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POSTED UNDER Tattoo Removal REVIEWS

My journey to erase a big, ugly mistake. We may not have time machines, but at least we have lasers. - Detroit, MI

Name: My journey to erase a big, ugly mistake. We may not have time machines, but at least we have lasers. - Detroit, MI
Item: American Pride Tattoo
Author: lostspyder

ORIGINAL POST

Let me start by saying that I have several...

lostspyderApril 9, 2013

$1,000

Let me start by saying that I have several tattoos, including a half-sleeve and a large tattoo on the opposite arm. I love all my other work and show them off with pride. For the past five years, I've thought about getting a black panther tattoo on my outer left thigh (there's a story behind getting a panther, but I won't go into that). Last February at a local tattoo convention, I ran into the artist who did my half-sleeve and mentioned my idea for a black panther tattoo. He told me he could definitely draw me up a great panther that would compliment the style of my other work... so I made an appointment for March 22, 2013. His drawing was vague, but since I like the work he did on my arm, I trusted him. The moment I saw the finished piece, I hated it immediately, but thought I was maybe in a state of shock (it's my largest tattoo to date) and it would grow on me. It hasn't. I'm ashamed of it, I cry when I look at it, I'm embarrassed, etc. My only thought when I look at it is - "I want it off my body." So I immediately made an appointment for a laser removal consultation. The very nice esthetician asked what I don't like about it, said she thought it was a good tattoo, and asked if I considered talking to another artist about getting it reworked. It's so huge, that hadn't occurred to me. Determined to exhaust all options, I scheduled a consultation with one of the area's most reputable artists. I asked him if I had it shot with a laser a few times to get most of it removed, if he could do a cover-up piece in it's place. He said doing that would cause scarring and change the texture of the skin... therefore he would not want to tattoo the lasered area. Alternatively, he said he could rework the panther a little, fix the flaws, etc., but suggested the best solution would be to "eclipse" it in in a larger piece. He recommended doing pieces on either side of it and bringing it up to my torso with additional pieces then completing it with a background. He is an amazing artist and he specializes in large pieces, I'm just not sure how I'll feel about a huge tattoo AND the panther letting the panther stay on my body. He has a six-month wait list so I left $100 deposit and scheduled an appointment for October 12th... thinking it would give me some time to decide what I want to do. Based on what the tattoo artist and esthetician both told me, it doesn't seem like my tattoo will ever completely be removed. I was hoping I could get something done to hide the leftover ink, but that doesn't seem to be an option either. I'm going to make an appointment for another laser removal consultation with different company, but after finding this website, thought it was worth posting to see if anyone has considered removal and cover-up and what your experience has been?

lostspyder's provider

American Pride Tattoo

Replies (27)

Eternities forever

April 10, 2013

Did the esthetician say removal wouldn't work?

lostspyder

April 10, 2013

She said almost all of the black should come out with about 10 treatments, but the blue, red, and especially yellow would likely never completely be removed. I have a consultation with another esthetician this weekend.

Blackberry11

April 10, 2013

I have yellow in my tattoo, and it has come out ( i think almost gone) after 6 treatments. I am having success with the green and black also, my purple and orange seem to be fading, but not as drastic...hard to tell. Good luck!

lostspyder

April 10, 2013

That gives me hope, thank you for the comment. I checked out your profile and see you're having luck. Such a scary journey.

Tena G

April 10, 2013

I also have red in my tattoo and it faded the fastest. moreso than the black

Tena G

April 10, 2013

I am removing one tattoo on my chest right now and also removing/lightening one on my arm to do a cover up. This group is awesome for advice and knowledge. I have yet to see in real life someone who has had tattoo removal let alone 100% fading in a tattoo. I am on 8 treatments and there really is significant fading. Every artist I went to suggested laser removal to cover up the tattoo on my arm instead of just going over it with something else. The scaring on my chest (the tattoo with 8 removal sessions) is minuscule so I don't think that would be an issue with a cover up

lostspyder

April 10, 2013

It's good to hear that you have minuscule scaring and are still a candidate for a cover-up. I know that choosing a reputable esthetician has a lot to do with it so I'm doing tons of research. Thanks so much for sharing. :)

kahelelani

April 10, 2013

aloha lostspyder, Welcome to the forum and thanks for sharing your story. You have had many consultations with people in order to get some help. Others from the forum have posted their experience with tattoos and laser removal. As I read over their responses one thing sticks out in my mind "everyone is different and they experience different results". Blackberry11 has colour and many say that some colours are hard to remove but she has had tremendous success. TenaG has a tattoo in a different area and has also had tremendous success. Everyone is different. I know when I had a tattoo done that I didn't like, I returned to another trusted artist who had done work on me earlier, his response was simple "if you don't like it, laser it off, lasering works and you'll be much happier". I didn't listen to him and I went back to the other artist not once, not twice, but three times and now I have a much bigger tattoo that I don't like. Not to mention the laser consultations between all of this. The technician did question why I wanted it removed, he told me that it was a nice tattoo...but then he went onto say "it doesn't matter if it's a nice tattoo, you don't like it" and the lasering began. The bottomline: everyone has different results, you have to do what is right for you. If you don't know what that is, just wait and try to come to a solution, rushing into things doesn't help. Get opinions of professionals and weigh those options carefully. But I do know one thing for certain: technology is wonderful and many are experiencing wonderful results. Technology is always changing, now there is the new picosure and its results are spectacular. I'm considering flying in the summer to a clinic (the nearest one to me that does picosure) and looking into treatment. And one final piece of my mind: I was in such shock when I got the offending ink, it wasn't even bandaged and I knew it had to come off. Now a few months later and five passes of the laser beam and I feel much better. Although that comes from "talking" with all of you on the forum and in email, but I know that there is an end is sight. I'm moving towards it but not on my own but rather with the help from others. So consult with others just know that that is their opinion they are giving. I hope this helps and I wish you good luck and happy fading...aloha...k

lostspyder

April 10, 2013

Thank you for your kind words. I am reluctant to have the tattoo turned into a larger piece - I have read some horror stories on this site. And that method is not going to make the tattoo go away. When I first got it, I did find the new Picosure system, but it was not available in Michigan or a surrounding state. Upon reading your comment, I checked again and found a clinic that just got it! The esthetician is still attending training courses on it, which makes me nervous, but I scheduled a consultation for April 18th. Since they need to make their money back on the new technology, I'm am scared to hear the cost, but definitely worth looking into!

mattjohnduke

April 11, 2013

Where in Michigan did you find someone with Picosure? I have been searching for one myself - any help with this would be GREATLY appreciated. I hope your treatments go well.

kahelelani

April 11, 2013

aloha lotspyder, Glad that you eventually found someone in Michigan who does the picosure. I did find a MD that has three clinics in the Detroit area if you need more help. Let us know what the picosure is like. The clinic on O'ahu just received theirs on Tuesday (yes two days ago) it was on the news. I had emailed them earlier last month and was deciding if I wanted to persue that. I'm also scared to hear the cost, but like you believe it might be worth it. I could continue going to the plastic surgeon ten minutes from my house for the next year or just fly over four times to O'ahu. It's a decision that I don't have to make yet though...I'm waiting to see what the clinic thinks of the new technology. Good luck with you appointment next week, we'll all be waiting to hear about it. aloha...k

Barbiedoll90

April 10, 2013

Personally I wouldn't go for a bigger piece... I wanted THREE little leaves fixed/changed mainly and ended up "adding" to the piece I had and the idea was it would all wrap in together and make one co-hesive piece... Well I HATE IT and have started laser to remove it... A bigger piece wont change the fact that you have a big piece... In your post I read you saying its to big so I definitely don't think going bigger would make you feel better... In the research I have done it seems to be that scarring is factor if you go to someone who isnt expierienced and if the aftercare is poor... Personally I have come to accept a scar that will fade through the years then a tattoo I HATE... :( Good luck!

whatwhatkumquat

April 11, 2013

Don't get a larger tattoo to eclipse it. If anything, get it as lasered off as possible and then get a smaller tattoo to cover the remainder.

Blackberry11

April 11, 2013

agreed - they wanted to eclipse mine too, the shop wasn't going to charge me (it was the other location) as they felt bad what the artist had done, they were in shock and it was their brand they wanted to protect. So they did up some ideas, but the artist, who was wonderful (wish I had gone to him in the 1st place) he said to me, " I will do what you want, but to be honest with you, adding to this is not going to make you like this piece, you hate it so laser it." He also said that during my removal process I will have lots of time to plan a cover up.. He also reassured me that he has seen many successful removals and referenced some friends. He then showed me tattoos on himself that he hated, and really tried to comfort me,, what a great, kind guy... He was so empathetic to my situation and I completely trusted his suggestion and instantly began the removal process.

kahelelani

April 11, 2013

what a wonderful and honst artist! I also consulted with another artist who said to laser it off, why stay with something you don't like. And it seems that everyone has tattoos that they are not happy with, everyone is susceptible to ink regret. I don't feel so stupid now...thanks for sharing blackberry11. aloha...k

UPDATED FROM lostspyder

1 month pre

Well, I had my consultation for removal with the...

lostspyderApril 18, 2013

Well, I had my consultation for removal with the new Picosure laser. $4200 for complete removal or $800 per session. The current Medlite laser was quoted at $300 per session or $2300 for a 12 session package. I still have two more consultations (not Picosure) with other clinics, but at this point, I don't think I can bring myself to accrue $4200 of debt to remove a tattoo. I do want a cover-up, so the tattoo doesn't need to be removed completely, but the Picosure is so new, the esthetician could not provide an estimate on how many treatments it would take. If I knew it could be done in 3 treatments, I'd consider it, but I really can't afford $4200 for the package. Smeh.

Replies (10)

kahelelani

April 18, 2013

The picosure is new and so the cost might be higher. I am having the traditonal alextrivantage laser removal but in about a year I'm considering flying over to the clinic that has just received the picosure. Yuck! the cost of removing this horribleness is ten times that as the original tattoo. The price of beauty is rough indeed...but it'll bring peace of mind for me. At least I'm doing something about this mistake, sure I'd love to spend the money on something else but I always regret this tattoo. I'd rather live with the laser removal than the money. Good luck! aloha...k

Unink Me

April 19, 2013

I agree. Having something on your body that you hate is worse than spending the money! I just got a tattoo last week and I regretted it the second I saw it! I've been stressed out all week, but I read this blog and I get hopeful. I am getting treatments next month and I have already made an appointment. I'm also constantly researching lasers, clinics, methods, and doctors. There is NOT enough information on tattoo removal on the internet so I call and I ask questions and I get informed on one method/laser/doctor vs. another. I want my skin back!

Phx11

June 2, 2013

Hi there! First, thanks so much for sharing your story! It's so good to know others are experiencing the same range of emotions throughout this process!!! Second, I wanted to share my experience with the Picosure laser- I had my first treatment yesterday and I am AMAZED by the amount of fading that has occurred!!! I highly recommend using this new laser- after just the one session nearly ALL the blue and green ink is gone! (dolphin tattoo - ugh!) I know how awful it feels to have an unwanted tattoo and this laser is the way to go. Good luck to you!!!

lostspyder

June 3, 2013

Thanks! Do you have a photo showing your progress you can post to your profile?

my2girls163

April 18, 2013

The price seems so high to hear all at once. When I hear it i think it's crazy to pay $4,200 however when I add up all my costs.....I can't believe it but I am over $3,100 into mine. I had no idea because I paid $275 at a time so I didn't think about the total. I did $275 for 7 visits without much change. I have now changed to a new place that is about $240 per visit and I bought a package of 5 visits. If by some miracle it is gone after the next 4 visits I will have spent $3,125 but I am not hopeful it will be gone in 4 more .....so $4,200 isn't that far off. Yikes

Unink Me

April 20, 2013

The Picosure Nano Laser has a 40% chance of scarring compared to the Q-Switched laser. Picosecond lasers are able to break up the ink into smaller more "digestible" ink, but I heard the scarring rate is high. Just be careful. The Q-Switched has a 3% scarring rate with some clinics experiencing no to 1% scarring. Pico's came out this year and they are state of art. I have heard such great things about them, but the scarring rate is high... not really sure why.

lostspyder

April 22, 2013

Wow - I didn't know that about the Picosure and scarring! Where did you hear that? But I have decided to go with the Q-Switched laser method anyway.

Eternities forever

April 24, 2013

Where do you hear/read that about picosure? Would love more info :)

lostspyder

April 24, 2013

I found out about the Picosure laser when I started researching tattoo removal. If you Google it, you'll find a fair amount of information on it. It was just FDA approved January 1, 2013 and there are only 15 currently in use throughout the country.

tylerb

May 29, 2013

Where are you getting the info for scarring? I am about to have PicoSure done but if this is accurate then I would most likely change back to Q Switched R20 sessions.

UPDATED FROM lostspyder

1 month pre

After three consultations with laser removal...

lostspyderApril 22, 2013

After three consultations with laser removal clinics and consultations with several well-known tattoo artists, I've decided to have the tattoo lightened enough for a cover-up. I met a new friend in my kickboxing class who is very tattooed and it turned out her boyfriend recently had a one year-old tattoo removed that covered his entire back. He had a lot of success with it and is now in the process of getting the remainder of the tattoo covered with new work. She referred me to his esthetician and I was quoted $250 per session using the Q-Switched laser and she said she could likely lighten it enough in 3-4 sessions, but recommended waiting 8 weeks between sessions for the most success. My friend's boyfriend's tattoo was almost completely gone in 5 sessions, so I'm hoping I have similar success. My tattoo is still healing... I'll probably be going for my first session in about a month. I'm terrified of the pain and blistering, but I already have some lidocaine ready and waiting. By the way, for those going in for their first session, my friend told me it helps to put a thick layer of lidocaine on the tattoo about an hour and half before the session and wrap it in plastic wrap until I get to the shop. If anyone reading this has any other suggestions on alleviating the pain and/or healing process, please let me know! Thank you!!!!

Replies (3)

mr seiger

May 4, 2013

lostspyder

May 4, 2013

I was given a quote of $4200 until gone by one of your estechticians a couple weeks ago at your Sterling Hts location.