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I completed my second laser treatment on Monday....
So I noted that when I got home from my 2nd treatment my wrist began to hurt quite a bit--I kind of panicked, because I had not experienced this with the first round. I have found though that ice and ibuprofen are the two best components for my healing. The pain subsided within an hour, and I continued to ice through most of the night. (It's still crazy to me though, even with ice, how much the area is swollen! But that happened the first time too and lasted for about a week.) I also make sure to wash with mild soap twice a day, let it dry thoroughly before covering with vaseline (as instructed by my doctor) and then covering with the clear dressing.
It's hard sometimes to tell that my tattoo is making any fading progress (since I see it every day), but looking at pictures in order is a good reminder of where I started. I was trying to locate a photo of my tattoo before any treatment at all...still looking (though I'm positive I didn't take any pictures that would showcase my tattoo because I hated it from the get go, lol).
Each day is closer to the end result. :) Next appt is March 25th.
Hope everyone else is doing well in their process!
Be well.
A little over two weeks into treatment one and I'm...
The area is a bit numb to the touch and has a kind of sheen to it, like any normal scar (I have read this is common and will eventually go away with time).
My next treatment is February 25th. Couldn't be happier with my results so far. Look forward to continued progress!
Day 6 The area has been somewhat sore. As the...
The area has been somewhat sore. As the skin has begun to heal, it has tightened and dried out, so it feels similar to a pretty good scrape. Still nothing unbearable. Because it is in a precarious place on my body I have kept some kind of bandage on it to prevent exposure to germs as well as unnecessary rubbing. The individual laser points look like mini cigarette burns, and as the blood blisters have begun to heal they look almost "splattered" under the skin.
I'm not sure if this is normal, but the tattoo itself and the skin about a quarter of an inch around it feel numb to the touch. I'm assuming this is just residual effect of the laser. It's not of any major concern at this point.
The pictures I've posted are a bit rough--they definitely look a lot worse than my wrist feels. Each day that the area has become less inflamed, I can see significant lightening of the tattoo ink; which is very promising and encouraging! 23 days until my next treatment--can't wait to keep going!
Patience, I feel, is the key!
Provider Review
I was referred to OHSU because of their accessibility to the specific lasers I needed for the colors in my tattoo (The Ruby Laser). Though I have only undergone my first session, I was very impressed with Heather Onoday's knowledge and approachability. She spoke very candidly about the potential risks and even the possibility that my body may not respond to treatment at all, which was very helpful. Although I have very high hopes that this treatment will yield positive outcomes, I appreciated the fact that Heather did not present me with any false hopes or lofty expectations. She was very compassionate and kind and spent a good amount of time addressing all of my questions and concerns. Originally my appointment was supposed to only be a consultation, however, she allowed me to start my first session as her schedule permitted. I was quite pleased with her willingness to accommodate me! Each session costs $150, and she estimated that I will need anywhere from 4-12 treatments, depending on the way my body responds and the level intricacy I wish to pursue. Her care was excellent, the procedure itself was a breeze, and OHSU is an excellent institution! Time to heal, heal, heal! More updates to come!