POSTED UNDER Tattoo Removal REVIEWS
Tattoo Regret! Two Week Old Tattoo! - Columbus, OH
ORIGINAL POST
Hi all! Like many of you here, I am going through...
WORTH IT$2,001
Hi all! Like many of you here, I am going through a very hard time excepting my only two week old tattoo and what I have done to my body. Seeing all of the stories on this site has helped provide me with some comfort so I thought I would share my story in order to do the same for other people.
For the past one or two years, I've thought about getting my tattoo. It wasn't a spontaneous or rushed decision. I knew I wanted something that incorporated a Sri Yantra, a hindu diagram characterized by nine interlocking triangles. It's a symbol that resonates well with my spiritual beliefs and I knew I just had to use it in a tattoo. I decided to go for a design with the triangles making up the center of a mandala. I put off actually getting the tattoo for a very long time while I saved up the money for it.
About a month ago I finally talked to an artist that I did extensive research on to create my tattoo. He was very skilled and specialized in geometric tattoos. I didn't have my own design for the rest of the mandala, so I told him that he could come up with something for it. I had no reservations about this based on his other work I had seen. All I told him is that I wanted it to look "soft" and flow with my upper arm. Looking back, one thing that I should've taken as a warning is that he really didn't take much time to talk to me about the design. My "consultation" lasted like two minutes and he didn't even take notes on what I wanted. But I went ahead with it anyways thinking whatever he came up with would end up working out. Stupid.
As the date of my appointment approached a had a couple of moments where I thought about canceling because of financial reasons. (And also I think deep down I knew I didn't really even care about getting it anymore). But I had already put a payment of $150 down, so I felt sort of trapped. I kept telling myself, you've wanted this for years and this is the only time you're going to have the money to do it. Do it now while you can. Again stupid.
The day came and I went to my appointment. He showed me the design he came up with when I got there. I had asked to see it several days before my appointment so I could decide if I liked the design enough, but he told me he wouldn't have it done until the day of because he had been super busy with other tattoos. When I looked at the outline he had came up with, I really did like it. It wasn't exactly what I had in my head, but I thought it was a nice design nonetheless so I went for it. I figured he would fill it in with soft shading and dot work since I told him I wanted it to flow and be softer. I was wrong. He filled in the stencil with very dark and bold designs. I guess I should have reiterated myself before he started? It also ended up being a lot bigger than I envisioned, almost my whole upper left arm. The third thing that I don't like about it is the positioning. Instead of starting at my shoulder it starts just above my elbow. I think it looks off balance and it really bothers me. These are all things that I feel like I could have prevented, but when he placed the outline on my arm it just didn't look so big or off center because of how thin and light the lines were I guess.
When I left the shop I kept trying to tell myself I liked it. I had convinced myself I did, at least for the first night. The next day I had a melt down. I started panicking, examining every aspect of it and pointed out the things I didn't like. I started to realize just how big and dark it look on my petite body and pale skin. It was just all wrong for me. The style just isn't ME. I at least wish I wouldn't have gotten it on my arm!
Feeling trapped, remorseful, and oh so silly for even wanting this thing in the first place, I began to fall into a depression. For the whole first week after I got it I cried everyday. I couldn't eat. I couldn't sit through my classes or work without thinking about it. One day I left work early because I couldn't hold myself together any longer. By the end of the week I had lost five pounds. It was like I was punishing myself.
It is now the end of the second week since I got it. I can eat now, but I still find myself upset about it at least once a day. I've still been crying some days, but I guess it's gotten a little better. It seems so extreme and ridiculous that I would let something like a tattoo have this much of an affect on me. It seems like no one understands. My boyfriend tried to be sympathetic with me at first, but he thinks I'm crazy for continuing to be unhappy over something like a tattoo that I can't change. "The decisions made, it's done, just except it!" he'll say. Easier said than done! I'm trying.
The only thing that provides me with some comfort is that it's not a bad tattoo at all. It's definitely good work by a skilled artist, so things could be worse. But that doesn't change the fact that it doesn't feel right on my body. It's not me, it's not my style. I honestly don't even want tattoos anymore. It's just not the way I want my body to look. I do really like them on other people and I like the idea of them! But no, just not for me! Why did I think they were in the first place?!?!?! I'm extremely frustrated with myself. What did I do to my skin? Why did I spend all that money that I could have used for more important things? I can't help but feel like I've ruined myself :(
Since maybe the day after I got my tattoo I've been obsessively looking up laser tattoo removal. If anything looking at successful removals provides me with a small amount of comfort. My tattoo is all black ink at least, and my skin is very very pale. I've heard that these things make full removal more likely. I am scared of the possibility of skin discoloration or an outline of my tattoo persisting. I've thought that it might be worth it either way though because if my skin was odd looking after the process, I could get a smaller, lighter tattoo over part of the area to distract from it. Another thing I'm concerned about is that my tattoo may have scarred slightly. It's a lot of line work, and some of the lines are still slightly raised. It's not noticeable to the eye, just when I rub my fingers over it. It is only two weeks old so maybe this will go away? If it doesn't though, does anyone know if slight raised lines would inhibit removal or give me a poor outcome? Any advice or input is greatly appreciated!
Like I said, my tattoo isn't bad work so I would hate to go through removal and end up making my arm look worse than the original tattoo. I keep going back and forth on whether I should continue to research removal or just work on accepting my tattoo as now being a part of me. On one hand it's very ironic that my tattoo is spiritual in meaning and a Sri Yantra represents the journey from the material world to the realization of the oneness of all things. Well the way I've been obsessing about it is very materialistic and unspiritual of me. Maybe this tattoo is the perfect tool for a journey to work on these things within myself that are causing me great pain simply because of a tattoo. On the other hand, if the technology exists to remove it, maybe I should go for it. Either way though, I need to accept it for what it is for the time being and stop these negative thoughts about it. It's not healthy at all.
I have an appointment this Friday, the 13th, with a plastic surgeon in Columbus, Ohio. The consultation cost $40, but at least I can get some information from him and see what he has to say for some peace of mind. Then based on what he estimates the cost to be per session, I can start saving up. I'm not sure if this will even be possible though because, well, I'm a broke college student living off financial aid refund checks. I have no idea if I could make it work seeing as my tattoo is a decent size. I have found a place in Pennsylvania called Go! Tattoo Removal. They are a bit of a drive from me, but they charge a flat rate of $200 per session. I could possibly handle this if I got a new job maybe serving tables where I'll be making more money. $200 every 8 weeks or so seems like it could be manageable. Baby steps though. I'm going to try not to stress or think about that until I meet with the doctor on Friday. I will post an update on what he says.
And again, any advice or thoughts you all may have would be very much appreciated. Thank you for taking the time to read my story :)
For the past one or two years, I've thought about getting my tattoo. It wasn't a spontaneous or rushed decision. I knew I wanted something that incorporated a Sri Yantra, a hindu diagram characterized by nine interlocking triangles. It's a symbol that resonates well with my spiritual beliefs and I knew I just had to use it in a tattoo. I decided to go for a design with the triangles making up the center of a mandala. I put off actually getting the tattoo for a very long time while I saved up the money for it.
About a month ago I finally talked to an artist that I did extensive research on to create my tattoo. He was very skilled and specialized in geometric tattoos. I didn't have my own design for the rest of the mandala, so I told him that he could come up with something for it. I had no reservations about this based on his other work I had seen. All I told him is that I wanted it to look "soft" and flow with my upper arm. Looking back, one thing that I should've taken as a warning is that he really didn't take much time to talk to me about the design. My "consultation" lasted like two minutes and he didn't even take notes on what I wanted. But I went ahead with it anyways thinking whatever he came up with would end up working out. Stupid.
As the date of my appointment approached a had a couple of moments where I thought about canceling because of financial reasons. (And also I think deep down I knew I didn't really even care about getting it anymore). But I had already put a payment of $150 down, so I felt sort of trapped. I kept telling myself, you've wanted this for years and this is the only time you're going to have the money to do it. Do it now while you can. Again stupid.
The day came and I went to my appointment. He showed me the design he came up with when I got there. I had asked to see it several days before my appointment so I could decide if I liked the design enough, but he told me he wouldn't have it done until the day of because he had been super busy with other tattoos. When I looked at the outline he had came up with, I really did like it. It wasn't exactly what I had in my head, but I thought it was a nice design nonetheless so I went for it. I figured he would fill it in with soft shading and dot work since I told him I wanted it to flow and be softer. I was wrong. He filled in the stencil with very dark and bold designs. I guess I should have reiterated myself before he started? It also ended up being a lot bigger than I envisioned, almost my whole upper left arm. The third thing that I don't like about it is the positioning. Instead of starting at my shoulder it starts just above my elbow. I think it looks off balance and it really bothers me. These are all things that I feel like I could have prevented, but when he placed the outline on my arm it just didn't look so big or off center because of how thin and light the lines were I guess.
When I left the shop I kept trying to tell myself I liked it. I had convinced myself I did, at least for the first night. The next day I had a melt down. I started panicking, examining every aspect of it and pointed out the things I didn't like. I started to realize just how big and dark it look on my petite body and pale skin. It was just all wrong for me. The style just isn't ME. I at least wish I wouldn't have gotten it on my arm!
Feeling trapped, remorseful, and oh so silly for even wanting this thing in the first place, I began to fall into a depression. For the whole first week after I got it I cried everyday. I couldn't eat. I couldn't sit through my classes or work without thinking about it. One day I left work early because I couldn't hold myself together any longer. By the end of the week I had lost five pounds. It was like I was punishing myself.
It is now the end of the second week since I got it. I can eat now, but I still find myself upset about it at least once a day. I've still been crying some days, but I guess it's gotten a little better. It seems so extreme and ridiculous that I would let something like a tattoo have this much of an affect on me. It seems like no one understands. My boyfriend tried to be sympathetic with me at first, but he thinks I'm crazy for continuing to be unhappy over something like a tattoo that I can't change. "The decisions made, it's done, just except it!" he'll say. Easier said than done! I'm trying.
The only thing that provides me with some comfort is that it's not a bad tattoo at all. It's definitely good work by a skilled artist, so things could be worse. But that doesn't change the fact that it doesn't feel right on my body. It's not me, it's not my style. I honestly don't even want tattoos anymore. It's just not the way I want my body to look. I do really like them on other people and I like the idea of them! But no, just not for me! Why did I think they were in the first place?!?!?! I'm extremely frustrated with myself. What did I do to my skin? Why did I spend all that money that I could have used for more important things? I can't help but feel like I've ruined myself :(
Since maybe the day after I got my tattoo I've been obsessively looking up laser tattoo removal. If anything looking at successful removals provides me with a small amount of comfort. My tattoo is all black ink at least, and my skin is very very pale. I've heard that these things make full removal more likely. I am scared of the possibility of skin discoloration or an outline of my tattoo persisting. I've thought that it might be worth it either way though because if my skin was odd looking after the process, I could get a smaller, lighter tattoo over part of the area to distract from it. Another thing I'm concerned about is that my tattoo may have scarred slightly. It's a lot of line work, and some of the lines are still slightly raised. It's not noticeable to the eye, just when I rub my fingers over it. It is only two weeks old so maybe this will go away? If it doesn't though, does anyone know if slight raised lines would inhibit removal or give me a poor outcome? Any advice or input is greatly appreciated!
Like I said, my tattoo isn't bad work so I would hate to go through removal and end up making my arm look worse than the original tattoo. I keep going back and forth on whether I should continue to research removal or just work on accepting my tattoo as now being a part of me. On one hand it's very ironic that my tattoo is spiritual in meaning and a Sri Yantra represents the journey from the material world to the realization of the oneness of all things. Well the way I've been obsessing about it is very materialistic and unspiritual of me. Maybe this tattoo is the perfect tool for a journey to work on these things within myself that are causing me great pain simply because of a tattoo. On the other hand, if the technology exists to remove it, maybe I should go for it. Either way though, I need to accept it for what it is for the time being and stop these negative thoughts about it. It's not healthy at all.
I have an appointment this Friday, the 13th, with a plastic surgeon in Columbus, Ohio. The consultation cost $40, but at least I can get some information from him and see what he has to say for some peace of mind. Then based on what he estimates the cost to be per session, I can start saving up. I'm not sure if this will even be possible though because, well, I'm a broke college student living off financial aid refund checks. I have no idea if I could make it work seeing as my tattoo is a decent size. I have found a place in Pennsylvania called Go! Tattoo Removal. They are a bit of a drive from me, but they charge a flat rate of $200 per session. I could possibly handle this if I got a new job maybe serving tables where I'll be making more money. $200 every 8 weeks or so seems like it could be manageable. Baby steps though. I'm going to try not to stress or think about that until I meet with the doctor on Friday. I will post an update on what he says.
And again, any advice or thoughts you all may have would be very much appreciated. Thank you for taking the time to read my story :)
kjtv2011's provider
UPDATED FROM kjtv2011
Thoughts and Decisions..
Hi everyone! It's been about a month since I made my initial post, so I thought I would give you an update. Even if nobody reads this, it's kind of nice just to have a way to express all of these feelings I have as a result of this situation. It can get sort of lonely because nobody else in my life seems to really understand. When I tell them how upset I am, I feel like they just think I'm being ridiculous.
But anyways, things haven't really gotten a whole lot better honestly. Many people on here and in real life advised me to give it time, because maybe I'm "just in shock" or I'll "learn to love it." Well, here I am a month and a half later and I still despise my tattoo. I still think about it constantly. I still usually cry at least once a day after thinking about what I've done. When I wake up in the morning, it's the first thing that comes to my mind. At first I think maybe it's all a dream, then the impending feeling of disappointment and regret sinks in as I realize it's real. Will this ever go away? I long for the days before I got this tattoo when all of this weight wasn't on my shoulders. I'm constantly stressed about it. There was maybe a week long period after I got my tattoo when I wasn't worrying about it for some reason. I'm not sure what happened, but that didn't last long. I think it's because it's getting warming, so I'm thinking about how much it's going to suck this summer when I'm not going to want to wear tank tops and typical short sleeved shirts because my tattoo will show. It's not that I'm embarrassed of it necessarily, I just don't want to look down at my arm or in the mirror and see it myself. It's better when I can pretend it's not there.
I know that this is not okay, this is not normal. When you decide to permanently decorate your body, you should be ecstatic and proud of it. It's should make you feel happy and like you've enhanced yourself. I feel exactly opposite. I know that this is not going to go away. I'm passed "learning to like it" at this point. Besides, I don't want to force myself to learn to like something that didn't turn out right. If I don't like it because it's not my style, then I don't like it. So I've decided that I need to do something about it instead of wallowing in self pity.
Because I'm going to most likely be covering my tattoo with clothes anyways, I figured I might as well start laser treatments sooner rather than later. I don't care if it takes me one, two, even three years to get my tattoo off, as long as it happens eventually. I'd like to start my treatments around May when I hit the three month mark. What I'm thinking right now is that I'd get one done in May, then wait until August to get my next one in order to be able to enjoy the summer without having to worry about covering it too much. I figure it won't look too much different after only one treatment, so if I do want to wear tank tops and what not I could. I will most likely go to Go! Tattoo Removal, as they are the ones that charge the flat rate of $200. That's really all I could afford, plus I'm still not convinced that opting for picosure would be worth the crazy price. Because of my money situation and distance from Go!, I'll probably have to space my sessions 3-ish months apart. This will definitely be a long process for me, but I feel like I have to do it. The only thing that is on the back of my mind making me hesitant is this news of a tattoo removal cream. (Google Bisphosphonate Liposomal Tattoo Removal). It sounds promising, wayyy cheaper, and less painful, but who knows when it would actually hit the market. It could be years! I just don't know if I can wait. I think actually seeing this thing disappear will make me so much happier. Then, if the cream comes out in a year, maybe I can start using it instead? Wonder if previous laser treatments would at all inhibit the effectiveness of the cream?
As far as laser goes, what I obviously worry about the most is that I won't get full removal, or my skin will look noticeably odd due to either scars or pigment changes. However, I've accepted the fact that that is a possibility. If that happens and I don't feel like it will correct itself, I would just get another tattoo that's more my style, flows with my arm, and is much lighter. I'm thinking muted colors or just gray ink. I don't want anything that's in your face. Just something that compliments my body.
Until then, I'm working on forgiving myself. It is very very hard to do, as I've been trying and failing. Hopefully in the near future I can make peace with the situation and only think about it in positive ways. All I can do is work towards correcting my mistake. Everything else is just resisting the current situation, which obviously causes unnecessary suffering.
If I come to any new realizations or decisions, I'll be sure to update. I still plan on going to a plastic surgeon here in Columbus soon just to see what he says for some information and peace of mind.
Once again, I continue to be amazed at how supportive and helpful this community is. Thank you for taking the time to read/comment on my story, as well as share your own. This website has really been giving me strength.
But anyways, things haven't really gotten a whole lot better honestly. Many people on here and in real life advised me to give it time, because maybe I'm "just in shock" or I'll "learn to love it." Well, here I am a month and a half later and I still despise my tattoo. I still think about it constantly. I still usually cry at least once a day after thinking about what I've done. When I wake up in the morning, it's the first thing that comes to my mind. At first I think maybe it's all a dream, then the impending feeling of disappointment and regret sinks in as I realize it's real. Will this ever go away? I long for the days before I got this tattoo when all of this weight wasn't on my shoulders. I'm constantly stressed about it. There was maybe a week long period after I got my tattoo when I wasn't worrying about it for some reason. I'm not sure what happened, but that didn't last long. I think it's because it's getting warming, so I'm thinking about how much it's going to suck this summer when I'm not going to want to wear tank tops and typical short sleeved shirts because my tattoo will show. It's not that I'm embarrassed of it necessarily, I just don't want to look down at my arm or in the mirror and see it myself. It's better when I can pretend it's not there.
I know that this is not okay, this is not normal. When you decide to permanently decorate your body, you should be ecstatic and proud of it. It's should make you feel happy and like you've enhanced yourself. I feel exactly opposite. I know that this is not going to go away. I'm passed "learning to like it" at this point. Besides, I don't want to force myself to learn to like something that didn't turn out right. If I don't like it because it's not my style, then I don't like it. So I've decided that I need to do something about it instead of wallowing in self pity.
Because I'm going to most likely be covering my tattoo with clothes anyways, I figured I might as well start laser treatments sooner rather than later. I don't care if it takes me one, two, even three years to get my tattoo off, as long as it happens eventually. I'd like to start my treatments around May when I hit the three month mark. What I'm thinking right now is that I'd get one done in May, then wait until August to get my next one in order to be able to enjoy the summer without having to worry about covering it too much. I figure it won't look too much different after only one treatment, so if I do want to wear tank tops and what not I could. I will most likely go to Go! Tattoo Removal, as they are the ones that charge the flat rate of $200. That's really all I could afford, plus I'm still not convinced that opting for picosure would be worth the crazy price. Because of my money situation and distance from Go!, I'll probably have to space my sessions 3-ish months apart. This will definitely be a long process for me, but I feel like I have to do it. The only thing that is on the back of my mind making me hesitant is this news of a tattoo removal cream. (Google Bisphosphonate Liposomal Tattoo Removal). It sounds promising, wayyy cheaper, and less painful, but who knows when it would actually hit the market. It could be years! I just don't know if I can wait. I think actually seeing this thing disappear will make me so much happier. Then, if the cream comes out in a year, maybe I can start using it instead? Wonder if previous laser treatments would at all inhibit the effectiveness of the cream?
As far as laser goes, what I obviously worry about the most is that I won't get full removal, or my skin will look noticeably odd due to either scars or pigment changes. However, I've accepted the fact that that is a possibility. If that happens and I don't feel like it will correct itself, I would just get another tattoo that's more my style, flows with my arm, and is much lighter. I'm thinking muted colors or just gray ink. I don't want anything that's in your face. Just something that compliments my body.
Until then, I'm working on forgiving myself. It is very very hard to do, as I've been trying and failing. Hopefully in the near future I can make peace with the situation and only think about it in positive ways. All I can do is work towards correcting my mistake. Everything else is just resisting the current situation, which obviously causes unnecessary suffering.
If I come to any new realizations or decisions, I'll be sure to update. I still plan on going to a plastic surgeon here in Columbus soon just to see what he says for some information and peace of mind.
Once again, I continue to be amazed at how supportive and helpful this community is. Thank you for taking the time to read/comment on my story, as well as share your own. This website has really been giving me strength.
Replies (18)
March 11, 2015
I'm currently going through the same experience except it is on my wrist although the tattoo means a lot to me because it's the name of my mom . My skinny would not take ink so the tattoo is only half way finished . I have been wondering if laser is the way out but I can't think of having a laser on my wrist or the scar it might leave.. although the tattoo is small there isn't much I can do.. but can't e plain how much sleep I lost trying to convince myself that it's going to be ok and something can be done. I really do feel like no one understands not being able to remove whatever is there.. but there is hope and I hope this is the best way.. good luck on your tatt.
March 11, 2015
Thank you! Hmm well feel grateful that your tattoo is small and not super noticeable, although I know the psychological toll that an unwanted tattoo can take regardless of its size and placement. But, if you ever start feeling bad just think about my big ass tattoo! haha :) I think laser would probably be your best option. From the research I've done, scarring is pretty unlikely as long as you go to someone who knows what they're doing and you follow proper aftercare. There might be scars from the tattoo process itself though that just aren't visible with the ink over them. That's what I'm worried about the most. The way I think of it though, I few small scars will just be a reminder of our journey and probably wouldn't be very visible to anyone else (hopefully!). For you I'm sure excision would be an option too, but that would 100% leave a scar. Good luck with whatever you decide and remember you are not alone! :)
March 11, 2015
Can relate to everything you just said, literally all of it. I think you're being very smart in weighing this all up and I also think you're making the right decision to commence removal. It's a very long process, as you're aware, but as you begin to see the tattoo fade away things get a little easier. 3 months sounds like a great amount of time between sessions. I'm in the UK and even ive heard about the positive reputation that Go! has, so you should be in great hands. We'll help you through this.
March 11, 2015
Thank you so much! Yes, it seems like the people who wait longer between sessions have less pigment issues and redness, so I don't think that will be a bad thing at all. I'm surprised you've even heard of Go! then! They are pretty impressive and I think I'd almost trust the guys there more than anywhere else since they specialize only in tattoo removal. I've looked at your review several times and your results are great! It looks like you're in the home stretch which most feel pretty relieving. How long after you got your tattoo did you start removal? The guy at Go! said to wait at least three months, but I've seen doctors on here say to wait six months to a year. I just wonder if starting earlier would be a waste or make me see less results at first. But like I said, I don't know if I can wait much longer :/
March 11, 2015
Absolutely - if I could start all over again Id have probably spaced my appointments 3 or 4 months apart. I started my removal about a year and a half after getting the tattoo. I think once the area is pretty much all healed up you should be good to go. Three months seems about right, but leaving it a little longer wouldn't hurt. Some of the ink naturally fades to begin with, so it could be worth giving it a little longer, but it probably wouldn't make a huge difference. I'm probably around two thirds of the way through my removal. Its been a rough ride but it doesn't have to be, and the time has gone quite quickly. I anticipate another year before I'm done, but I'm in it for the long haul now!
March 16, 2015
I totally understand what you are going through I have a full sleeve that is bright pretty and colorful ..well that's how others describe it! To me I hate it I'm so self conscious about it that I long for the cooler days where I can cover it with clothing.
People often tell me I have nothing to worry about but it has destroyed my self confidence.
Looking at starting the removal process next month.
March 17, 2015
I know how you feel! Everyone tells me mine looks good, but it just doesn't feel right on me :( Are you going for full removal or will you get something else once it fades? I'm hoping I don't have to get anything else there, but I realize it may come to that.
UPDATED FROM kjtv2011
The time has finally come!
So the time has finally come to begin laser tattoo removal sessions. My tattoo is now 3 and a half months old. It's gone by so fast! It makes me feel better about removal, knowing how quickly it will go by. I'm at a tough place because seeing as it is summer, I'm not sure if I should wait to begin treatments until the fall. It would be nice to not have to worry about avoiding sun exposure, but at the same time the sooner I can start the better. I just don't know what to do.
Also, as beginning the process is becoming so real, I'm starting to have concerns about health side effects that removal could cause. I don't mean scarring or skin damage, I'm talking serious health complications due to the ink migrating to my lymph nodes and being in my blood stream. Does that freak anyone else out? Who knows what kind of chemicals are in the ink. What if they're carcinogenic? Will these particles stay in my body forever? Will their presence compromise the functioning of my immune system or make me more susceptible to certain diseases? I've done a lot of research, but there really hasn't been any studies done on this topic and that's what's scary. If my health is at stake, even if it's many years down the road, I wouldn't remove my tattoo (at least not through laser). I hate that I can't find a clear answer to this. Has anyone else on here had similar concerns or found information on the subject? I've seen other removal options like tatt2away, which I like because it's not releasing the ink back into your body, but it seems like this method would 100% leave some scarring.
My final concern is that I'm starting a new job at an arborist company on Monday. It's going to be a very physical job. Lots of lifting, climbing, etc. For those who have already had treatments, how long is the downtime? I would probably go for my treatment on a Saturday, so that only gives me two days before I'd be back to work.
I really want to make a decision soon, so any input would be much appreciated! :)
Also, as beginning the process is becoming so real, I'm starting to have concerns about health side effects that removal could cause. I don't mean scarring or skin damage, I'm talking serious health complications due to the ink migrating to my lymph nodes and being in my blood stream. Does that freak anyone else out? Who knows what kind of chemicals are in the ink. What if they're carcinogenic? Will these particles stay in my body forever? Will their presence compromise the functioning of my immune system or make me more susceptible to certain diseases? I've done a lot of research, but there really hasn't been any studies done on this topic and that's what's scary. If my health is at stake, even if it's many years down the road, I wouldn't remove my tattoo (at least not through laser). I hate that I can't find a clear answer to this. Has anyone else on here had similar concerns or found information on the subject? I've seen other removal options like tatt2away, which I like because it's not releasing the ink back into your body, but it seems like this method would 100% leave some scarring.
My final concern is that I'm starting a new job at an arborist company on Monday. It's going to be a very physical job. Lots of lifting, climbing, etc. For those who have already had treatments, how long is the downtime? I would probably go for my treatment on a Saturday, so that only gives me two days before I'd be back to work.
I really want to make a decision soon, so any input would be much appreciated! :)
Replies (16)
May 9, 2015
Hi there! I had never even questioned where the ink goes during removal- until i recently watched a fab video on youtube about how laser removal works and it was pretty fascinating!
Basically, when you get a tattoo, the body immediately wants to rid you of it as its foreign. Your immune system sets about trying to gobble up the ink particles but the white (gobble!) cells arent big enough to engulf the tattoo ink because the ink particles are larger than the white cells. When you get lasered it shatters the ink and the white cells can finally mop up the ink. They Get all excited lol! They take the ink through the lymph and into the liver and you pee or poop it out the same way anything else does thats filtered through the liver.
I can only hope that it wont cause any future issues as i have had 5 sessions of picosure and am nearly done. For me personally i just look at it that my body thought it was foreign anyway so maybe more chance of knackering my immune system by having white cells constantly trying to gobble up ink with but failing, than white cells managing to gobble up ink, for a limited period!
Just my opinion not knocking your concerns AT ALL. infact its a very interesting way to look at it. I hope you find more answers and then can make an informed decision thats right for you. This tattoo removal lark is no easy decision is it!
Wishing you lots of luck with removal if you choose that route.
May 16, 2015
Hmm ok so you just excrete the ink..I guess I never realized that for some reason. I mentioned in another reply that any harmful nano particles have a short half life, so from what I understand even if they're in your blood stream or taken up by other systems they won't remain there long. I like your perspective, that is a good way to look at it! I'm glad that I at least went to a professional shop where I'm sure they use quality ink, so I would hope there's nothing too harmful in it. Oh how I wish I would've known about the lack of studies on the toxicity of ink BEFORE I let someone inject it into my arm. I had never even thought about that before. But thank you, this is a hard decision indeed!
August 22, 2015
I own a tattoo shop and have a large portion of my body tattooed. The modern inks you were tattooed with are safe. In the beginning of modern tattooing, before people understood much about metal toxicity, some ink colors contained toxic metals. It's not something you need to have any concern about with the inks used to tattoo you. I hope your removal is going well. I would have been disappointed had I been in your shoes. If you're unable to fully remove the tattoo with treatments, you might consider a coverup. I'm not sure why the artist put the tattoo in the placement he did, but you could start a coverup at the shoulder cap. If you are tattooed in the future, please interview several artist and make sure they listen to you and you feel comfortable with them. Also, I would be wary of tattoo shops requiring large deposits. We own two shops, we have over 16 artists working for us and we would never allow a deposit to be taken from a client. I've heard of other people going through with tattoos based on not wanting to lose their nonrefundable deposit. I would never want someone to feel trapped into getting a tattoo they didn't want. I'd much rather be annoyed they didn't show up for their appointment than feel like someone was forced into getting a tattoo. Many people have tattoo regret, a considerable portion of our business includes cover ups of poorly done previous tattoos. It's one of our favorite feelings to watch the happiness a good cover up brings to a client who has been living with a tattoo they regret. I really hope you get the full removal you are going for and I'm sorry you were treated in the manner the artist treated you. Listening to your clients is the most important part of being a tattoo artist, besides the actual artistic ability.
January 23, 2016
I just saw this! Thank you so much for your comment. That is very assuring! I'm not so worried about the health concerns anymore, as my job keeps me super physically active. That will help my body flush the ink and keep my immune system up. For what it's worth, the artist placed it where he did because I told him I wanted it centered in the upper portion of my arm, but it ended up being placed too low. I'm planning on getting a cover up, and I think it could look really nice in the same position but if it flowed better. Thanks for the advice on the deposit though. I'm not sure if the one I put down was nonrefundable. He could have been willing to give it back to me or at least most of it..I'm not sure. I should've trusted my gut and at least talked to him about it. Oh well, what's done is done. Currently looking forward to finally starting my removal and moving past this mistake. So close now! :)
May 9, 2015
I haven't started removal so I may not be the one to answer but I will say I think your concerns are valid. I too, haven't really read anything regarding the health effects. I do know that they will not treat you if you have any type of auto immune deficiency or any issues with your lymphatic system. So, that tells me that as long as your lymphatic system is healthy, your body should be able to handle it. Maybe you should consider spacing out your treatments for longer. That should avoid the build up of ink and give your body time to rid the ink a little at a time. Good luck! Please keep us posted! Every review helps someone!
May 16, 2015
Yes, the human body is amazing and I'm sure it would be fine, but it's still kind of scary. I did read that the half life of any harmful nano particles that are sometimes in tattoo ink is short, so they wouldn't remain in the body long (that's how I interpreted it anyways). And I agree, my treatments would likely be spaced apart with fairly long intervals, as the place I would go is quite far. I will indeed keep everyone posted! Thanks for the comment :)
May 14, 2015
Ok, let me try to touch on some of your concerns. Apologies right from the get-go for the long post. :-) -- I see that you are considering postponing the treatments until autumn. I know some people have wrapped their tattoo, wear an arm band, or typically stay out of a lot of sun, but if that sounds too troublesome and you are planning on getting a lot of sun on your upper arm, it might not be a terrible idea to wait. It's not very good for your skin when it's trying to heal and also lasers tend to take out suntans around the treated area. -- As far as health concerns with the ink, it seems there has only been some mild research done on this. Most of which I have read cannot prove any real harmful effects. The body basically takes it and filters it out of your system, and typically does a pretty good job of that. I think it's not enough ink to cause a real problem. -- And lastly, heal-time. Mostly it depends on the laser and the person running it. Some laser professionals are a little more brutal on the skin than others. But for most people (and myself) it acts and feels like a sunburn. To be honest mine heals faster than a sunburn. It doesn't really effect your muscles or anything, just the skin. Some people keep it wrapped up because of blistering or open wounds, but it's nothing to keep you out of work. The worst part is when it gets itchy lol. I think a couple of days is probably just fine, especially at first to get a feel for it. For me, I go to work the next morning with no problems.
May 16, 2015
You're right that it could be troublesome to keep it covered, but at the same time I barely ever wear anything that shows my tattoo anymore anyways :( So maybe it really wouldn't be any different? The only time it would suck is if I want to go swimming or something (once it's healed). Good to know that it mostly just feels like a sunburn. That sounds manageable! I climb trees at my job though and may sometimes brush my arm against a branch or something, so that's the only thing I'd worry about. In some ways I think that getting treatments during my very physical job would be a good thing! My shifts can be almost like one long work out with all the lifting, climbing, sawing, etc. I think this could really help keep my blood flowing and flush out the ink. Not to mention I'm sure the activity helps boost my immune system. No worries on the long post btw I really appreciate the advise it helps a lot! :)
May 15, 2015
I am so sorry that this happened to you because I know what you are going through, enduring regret every single day as you are constantly reminded of a decision that you wish you had never made. I want to let you know that in my career as a LASER TATTOO REMOVAL TECHNICIAN that we only had a 30-40% success rate in fully or near fully removing a tattoo. We used the Picture laser. Older tattoos are easier to remove because the ink has had a chance to break down a bit naturally with age. If you want to lighten the tattoo so it is not so obvious then go for it, it will get lighter. I just want to share what I have learned in my practical experience treating many clients. You may get rid of some pigment but please don't be hard on yourself or dissapointed if the tattoo only gets fragmented removal. If you are doing a pshyical job then you need to expect blisters, itching and scabbing around day 3-7 and try to schedule your appointments on Monday if you have Sunday Monday off.
May 15, 2015
my post was autocorrected from what I meant to say, which is Picosure, not picture :)
May 16, 2015
Thanks for your comment! I do understand there's no guarantee that it will be 100% gone, but I've done extensive research and looked at so many pictures that I feel confident I could get near full removal. Especially with my black ink and pale skin. If I don't get full removal, I would get something else over the area. For me, the next best alternative to full removal is at least getting a tattoo that I will love! Hmm yes the blisters could cause problems, as my job often involves climbing trees. It's very possible my arm could be hit by a branch or I could rub it against the tree accidentally. My shirt covers my tattoo, but still. I could also wear one of those half sleeves for extra protection, but I'm not sure that would be enough.
May 16, 2015
It really depends on the way the procedure is done. I go to a place where a doctor is performing the treatment, and I don't blister, or they are very tiny, and the worst of the inflammation is over after 3-5 days. In my case, a tight sleeve would definitely be enough. Or a gaze plus a sleeve, for more protection.
May 20, 2015
I blistered really bad after my first two treatments. On my third treatment, I left the bandage on for a full 24+ hours, rather than removing it the morning after. I didn't blister at all. I did the same on my fourth treatment and also did not blister. Not sure if the bandage made the difference or not or if it was something else, but that seemed to work for me. Good luck!
December 30, 2015
Hi there, we would love an update -- have you started treatments?
January 19, 2016
Hi Eva! At the moment the plan is to go through with removal in order to facilitate a cover up. I have an appointment next week, actually. If I decide to go through with my first treatment I will post an update!
Replies (66)
Welcome to the community, I am so glad that you found us and opened up to us by sharing your story. My heart goes out to you as I have been exactly where you are, and I understand how difficult this is to digest. Ok, lets start with your tattoo...honestly... it's beautiful. I don't think it looks awkward at all on your arm. Keep in mind that most tattoos should lighten up as they age, especially black ink. As for the raised areas, it's too soon to know if it will be permanent or just part of the healing phase. If it ends up being permanent, it shouldn't impact removal (didn't for me) but the raised skin will likely remain. A new tattoo can be very shocking to the system, especially larger pieces, also new tattoos have not had time to blend and become one with your skin. I like the idea of allowing time to think things over and see if you can make peace with your tattoo and accept it as part of you As you said "Maybe this tattoo is the perfect tool for a journey to work on these things within myself that are causing me great pain simply because of a tattoo." Now, I am certainly not trying to plant any seeds, I just really love the design and the meaning of the tattoo, I would be adding to it rather than thinking of removal. Keep in mind I am a tattoo enthusiast, they are not for everyone and I am certainly not telling you to do so, you have to decide what is best for yourself. As you can see on the site everybody is at different stages in the process and will offer you wonderful support. In the meantime, stay true to who you are, give yourself time to heal emotionally before making any drastic decisions, and who knows, you really might grow to love your new tattoo. If you haven't had a chance to read this review, I highly recommend you check it out:
FULL ARM TATTOO, MAJOR REGRET, NOW WHAT TO DO...? - BOX HILL, AUSTRALIA
Here is some information you might find helpful as well:
LASER TATTOO REMOVAL: 10 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE GETTING YOUR TATTOO REMOVED
Sounds great, look forward to your updates. Keep your chin up, and hey... don't be so hard on yourself. ;)