Blast Heavy Sleeve for Cover Up. -Dallas, TX

Hi, all. I've been getting a bunch of tattoos, almost a full sleeve, as well as a bunch of other crap on my other arm (not pictured) lasered since December of 2012. All in all 10 treatments, split into halves, so everything has been lasered 5 times as of right now (December 2013).

After spending months and months researching laser before making any commitment I had been through it all. Jerked around by enough people and all of the misinformation out there. Luckily enough, I eventually stumbled upon a guy named Alan Faulkner of Fade Fast out in Dallas, Tx, a name that kept coming up in tattoo circles who seemed highly revered.

After doing some more research (can't stress research enough) into Fadefast, I knew this was my guy and I was going to travel out of state to see him. He uses the NaturaLaseQS laser which is the most powerful single pulse Q switched Nd:YAG laser available and also treats 10mm spot size, which is double, in some cases even 5 times the area that other lasers can treat with one zap. I'm not kidding when I say he'd just run down my arm real quick like BRAAAAAAAP and it's done. Speed and power. And yes, it hurts.

Needless to say this has been the most trying year of my life. I've heard it said before on here that it's all mental. So true. The anticipation, excitement, and relief of initially getting the ball rolling eventually subsided shortly after my first treatment. Then.. stress, lots of stress. My arm had turned into a blob and I was extremely embarrassed. Long sleeve button ups all year, that's all summer too. If there is anything I can recommend, it's to stay focused. I realized also that I wasn't always able to stay positive, and I had to accept that. I just had to stay busy and hang on at all costs.

Where I'm at now is I'm 2 weeks post the second half of my fifth treatment. I was told by the tech. in October that 5 would be it, to wait a few months, and I should be good to go for a coverup. When I saw him again at the beginning of December he told me that I was good to go. I am not relieved. I look at my arm and think I still need atleast another treatment, even though I was assured that I'd be good. I still have to wait a couple more weeks to go talk to an artist about doing a a heavy heavy traditional Japanese cover up. Dragon and floral possibly. I'm expecting the worst and stress is at an all time high. I slept 2 hours last night.

If anyone has any questions, or would just like to talk or vent, I'm always all for it. Just message me..