A method of removing a ceramic thermal barrier coating system (18). Laser energy (20) is applied to the thermal barrier coating system in the presence of a flux material (22) in order to form a melt (26). Upon removal of the energy, the melt solidifies to from a layer of slag (28) which is more loosely adhered to the underlying metallic substrate (12) than the original thermal barrier coating system. The slag is then broken and released from the substrate with a mechanical process such as grit blasting (30). Sufficient energy may be applied to melt an entire depth of the coating system along with a thin layer (34) of the substrate, thereby forming a refreshed surface (36) on the substrate upon resolidification.