POSTED UNDER Tattoo Removal REVIEWS
The Long Road Ahead...- Philadelphia, PA
ORIGINAL POST
I am gearing up for my procedure on Monday, July...
$2,500
I am gearing up for my procedure on Monday, July 7th. At first I was excited about it thinking of what I would do as a coverup, but after settling back down to reality and speaking to numerous doctors and people I now realize that I have a very long road ahead of me. One thing I lack is patience. I'm impulsive about everything although I'd like to think I wasent about this tattoo I'm have lasered. I have 8 tattoos including the one scheduled to start laser. I love 90% of them the the one that stands out the most of course is the one I hate the most. I know I will beat myself up in the head over this because I think to myself but i did all my research, I checked out the studio, it was clean and they had all their certificates clearly posted and up to date. Hell their studio was cleaner then 90% of the hospitals out there. My artist had more then 7 years experience and I looked through his portfolio. He wasent the male version of Kat Von Dee or Ami James but his work was good, some were better then others but I had a consult, we talked about what I wanted, showed him pictures, etc. Anyway I could rant on and on, but what's done is done. I just know that I am giving myself anxiety over this first procedure and the rest to come. I hope that by posting my experiences I can help someone else like the blogs on here have helped me decide on going through with starting the procedure.
UPDATED FROM Staceylynn37862
4 days pre
Here are some pictures of my sleeve that I'll be hoping to lighten enough to do a cover up
Replies (15)
July 3, 2013
I'm really glad you decided to start your review. Everyone's tattoos are so different, so each one added helps increase the chance that someone with a similar one will be able to find a story they can relate to.
I'm sorry to hear you are feeling nervous. :-/ Do you know what kind of laser is going to be used for your removal?
July 3, 2013
Thanks Megan. I agree as I'm finding out by reading alot of other blogs on here too. I'm not really sure what type of laser he uses. His website is called Rethinkyourink. He is based out of IL but travels to Pa and other states for a few days only going to select tatoo locations. His name is Jack Morton.
July 3, 2013
Okay, well if you do find out what kind of laser let us know, as its always interesting to see the results different ones produce.
I'll be hoping for some good fading for you and a good experience overall - keep us updated on how you are!
July 3, 2013
Thanks Megan. I hope so too and I'll def find out that info regarding what type of laser. When I called a plastic surgeon's office she stated they are all the same types of laser but that they just have different brands so I'm glad you cleared that up for me.
July 3, 2013
Good luck! Looking forward to following your story! I'm kind of near you, in Reading :) May I ask where you are going for removal? I haven't started treatment yet but I am going to eventually.
July 3, 2013
Thanks. I'm going to Deep Six Labratory (tatoo parlour) in the Northeast on Grant Ave. Jack Morton is a tatoo laser removal guy (rethinkyourink) and he is much more reasonable then alot of the cosmetic surgeons I've contacted and day spa's, etc. I heard some crazy quotes.
July 4, 2013
Make sure he will be using the proper laser. I've heard some of the cheaper lasers can cause scarring.
July 4, 2013
Really? what is the type of laser they should be using? see I"m going to an independent person as opposed to a cosmetic surgery center. They told me that they all use the same type just different brands.
July 4, 2013
I used the pico sure for my latest treatment. I would I only go to a clinic that has trained technicians, or a supervusing physician.
July 4, 2013
Yea is be careful of that... It's cheaper and in a parlor they understand the tattooing but the laser needs a certain about of electricity and connectivity to work correctly, plus the laser itself can't really just be different brands, it is or it isn't a good laser... The one I'm using is the revlite q switched laser with dr tattoff... The picosure has amazing reviews but haven't looked into it as I pre paid my 10 treatments
July 5, 2013
I have seen 10 times better results with laser removal from most tattoo shops that offer the service than medical spa's. Usually, these people are more willing to get more aggressive with the laser which has NOTHING to do with scarring, rather than taking baby steps to prolong the process as much as possible as the med spas usually do. Another thing, a laser tech in a spa learns how to point and shoot a laser. They have no real knowledge of the dermal layers in the skin or about tattoos (typically.) Yes, the power does need to be correct as far as scarring does go, so I would only go to a tattoo shop if they have a separate area specifically set up for laser removal. Plus since youre routing for the cover up, it will be nice to have an artist near by keeping track of your progress and letting you know how many more sessions you need. Tattooing over scarred skin makes the artists life EXTREMELY difficult, so unless they want to make their own life harder, a laser specialist in a tattoo shop wouldnt do something that could potentially scar you. I am lightening a full sleeve currently to cover the entire thing up so i know how it feels to realize you have a LONG road ahead of you, but there is light at the end of the tunnel! you might only need about 6 sessions depending on wha youre trying to do, but i bet within 3 or 4 about 50% of that black will be gone!
July 8, 2013
I agree. My experience with medical spas and tattoo artist/laser techs in that the latter are way better at it. Everyone who goes to a med spa seems to be as far along at 10 sessions as the parlour people are at 4... and the parlours cost way less. I think there's more potential to have someone completely dangerous and clueless shooting a laser at you in a shop/removal parlour, but when they're experienced and competent they seem way better at it.
July 8, 2013
I've been to two med spa consults and got a crappy vibe from both plus they were too expensive. I found one more place about a half hour from me they I think just removes tattoos. Hoping to have a better consult with them bc I'm running out of options!!
July 5, 2013
Also there ARE alot of great lasers out there besides the picosure and the hoya con bio! just ask him what type and research!
UPDATED FROM Staceylynn37862
3 days post
1st session done
OMG the pain is the WORST ever!! I'm glad I survived but it sucks. I can't believe i'm on 1 down and how many more I have to go but Im going to take it session to session. Im going to try and remain positive but anyone that can go through a big procedure like this without numbing creme is hardkore! I got an rx from my dr and had to use the entire tube on my arm and we only hit the top outside tricep area and part of the inner bicep and shoulder area. I still have to have the underside done. we didn't do that in my first sessioin as the pain would have been too severe. Now I'm going through the I'm pissed at myself stage but it is what it is. I'm going to see how this heals and take it session to session. I can only do what I can do and that's all I can do. I'll post pics in abt a week as it is severely swollen and all I do is ice, ice and more ice, take ibuprophen and have been putting on aloe vera.
Replies (19)
July 11, 2013
So sorry to hear it hurt so much. :( I think your "I'll take it session to session" approach is a good one.
Sending you a hug & hoping it heals quickly for you.
July 11, 2013
Thank you Megan. I already started to blister. my arm is still quite swollen. I know we all go through the same. The only good thing was that I've already been seeing alot of the green in the small cherry bloosom leaves coming off which is odd lol since my tatoo is 95% solid black it seems out of sorts for me to see the green color bleeding and coming out so quickly?
July 11, 2013
Oh that does seem odd! Oh well, its a good thing anytime the colored inks fade, so hooray for that! :)
July 12, 2013
With my first session, I was like yes! Blisters, scabs and there goes the tattoo! After all that, it seemed to get darker. I went a year between sessions, and it faded quite a bit in that time. On mine, it seems like the green is hanging in there.
July 12, 2013
Sorry but it will its prob because I'm so focused on the black and don't see any changes bec mine is mostly black and yours has green in it so your focused on that and we are both prob getting results but its hard for us to see cause we are so focused on it.
July 12, 2013
Thanks Berrie. Its just gross looking and the one blister where he hit my elbow is getting more huge by the day. I will prob go 8 to 10 weeks between sessions as my artist is in Illinois and comes to town about ev 8-10 weeks. How many more do you have left? at least you were given a number : ( I was told we're gonna be awhile and its gonna be a project with no exact number of sessions : (
July 12, 2013
I think it's better to go longer periods of time between treatments. I went a year between, and it seemed to keep fading.The elbow area doesn't have a lot of fat or muscle tissue. Maybe thats why the blister is so bad.
July 12, 2013
Thanks for the quick reply berrie. Maybe I should wait longer. I know now I'm getting pissy. I workout all the time and run a healthclub so I'm never not active and not being able to even use this stupid arm and how swollen it is that I can't even brush my hair is getting on my nerves and making me second guess my decision to even start this process.
July 13, 2013
I had my tattoo for 25 years before I started the removal process. I hated it for way too long. I even had my 2 daughters go with me to see the painful removal process, but sadly my older daughter has her arms all tatted up. I got mine at 18, and staring down fifty I realize we make mistakes when we're young. If it's something you really want gone, it's worth the discomfort. You will get through it. The blister will go away, and hopefully the next treatments won't produce such big blisters.
July 13, 2013
Reassuring to hear Berrie! I too got my first at 18 and made several more mistakes after that. I'm 31 now and hate them and figure it's never too late to get rid of them :)
July 11, 2013
Good luck with your treatments. I went the first 6 times without numbing so I feel you. Your tattoo is huge compared to mine so you are quite brave
July 12, 2013
Thanks Tena, I don't feel so brave since I bawled my eyes out the night of my treatment I guess cause the numbing creme that did penetrate officially wore off. I will tell you this Tena I got an Rx from my Dr for numbing creme it was a tube and my laser tattoo guy put the whole tube on my arm and coated it and then wrapped it in saran wrap, taped it and had me wait about 2 hours so it penetrated. It did honestly help the front of my arm but I guess we didn't put as much on the tricep and elbow area and that totally was agonizing. I have a blister that is pretty soon gonna have its own zip code anyday now cause it keeps growing ugh. Hang in there but seriously do what my guy had me do.
July 12, 2013
I used dr numb for two of my treatments, and it wore off within 5 min. It is some of the worst pain I have ecperienced. My last treatment I asked about numbing cream, and he said it really isn't worth it. He said they can do shots, but they go deep to get to the ink, and it would take a lot of shots. Not sure if it's true or not, but thankfully I only have a few more sessions.
July 12, 2013
I uploaded three pics, but can't seem to locate them on the site. I will upload again.
July 13, 2013
It may be the way you are putting it on. I used deep numb and it worked great (look it up on ebay it's really cheap) I put it on 1.5 hours before going in. I first rub it in the I like smear it on without rubbing it in. I wrap the area in saran wrap then wait until I get to the laser office then wash it off. It usually lasts most of the session
July 14, 2013
yes, pictures are at the top but I have not posted any since I had my first laser as it is still severely swollen.
Replies (0)