POSTED UNDER Tattoo Removal Reviews
My Tattoo Removal - 13 treatments so far!
UPDATED FROM palmtree16
Treatment 13!
palmtree16May 9, 2017
$5,018
I went for treatment 13 yesterday! It's been quite a while since I posted and even longer since I've had a treatment. I decided to give my skin lots of time to heal and hopefully fade on its own. The last time I had a treatment was October of 2014. I still had quite a few spots where I could see ink and also a couple spots that had turned green where the white ink oxidized from removal. Hoping those can be removed. The technician doing it said she couldn't even really find the spots but I can definitely see them. I don't think she treated them all but hopefully enough that it's going to get rid of most of this. I'm planning on giving my skin quite a bit of time to heal and fade after this and maybe finally get a little bit of sun this summer! ???? I think in the fall I will look into some treatments for all the scarring I have. The technician I had yesterday suggested Intracel Micro-needling. Has anyone here ever tried it before and had good results? I'm interested in your feedback good or bad! Hope everyone is doing well!
UPDATED FROM palmtree16
Update!
palmtree16May 17, 2015
I just thought I would check in and give another update. I haven't been posting much because I haven't had any additional treatments. My last one was last October I believe. There is still some ink left which I'm hoping will fade on its own. What worries me the most is still the scarring. I seem to have a raised outline in most areas and it almost looks like where it isn't raised I have a white scars in the shape of the outline. I have tried taking pictures to post but it really doesn't show the scarring or what my skin actually looks like. I was out in the sun a bit a couple weeks ago because I wanted to see if it would be less noticeable with a bit of a tan, but the outline actually turned red and quite noticeable so I'm pretty worried about that. I'm now using Shea butter on my skin every night because that was recommended to me for scars. It has only been a month or so but I haven't noticed any improvement yet. I'm amazed when I look back at my pictures and see what I used to have but unfortunately I am still stuck hiding my back! If anyone can recommend good products for scars or if anyone has had experience with treatments such as fraxel left me know! Hope everyone is doing well!
Replies (5)
May 17, 2015
Thanks so much for the update. Your progress really looks incredible and gives me so much hope and inspiration for my own back (shoulder) tattoo! I've been following your updates on here (just signed up for an account this week after being a longtime lurker on the site!) and wanted to say 'thank you' for being so honest about the time it takes between treatments. I started with only 6 weeks between my sessions, however I most recently waited 11 weeks and noticed significant fading. Now I am waiting at least 4+ months until my next one after reading the reviews on here like yours that say the longer the better.
I did have a question about the Endocare lotion you mentioned above: do you think it helped significantly in your process? I would like to use a lotion between treatments as well, but I do not know which kind and if it's something I should spend more $ on, or if I should just go with a basic shea butter or coconut oil. Any tips on whether or not it's worth it to buy the Endocare would be so nice.
Thanks again. Wishing you continued success with your fading!
August 23, 2015
I'm so sorry for the late response! Thank you so much for the nice message. I'm glad I can be helpful to you and give you some hope for your own removal :). I have come a long way since I started this process. I would definitely suggest long waits between treatments. I found it really hard to do that because I just wanted to get as many treatments done as I could thinking it would get rid of my tattoo faster but that's not how things work! I think waiting longer gives your body more time to clear the ink and will save you money because the ink continues to break down even after 8 weeks. The less laser treatments the less chance of scarring too. As for the endocare lotion I'm really not sure if it helps or not bevause i was using it along with other products. The clinic I went to really suggested it when the treatments got more intense. I usually scar very easy and I thought the scarring would be a lot worse. I'm not happy with the scarring I have but i have to say my skin looks better than what I expected I would be left with. It definitely wouldn't hurt to use some just in case. I was willing to try anything to prevent scarring and you only need a very thin layer so it lasts quite a while. I used polysporin up until my skin was pretty much healed from the treatments and then I started using the endocare lotion and other creams. Do not pick or scratch whatever you do! Good luck in your removal! I hope you are seeing good results! :)
May 17, 2015
I know waiting is awful, but it seems you yourself have experienced the benefits of time and patience. That type of scarring will fade some more with time and healthy skin care. Please give it some serious time year+ before choosing a procedure(fraxel etc), I have only ever seen things become worse with fraxel or other procedures. Just my opinion, and glad most of your ink is gone. I know it's been tough, to now only deal with the outline, but just message me if you want any more info or want to talk about it.
August 23, 2015
Thank you! Sorry for the late response. Yes it is a very long process and can be very frustrating. It is getting easier now that it is less noticeable though. It's a lot easier to hide some scarring than it is to hide dense black ink. Do you personally know anyone who has had Fraxel done? I realize more people go online to post negative reviews rather then positive but that seems to be all I see for Fraxel - skin looking worse afterwards. I am afraid I will have went through all of this trying to remove it and then end up making it look worse with another laser procedure.
June 3, 2015
aloha!! I think your removal story shows wonderful results, it gives so many of us hope. I know personally that I would rather have scars than the ink, but for those of you out there that want flawless skin, there are so many lotions, potions, lasers and patches. I found wonderful results from scar patches. What a fantastic and successful story you have!! aloha...k
June 8, 2015
K I would have to agree, I've accepted mine will have a scared outline but scars fade through time... The ink is what I want gone... It's an amazing success story but I understand your struggle... I get weird when I'm close to someone and they rub my arm just in an affectionate matter I find myself pulling away because I know the lines are raised...
June 8, 2015
often when others get close to us, physically close to us, they do not see the ink, nor the raised lines. They see only the wonderful person that you are. We are often our own worst enemy, it's time to become our own cheerleader...aloha...k
August 23, 2015
Aw thank you! Sorry for the late response. You always have the nicest messages! :) I am glad that I can give others hope. I know how helpful this site would have been when I first started looking into removal. I couldn't find any reviews online and was so worried about getting removal done when I couldn't find any information on what to expect or if it would work. What scar patches did you find worked well for you? I have just been using a bunch of different oils and creams but am willing to try anything that may work!
August 16, 2015
How are things now? Any improvements?
August 23, 2015
Hi! Thanks for checking in! I have been pretty bad at keeping this updated lately lol! There hasn't really been any big changes. There is still some ink left which is hard to capture in photos. The scarring is still very noticeable but I am hoping it will fade within time. I have been looking into Fraxel for the scarring but I have seen a lot of reviews about skin looking worse after getting it done so I am a little worried about that. Right now I am just using some scar cream on my back and hoping that makes a difference!
August 21, 2015
your removal looks amazing, you can hardly tell anything was there! I know you probably are more picky about it because its your skin, but I honestly think you have had amazing results and you are very lucky. What kind of laser were they using? and how long has this process taken total?
August 23, 2015
Hi, thank you! :) I think it's definitely true that I am more picky because it's my own skin! Lol. I have definitely come a long way and there doesn't seem to be too much ink left. There is definitely still some there though that I'm hoping will fade on its own. What bothers me is the scarring I am left with. You can see an outline of the tattoo because it is raised. Hopefully that fades within time. I believe it was the end of 2011 that I started my removal so quite a long process and not done yet! The first five treatments were done with the medlite C6 and the rest were done with the Tattx laser. Are you removing a tattoo as well?
August 23, 2015
I want to do bad but the odds are kinda against me because my tattoo is in color :( I don't think it can ever go away
August 25, 2015
I'm about to go through the same thing. I've got a consultation in 2 days for a full removal of the one in my picture. Mine is big and colorful... But I was planning on using picosure
UPDATED FROM palmtree16
Hi everyone! Just thought I would post a quick update! :)
palmtree16January 29, 2015
I just thought I would check in and give a quick update since it has been a while. I haven't had any more treatments since October. I have decided to give my skin a nice long break in hopes of letting it fade some more on his own. I have noticed a bit more fading since my last treatment but there is definitely still some ink left. Unfortunately the tattoo is still fully visible (probably more so to me since I know what I'm looking for) due to the scarred raised outline. I definitely think the scarring is from getting the tattoo in the first place. Hopefully one day I'll be able to find something to fix that. I tried taking pictures to show my progress but at this point it is hard to get a good picture to show what my skin really looks like. The ink is very faint now but I think I still have a long ways to go before it's all gone. Looking back at pictures it's hard to believe it was once so dark! It has been a long process! Hope everyone is doing well and thanks to everyone for all the kind words! So glad to have found this site :)
Replies (5)
January 29, 2015
Thank you for taking the time to post your story! I read it all because I'm scared too and starting my first session in 2 weeks... :( ! Do you have any tips that you think it help through the process except giving your skin the time to heal?
January 30, 2015
I'm just glad I could hopefully help someone going through the same thing! Do you have a review started on here? It's definitely important to be patient during removal. I know I personally used to think I should try and get as many treatments done as I can thinking that would speed up the removal. But I definitely noticed more fading when I gave myself long breaks between treatments. I think it's a good idea to keep a review with pictures because it is hard to notice how much it has actually faded until you compare pictures. I have also avoided getting any sun exposure through this whole process. I definitely think that has helped to avoid any further scarring because my skin is so pale. I know most places say you can shower after 24hours but I was very careful to not wet the area for almost 48 hours after treatment and even then only gently pat the area clean and air dry to avoid rubbing. I was afraid of accidentally removing any scabs before they were ready. I have always used polysporin after treatments until my skin was healed and then I would switch to applying coconut oil several times a day. Now that the laser is turned up a lot I have switched to using Palmers therapy oil for scars at night and Endocare lotion that I got from my clinic once a day. (Still use polysporin until healed). I also do not use any numbing cream or anything because I have heard that it creates an extra layer for the laser to penetrate through and was told it is not safe to use on a tattoo as large as mine. I am also very careful not to take any medications or use any products that can create sun sensitivity. Be sure to drink lots of water! This is just what I have been doing but everyone is different. Any questions feel free to ask! Good luck on your first session!
February 6, 2015
First of all, thank you for posting your story and keeping up with it! I think your progress is amazing and it's really giving me hope. What I'm worried about is the possibility of having scars from when I actually got my tattoo left over after removal. Would you say yours are noticeable to other people? Mine tattoo unfortunately is on my arm so it's kind of hard to hide. And do you think that a chemical peel or maybe silicone scar sheets would help with the scarred outline?
February 17, 2015
You're welcome :) It's nice to know that I can help others and I'm glad it gives you some hope. When I first got my tattoo I could barely find anything online about tattoo removal which is why when I found this website I decided to post my own review. I felt like i was the only one! I always hide my back but I think it would definitely be noticeable to others. There is still some ink left and I can still see the full shape of the tattoo in most places. I am giving myself some time to let it fade some more on its own and then I will decide if I need another treatment. After that I may look into different treatments to try and remove the scars. The clinic I go to suggested Fraxel to get rid of the scars and even out my skin tone so I may look into that more. Some of the reviews I have read on it have made me nervous though. I think the artist that I went to was really rushing and pushing too hard on my back and just did a bad job over all which caused the scars. I think if you take your time with your removal and give your skin lots of time to heal you shouldnt scar too bad. Can you feel any scars on your tattoo now?
February 18, 2015
There are bad reviews for the Fraxel? I've heard of that for scars but I haven't looked into it too much. Well my tattoo is only three weeks old so it's hard to say. It's geometric so there are a lot of lines. When I run my fingers over it I can still feel that a good bit of them are still slightly raised. It's not too noticeable to the eye, but it is to touch. I thought they might flatten eventually, but I'm getting worried because I feel like it's pretty much healed now. None of the shading is raised so I don't think it got infected or anything after I got it. Figured the artist may have just pressed too hard? I have an appointment for removal soon so I'll see what the doctor says!
March 3, 2015
Thank you for taking the time to share your story. You started with a huge tattoo. The fading looks incredible when you consider just how much ink the body has had to digest. Prior to advancements in laser technology, you may have been stuck with a tattoo that you no longer wanted. Now you have options. It's a long journey, but yours is almost complete. Congrats!
March 4, 2015
Thank you so much for replying wow. I love your idea to use coconut oil after your skin has heal. All your ideas are great. I did not take any picture of mine before and any after. That is okay for me :) would you say 2 months between treatments are enough? did you judge yourself to do your next treatments by looking at your skin or they decide ? you are a real support for me, thank you :) My story: still itching after a month from my first treatment.
May 17, 2015
Sorry for the last response! I'm horrible are remembering to reply to messages! Lol. I waited 8 weeks in between most of my earlier treatments but as the treatments became more aggressive I definitely gave myself more time. The body continues to fade ink after 8 weeks and even one of my technicians said it is better to wait longer between treatments or else you may almost be wasting money. Itching is one of the worst parts! It was so hard for me not to scratch but I just had to remember how easy I scar! Have you had another treatment yet? Have you noticed any fading?
Replies (5)
I intend to begin my tattoo removal this year. I have been doing a lot of research on different needles throughout the years.
Which needle are you using?
I find your recent photos very promising, they look great! You may notice spots more easily than I or others see because of how important this is to you. But it's clear that you are not far from your goal and there is such a huge difference from when you first started. I can't wait until my tattoo looks like this!
Wishing you the best of luck, thanks for sharing! :o)