Tattoo Removal: Stories

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Tattoo Laser Removal - Wrist

  • posted 4 months ago
  • updated 12 days ago
  • Worth It
  • Cost: $50
  • Guildford, GB

I got my first tattoo on my wrist when I was 18....

I got my first tattoo on my wrist when I was 18. It didn't turn out that great so after a few years I had it covered up with a new tattoo (which had to be bigger and darker).


Its now been a few more years and I can see my previous tattoo showing through. It really annoys me and being on my wrist it is very visible. I really hate this tattoo now i'm so bored of it and it's not a great design. I've had 2 sessions of laser removal so far and i'm very pleased with the results. Yes its extremely painful, but it will be worth it in the end. Its only a small tattoo but on my tiny wrist it looks big and bold. Hate it! As I only had my second session the other day, its still very blistered and sore. I've uploaded a pic of the tattoo before any laser, and it right now after 2nd session. Any questions, just ask :)

Forgot to mention: my tattoo is about 5x5cm....

Forgot to mention: my tattoo is about 5x5cm. colours are red, black and green. i pay £50 per session which lasts 10 mins maximum but depends on how many times I ask for a quick breather/break. i really recommend the clinic, its called SK:N. They are very professional, hygienic, safe, and i'm so pleased with the process so far.

Update 04.02.13:-
The blisters have completely gone now. Looks like its healing nicely. Starting to become itchy, as it does!
I will upload a photo when this is completely healed, just before my next session (which will be my 3rd).

Tattoo removal can be a very daunting and frustrating journey. But what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. And if I can do it, you can :-)

Today my wrist looks like its healing really well....

Today my wrist looks like its healing really well. The scabs have almost all come off and its only been just over a week since my treatment. Excited as I see my very faded tattoo beneath. Next session on March 10th :)

I've got my 3rd session this Sunday. Will upload...

I've got my 3rd session this Sunday. Will upload more pics :) wish me luck x

I had my 3rd session yesterday. I take Co-Dydramol...

I had my 3rd session yesterday. I take Co-Dydramol pain killer tablets (prescription only) to help with the pain. I knew they were going to increase the intensity this time so I took 2 tablets instead of just 1. I also used EMLA numbing cream 1 hour before treatment. The nurse turned up the intensity quite a bit, yet I found this session less painful than my last! It must be the extra painkiller I took. Only thing is, Co-Dydramol makes me very drowsy and you can't drive whilst taking it. I've re-dressed it a few times now, and from what I can see, it looks much more faded! This time, the tattoo has not blistered at all, which is great! Blistering is really horrible. I am keeping the tattoo covered whilst at work and keep applying Aloe Vera gel and CU3 Complex cream (intensive tissue repair cream). My next (4th) session is on 20th April. I will upload a new photo of my tattoo when it is fully healed :-)

So I had my 4th session of laser on my tattoo...

So I had my 4th session of laser on my tattoo yesterday. They turned the laser up to maximum intensity and it HURT. I still use numbing cream on my wrist an hour before the treatment. My nurse said that my results would be much better if I didn't use the numbing cream any more as it thickens the skin (and makes the laser less effective.. So next time I will try it without. My wrist is very sore and it bled quite a bit after the session. I can see some definite fading already which is encouraging! Session number 5 is on 2nd June :-)
Great review?

Comments (30)

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blackberry11 (RealFriend) 25 Apr 2013
I hear you on the pain, what laser are they using, I am still not at max and I am on session 6
abryant 25 Apr 2013
i think its called Q-switched, not sure what its specifically called though. I just know its definitely working. I'm not expecting over night miracles because my original tattoo was a cover-up and it was very bright and had loads of ink. I think its doing really well since i'm only on session 4. Yes, they told me the machine was on maximum and it made a much louder sound on my wrist when the laser hit the ink - which is normal apparently. Good luck with yours, how's it fading? What is your tattoo and where is it?
JoliJolii 15 Mar 2013
Nice fading there!I also have a rose tattoo (black, green, red, orange) that I'm removing, I had my 3rd session over a week ago but since the laser machine was turned up more than before it might take longer to heal,it's itchy right now and I'm waiting for the peeling. I'll be definitely following your process and it seems like we have similar schedule for the removals too! How do you feel that the laser is working for the colors in your opinion, do you think the green will be hardest to remove for you? I think the laser is effecting the best for the black, then for the orange and red and least for the green! But my doctor said that it looks good and I might just get full removal for the green too. So nice to hear his opinion because I feel like it might be soo difficult to remove.. My 4th session will be on 13th of April. I'm trying to keep at least 5 weeks apart for the session. Anyway, good luck for ur removal, we can do this!
abryant 16 Mar 2013
Hello! That's funny we both have rose tattoos and are on the same session number! I think the black and red are fading about the same at the moment, and the green isn't fading much at all. My original tattoo was very vivid and bright so the fading so far is great! I have to go to a different location to get the green removed, not too far away about an hour but that will only be for a few sessions until the green is totally gone - with the Ruby Laser. Do you have any photos of yours? I would love to see! Where do you go to have yours lasered? And how much do you pay? (If you don't mind me asking). Thanks for your comment, its much appreciated! And yes, we CAN DO THIS!! :-)
JoliJolii 17 Mar 2013
I forgot to mention also that my rose is a cover up for a small tattoo as well- it seems like many people here regret the cover up more,while the original picture could've been "tolerable".. :-/ I haven't posted any pictures yet or written a review,I should totally do that later,when I'm ready for it,I feel still very vulnerable and I don't know,it kind of effects me so that I want to hide it all even from the web :S I'm actually European and the place that I go to charges me from 6 session the total of 330 USD (converted it from euros). The only things is that it's not located in my town,so I have to take the train and that adds up to the costs. And for sure I will need more session than that, I'm healing now from the second session in that clinic (did 1 laser session at a different clinic) so I still have 4 sessions left. I think I'll have 2 more lasers before this summer and then 2 at fall time. Then I have the whole winter to laser off the last bits :-) and by next summer 2014,I'll be ink free (at least to the point that a thin layer of makeup will cover everything)! wohoo :-D got to stay positive&hopeful. I'm wondering about the green color though! I have 5 small leaves on my tattoo,I want them gone.. for sure. Maybe I also need to search for clinics with the ruby laser. Only thing is that I don't want to change the clinic,since this one is so cheap,I trust and like to guy who does the lasering! We will see, it's a slow process but so worth it!
blackberry11 (RealFriend) 22 Apr 2013
Hi JoliJilii, how did your 4th session go, do you have a review on this site posted?
JoliJolii 22 Apr 2013
Hi blackberry :-) my 4th session went well. I have to say I was a bit hangover that morning and it hurt so much more than normally!So big lesson learnt :-) I haven't done a review yet, I'm considering it.. It's just such a sensitive topic (my removal) that I'm terrified of sharing it with others- fully. I just realized that no one knows that I'm currently going through such thing. Ugh,I really need to be more open about it I guess,everybody makes mistakes! I'm just not noticing so much fading that I could just walk around this summer without long pants or certain kind of "ankle" shoes or whatever..I still need to hide it for this summer..I knew ever thought that ankle would be such a hard place to hide.. I can see your doing some major progress with yours,btw! We can do this :-)
blackberry11 (RealFriend) 22 Apr 2013
Hi, An ankle in the summer would be hard to hide, sucks, but it is what it is I suppose...I understand this is a hard thing to share, and when you are ready to you will, both on here and with friends, family. It's a very sensitive thing, as it impacts you emotionally, and plays a bit with your confidence, it does mine anyways. I was much much more confident of a person then before all of this, I often ask myself why am I allowing this issue to take from who I am, and I have not fully found the answers yet, I am just healing, trying to cope and trying to understand all of this. I have grown in ways, spritually, than ever before, but this is hinderting my social aspects of life. I used to be so outgoing, and wanted to be around people all the time, and now I would rather just stay home and hang out with my family and dog...I have no desire to meet new people, which is a shame because today on my walk with my dog, I met this very nice lady at the dog park, and being new to the city that I live, I could use a friend, she was so nice, and we seemed very compatible, and she asked me on the way out if I come here often, and if so what time and that she hoped to see me again...kinda my q to offer my email or something, but rather I shyed away, and just told her that I come at random times and maybe i'll see you again.... I feel kinda sad that I went from such an extraverted person, to an introverted person. I used to be full of energy, and talkative, now I kinda just want to be left alone, and left in the backround...I am working on it, but I am just not ready to branch out and meet new people, it's too bad, she was very nice. I wish you tons of sucess on your removal. Take care :)
JoliJolii 26 Apr 2013
Hey,I know exactly what you mean. I used to be so outgoing and now,well I still am sometimes but only when my ankle is covered and I've put myself all "pretty" and anything less would make me me feel bad..such a shame to feel that way. I think "ink regret" should be way more "out there",I mean when I started searching for tattoo removals and stuff,it all sounded so negative (but I guess realistic) like "it might never go away/ it hurts so much to remove it/it's so expensive/ never do it in the first place etc.. but now after finding this forum,I've had the chance to feel the empathy&understanding between all the people here that are going through the same thing. There are so many people like we are, we don't judge others based on their tattoos,the lady you met at the park most probably wouldn't give a darn about your tattoo,it's your business anyway,she really saw you for you and you have a positive and kind energy regardless of this tattoo mistake you've made. Just read your posts on your review page yourself, they speak for themselves. :-) take care!
blackberry11 (RealFriend) 26 Apr 2013
Thank you JoliJolii for your kind words. It's a shame I allowed my emotional issues over my ink get in the way of meeting a potentially great friend. I am new to the area I live, and all my friends are many many miles away, across country. I promised myself if we meet again at the dog park, and there is still a connection, I will share my email. Baby steps, everyday I work on my emotions, and hope others are getting better as well. All the best to you and your removal will go just great, don't worry. Take care!
Aleen 12 Mar 2013
How much for maybe a 2x2cm cost?.. I have so many questions! Please contact me back.
abryant 12 Mar 2013
In the clinic I go to it would be the same price as mine. Anything up to 5x5cm is £50. What is your tattoo of and where is it?
Aleen 12 Mar 2013
Is on my side wrist. And it's a heart with a design around it. Red/black Don't ask! Horrible mistake.
abryant 12 Mar 2013
I know how you feel I hate mine too, wish I could go back to when I was 18! are you going to get it removed?
Aleen 12 Mar 2013
Yea we all wanted tattoos at some point. And now look. Yea actually, I'm trying to get informed with the priceing. I know it's painful, almost everyone tells me that.
elleoelle 7 Mar 2013
Your fading after your 2nd treatment was what mine looked like after my 6th or 7th! Keep at it!!!
abryant 7 Mar 2013
Wow really? Where abouts is your tattoo and what's it of? thanks for your comment :)
elleoelle 7 Mar 2013
Check out my profile. It's a coverup flower tattoo on my hip. I'm 13 treatments in now.
abryant 7 Mar 2013
You're doing fantastic! Looks like you are almost there! I've got my 3rd session this Sunday so still a long way to go for me. I will keep going until it is gone, I am determined to get this tattoo off me for good! Thanks for your review its great to read other people's stories and experiences :D
blackberry11 (RealFriend) 6 Mar 2013
Best of luck!!!
abryant 6 Mar 2013
Many thanks :)
blackberry11 (RealFriend) 11 Feb 2013
Thanks for your review. It looks like you responded very well to your 1st session :)
abryant 12 Feb 2013
Thanks. I've had my second session and have my 3rd in a few weeks
5coopersest2004 7 Feb 2013
That's exciting that you can see ypur old tattoo! I am so determined to get mine off too! Best of luck!
abryant 11 Feb 2013
yes i am very pleased with the results so far. its obviously still very bold, but for 2 treatments its fading well. I'll probably need about 10 more sessions for complete removal. best of luck removing yours :-)

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