000 hanging around doing nothing to remove a tattoo that cost twenty quid to have done.
Some people have them cut out but you end up looking like a burns victim, the other alternative is having something prettier inked over it.