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POSTED UNDER Tattoo Removal REVIEWS

Removal of dark tattoo on calf

ORIGINAL POST

Hello everyone. First of all, i'm glad to have...

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GreatDane
$3,200
Hello everyone.
First of all, i'm glad to have found this place where people obviously have the same feelings as i have had. Im 18 (Soon to be 19) and live in Denmark, Europe. I got a fresh tattoo with a motive which i wanted, but as soon as it was there i just felt horrible. Having a tattoo wasnt me at all, and since its on my lower leg i can't hide it in the summer. I dont think it's ugly, i just dont think it fits me as a person, and it gives people the wrong impression about me. I was very depressed, but you guys probably know the feeling so not gonna go into detail. So i began searching for removal options, and in my country there is only one major laser tattoo removal clinic chain, the rest is simply small back yard businesses which i certainly dont wanna gamble with. I will post a photo so you can all see the tattoo, and tell me if you think it can be removed. I haven't honestly seen anyone who had a tattoo completely removed myself, so if you have any photos that prove it works, please do share them with me. The laser they use at the clinic is the Revlite laser, which they say is the golden standard - is that true? And do you think it can remove my tattoo completely, because if it cant, i will just be a major waste of money and time for me. The laser specialist says he can remove it completely in 7-11 sessions with his laser, but i can't trust him blindly since he is also selling the procedure. The procedure will cost around 4700$ roughly in US dollars, which is a lot of money for me. The tattoo is done in black and has a lot of shading, i dont know how many inches because im European (sorry american friends) but its roughly 15cm x 20 cm but it's slimmer in the ends.
TL:DR - Can this tattoo be removen completely with the Revlite Laser, and do you have any photo documentation of laser removal actually removing a tattoo completely?
Wish you all the best, tattoo mistakes hurt mentally, but your not alone.
If your reading this while considering getting a tattoo and you are not sure, take this advice - DONT GET IT, save yourself from a lot of pain and suffering :) Buy a t-shirt with your design instead. I hope this can save someone out there from making the same mistake i did.
Btw, the tattoo is the logo of my favorite football (soccer) club Liverpool FC, and YNWA is for You'll Never Walk Alone and the two flames are for 96 fans who died at a match in 1989.
English is not my first language, so if i made any mistakes feel free to ask me for elaboration :)

GreatDane's provider

Jan

Replies (3)

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April 27, 2014
Welcome, I am thrilled you found us as well - this is such a supportive community! As you mention, and I fully agree, your tattoo is certainly not ugly - do you think you may just need a bit more time to adjust to it? Here are a few other members on the site who in a similar situation:
HALF SLEEVE TATTOO REMOVAL - NOTTINGHAM, MD
LOG FOR A LONG PAINFUL JOURNEY - DENVER, CO
Some tattoos can be fully removed with lots of patience and the fact yours is all black bodes well in your favor, here is some success stories on the site:
2 YRS POST LATE STAGE TATTOO REMOVAL~GIVE YOURSELF TIME (AND BE REALISTIC)
MY TATTOO REMOVAL - TORONTO O
LEFT WITH A GHOST OF A TATTOO -SAN JOSE, CA
 
Whatever you decide, keep us posted ok  :) keep you chin up!
 
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April 27, 2014
I feel like the only way i can get complete peace of mind is to get it removed. But as im 19 and a student, 4700 dollars is a lot of money for me. I am going to have a years break soon, where i had planned to travel New Zealand and Australia for 3 months, and i have saved some money for that, which i dont think i wanna use for anything else than that. Then im going in the army for 4 months (some males have to do that in my country). Do you think i can do these things while getting laser removals, or is it too hurtful/damaging for my skin with the sun down under and the hard work in the military? I was thinking i could mabye get treatments a month before going on my travels, and then get one just after so i have a couple of weeks before going in the army. But will my skin be able to handle that, im worried :/ Also, im getting more and more used to the tattoo being there, its basically like i have accepted it, but still, i think about it often and i dont have completely peace of mind :) Thanks for the motivation Eva!
October 29, 2017
Check into the piqo4...
UPDATED FROM GreatDane
3 months pre

Better times

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GreatDane
I am getting used to the thought of it being there, and i'm not depressed anymore. I'm still going to meet with a laser specialist, but that is basically to find out what my options are. I'm not going to start the removal any time soon, as i dont have the money or the opportunity to take care of it while it's healing right now in my life. Who knows, mabye i wont ever get it removed, because as of now, im actually pretty pleased with it. I'm a little concerned that it will hold me back on the job market, which is why i want to know my options, in case i at some point need it removed. I might also get a little test spot done, just to see how i react to it.

Overall i feel much better now, and i hope that this feeling last so that i can be pleased with myself and my tattoo. There are some minor things i consider getting done to my tattoo (some lines and shades i want fixed), but i dont know if im going to get them fixed or not. It might make me more satisfied about my tattoo, but then again, its unwise if i should want to remove it at a later point, so i dont know whether i should get it touched up a little or not. What are your thoughts here? :)

TL;DR - Going to keep the tattoo, still going to meet a laser specialist to know my options if i later on in life would need it removed.

Replies (6)

April 29, 2014
Hi GreatDane. I actually think your tattoo is brilliant. When I first saw it I thought it was awesome, and I really respect you for dedicating it to the Hillsborough victims. It's quite a big tattoo which is probably why you felt some regret afterwards, but I can assure you it looks very professionally done and that it has good meaning. If you did decide to go ahead with removal, the ink is faint so you'd probably do very well with laser. Let us know how you get on!
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April 29, 2014
Thx WC, always nice with some positive feedback! I think im going to keep it for now, and then if it starts getting in my way later in life (jobs mabye), i will begin removal. Im only 19, so i have no idea what my life will look like in 10 years and what field im going to work in and stuff like that, but the possibility of being able to remove it if i should want to later on, is very nice to have. I'm going to do another update once i have been to the laser clinic, to let you know what he thinks my options are :) Thx a lot for the support, appreciate it!
April 29, 2014
Glad to hear you're happy with it for now. You may even grow to like it more and more. Remember we're all here for you if you ever need a chat!
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May 19, 2014
How are you my friend? :)
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May 21, 2014
Hi Frost, i'm fine :) Currently busy with my finals/exams! I still regret my tattoo, but i have accepted it being there i guess. Im no longer depressed, even though i do feel some discomfort wearing shorts in public. The clinic which can treat my tattoo is very expensive because there is not much competetion on the market, and i don't have the money, so removal is unfortunately probably not an option for me at this point, even though i would love to see it gone! How about you, how are you getting on?
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May 30, 2014
Nice that you have things to keep you busy and that you feel better! :) And when you have the time and money i dont think you should have any problems with removal :) its very light :) you are "lucky" hehe :) I have more good days now then before so its okey :) thank you for asking! ;)
UPDATED FROM GreatDane
1 month pre

Meeting at the clinic

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GreatDane
So today i went and spoke with my laser specialist Jan, and we spoke about my tattoo. His clinic uses the RevLite, but has also bought the picosure! :) He believes that the RevLite is best for my tattoo, while picosure is more for colors. He believes that 100% removal of the black and the shading is possible, but that the white lines might not be able to be removed. He also gave me a zap with the laser so i could feel how it is, and i didnt think it was too bad. He has given me a good offer for the whole tattoo, somewhere around 3500$, which is 1300$ less than i was quoted first time. He believes it will take me 18 months and between 6-9 treatments.

I will be going to Thailand, NZ and Australia for three months november - january, where i will be exposed to the sun a lot. He says it wont be a problem, as his laser only targets the 2nd layer of the skin and not the 1st where the pigment is, that sounds good, but mabye a little too good. Also i am going in the army from february-june next year, which may force me to take a 4 month break in between treatments, but that is allright i guess.

So right now i'm thinking of whether or not i should accept the offer. If i accept it i can have 2-3 treatments before i leave for my travel, then i can have 1 treatment when i come home, and then wait until i have done my time in the army to complete the remaining sessions. So im looking at atleast 2 years probably even more if i begin now.

To all of you who are currently going through removal, what are your experience when it comes to sun exposure and laser treatments?? :-)

I will update the blog when i have decided where to go from here!

Replies (13)

June 11, 2014
I still think your tattoo looks great! I also think that sun is never good in any circumstance while having laser, so I'd be really wary about what the doc said. If you do go out in the sun, make sure you wear a very protective suncream. As to whether you wait it out or not, older tattoos are known to fade better than newer ones. It's your call though - can you live with it for a while longer or are you really eager to start removal? :-)
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June 11, 2014
I can live with it for a while :) But it will be a lot cheaper if i start now.. And i will have heavy sun exposure for 2,5 months while im travelling, but do you think that will be a problem if i get my last laser 2-3 weeks before i travel and dont get laser while travelling? :)
June 11, 2014
I think Eva brings up a good point. I imagine you will be on your feet for most the day in the military? Your leg is going to be sore and if you blister like many of us do then you will be very uncomfortable. If you really want a laser session before you go I would try and have it done at the very latest 5-6 weeks before you leave. Your skin will take time to heal. Apply lots of aloe vera to keep it moist and cool too.
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June 18, 2014
Thanks for the advice! I'm making up my mind this weekend, but i'm pretty sure i will start removal sometime around august, and then take breaks when im travelling and in the military! :-) I'm just not sure if the laser will make my tattoo like really ugly, then it might be stupid.. hmm lots of thinking to do
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June 11, 2014

I am so sorry, I only saw this reply now! If you are only going to be in the military for 4 months have a treatment before you start, as with the tattoo being on your leg the boots and socks might be restricting...if you have a treatment before you start you will heal and continue with fading. As for the Sun, just keep it covered and use sunblock when healed. 

It's not that painful, it's just the blisters that are annoying and you would have to watch when wearing restricting clothing or boots. 

Here is a resource you may find useful:

LASER TATTOO REMOVAL: 10 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE GETTING YOUR TATTOO REMOVED

Also check out the video section on tattoo removal:  http://www.realself.com/video/tattoo-removal-optio...: <rs-video-player video='{"id":"188","external_id":"3292838062001","uri":"video\/tattoo-removal-options"}'></rs-video-player>

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June 11, 2014
Thanks for the help Eva :) hmm keeping it covered will not be an option for me, as i will wear shorts all day. But if its been more than a month since my last treatment when i expose it to the sun, do you think it will be a problem? the skin should have healed by then i think? And i agree, i cant do treatment in the military as the boots are gnarly enough as it is ;)
June 11, 2014
My own doctor said that once the skin is healed after the treatment, you can go in the sun, just put a good sun blocking cream on it. But she insisted that it needed no special care more than regular skin because the laser isn't working with heat, but with waves that are more like sound and the beam doesn't target the skin. Also, my own experience so far with my first treatment is that after two weeks, it was ok to cream it to go outside. Just make sure to cream it often if you stay outside for long periods.
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June 12, 2014
Well said mpq :)

GreatDane I have nothing more to add other than good luck!!
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June 12, 2014
Same thing my doctor said, i hope they are right lol. As a dane im not used to heavy sun exposure, as i will probably get down there :p
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June 12, 2014
Thanks Eva!
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June 12, 2014
Hey! If I were you, I would definitely take this offer. As 4 month break is not bad at all. At the moment I am waiting around 8 weeks. More time is better for fading. As for the sun, I was surprised then my doctor told me that sun and sun tan is not a problem for the laser. However, the darker the skin, the less effect you might expect from the laser. It is better to keep it covered from the sun and use sun protection. That's how I am doing. Good luck to you! I am sure you will find the best solution for yourself :)
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June 12, 2014
Yeah, it's just that i cant spend too much money on this removal before i know how much i will spend travelling, so i might be forced to wait.. And also, i cant hide it from the sun while travelling, i can only apply sun screen :) So mabye waiting would be best, i dont know rly.. It depends if the sun exposure will damage my skin, my doctor says it wont.. hmmmm
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June 15, 2014
I think it shouldn't damage your skin, but you should use sun protection. Maybe you should wait and see. You know better what is good for you! :) safe travels and everything! Keep up updated!