Large tattoo

Hi Narci, I think you completely understand where I'm coming from. I have gone to 3 places for consultations and two out of those three thought I was nuts for wanting to remove it and said it was beautiful/interesting..I can't help how I feel about it. I wonder if I would grow to like it if I finish it and get more color in it. Laser removal is scary to me. I guess I'm worried I might regret removing it once I get started and then I'd be stuck and have to finish the removal process. Ugh...one place I went said they won't allow any numbing cream (anesthetic) prior to treatment because it effects the results from the laser, as in it doesn't give the best results. I know you have been removing your tattoo for a long time. Would you still say its worth it after all the time you have invested. Has your anxiety, etc. improved since you started removing your tattoos? i would love to see photos of your progress.

Well in my opinion if you are hesitating, you might aswell take the process of removal. You seem confuse...me to, I tried to make me like it etc but then everyday I will wake up and first thing in the morning was "damn...is not a nightmare, this is real and Im tattooed"...it ruined everything from what I should wear to make me really anxious in being naked in front of new people. It made me really suicidal, I swear. Is a horrible feeling...everyday I think of it. Many times during the day and I know is not going to go the anxiety until is gone. Yes Im prepare to be left with some whitening. But is what it is sadly, at least for now until the invent a lighter laser that won´t damage your skin. Is so sad how one screw their own life but doing this stupid mistakes...I always wonder I could have done so many much more things with out this crap. Anyway. If you send me privately a message I will send you pics, I dont like to post them public because it does give me anxiety and don´t want my photos everywhere. A lot of stupid people around and commenting things such as "you deserve it for getting a tattoo on the first palce". I even turned down an offer to get a few free treatments so they publish my photos in their site in UK, no way. Now back to you, if you are not sure then remove it and start the treatment asap. But do get aplace where they give you anaesthesia. For the sake of you. It does hurt when they put it the level they should, now if they put it low it will "tickle" you and you will think "oh is not that bad" and fool yourself, trust me, I know about this stuff. Just google places where they will give you anaesthesia. If you have to pay more then is ok. That´s the problem with US, UK and this countries, you are a number and they put health and safety as a reason for not giving you anaesthesia. Is not true is not working the laser if they give it to you. Here in Buenos Aires they told me "well, they have to say something dont they". Here is the first time Im treated like a patient. I felt so taken care of and respected, because I suffered a lot with out the anaesthesia. I swear it pisses me off because it doesnt cost them nothing to offer the service that wont hurt. I even told them in UK, why dont you offer it, more people will come. Yes you will treat them with less treatments but they will recommend more and they told me "well people dont stop coming because we dont give it". And I replied "yes, but they dont have this large tattoo on a bony area". I stop being polite with them. I had to stop my life in UK and come here just to get more treatments, this is how far my willing to get rid of it goes. Yes your anxiety will improve. Just send me an email and I will send you photos. I really wish you make the right choice and get a place where they wont hurt you.

Hi Narci, great comment I have a question, can you clarify this statement: "Wish you were in Argentina they do it in 1 year for sure" I think that is wonderful, can you explain how they achieve such results :) Thanks!  

Hello, mainly because of the use of anaesthesia. This will help you tolerate the pain much more in certain areas like back, or where there is not much flesh. And even if is on your arm etc. Anybody who has been under treatment for over 2 years is just taking the [RS bleep] by the place wherever they are doing it, like my case. 4 years and counting. Yes is my problem I cant tolerate such high level of laser on my back but then they should use anaesthesia, is not a big deal and it does not influence in braking th pigments like they told me, full of lies they are sometimes. I think i spent so far in UK 5 to 6thousand british pounds with my back and arm. What I meant that the laser does influence is because the one on my arm is nearly faded and i started both treatments october 2008 and the back has at least 30%not to go, but as I said I had been treating me in Argentina from january to march and now I returned 2 weeks ago and started again. I hope you guys are in great hands.

Thanks so much for clarification :) I think that I could have been farther in my progress had I gone to a tattoo shop who does laser removal, my reasoning behind this thought is I am member on a tattoo site "Last Sparrow" and there are lots of members who have posted laser removal for cover ups, and still in progress, they mention that lots of clinics start your laser so low you get no results till half way in, now the reasoning my clinic (and it makes sense) that they start so low is to see how your skin reacts, they turn the laser up .5 to 1 level each time ( I am currently on session #7 at level 8, started at level 1 and the laser goes to level 10) I am seeing results, but I question had they started at a higher level would my progress/results be much better by now. In saying that, no rush, I want good results with no scars, which has been pretty much the case, I just also really really want this thing off my back. I like the clinic who does my treatment so far. Best of luck to you too!

I understand yes, nobody wants scarring...this is the other nightmare really. I´m in the last stage on my arm one and they are going to also do chemical peeling in between sessions...apparently it helps to smooth the skin. Anybody/have you heard of this? I´m up for trying anything that of course won´t leave hyper/hypopigmentation. Is frustating. So frustrating. I´m being very careful and I do tell them what are the chances now of scarring and my skin going whiter on the arm specially as I can see a few tiny bits that are whiter already but there is nothing really can be done. I have seen pics of people in the internet with the whole silouette whitened and jeez...I dont want that at all. Anyway, We will see but definitely the anaesthesia is making huge improvements on my back. It even brought tears to my eyes last week when I saw the last result...I had been wanting to get rid of this mistake since I done it when I was 17 and stupid. And 11 years after I could only start it when I discovered there was a way. So well. Still working hopefully not for too long now. By the way anybody experienced the less ink it hurts less? I dont think this is true at all. Sometimes this nurses they speak so much ignorant stuff.

Hey I 2nd that...I went to 3 diff clinics during my laser removal process and they all say the same thing. I even had a diff clinic do a "test" spot...their freaking laser starting zapping my wrist and immediate pinpoint bleeding on skin that had NO INK!!! It just literally put pinpoint laser light into my skin...so needless to say I got out of there and went back to my original clinic with the Medlite. I didn't pay either, bc it was only a test spot. I am like Tena...maybe this next session will do the trick? Doubtful, but yeah. I even give myself 3months bw treatments...just to give my body enough time to heal. I wish more people would see the reality; lasering is only an ultimate LAST RESORT. Excision would be better in my opinion.

I went for a consultation at one place and the technician/owner spent an hour showing me how the laser works, Quanta C + T laser. He asked if I wanted to see what it felt like. Of course I wanted to see before started on a huge commitment. He shot the laser on my palm (where there is no ink) and I felt it slightly. I asked why I felt it if there was no ink there and he said its because he was using a different wavelength. I now have a red spot there still since Tuesday where he shot me. I'm guessing this is what to expect with actually removing the tattoo. Rhetoric, is excision used on smaller tattoos? That's where they cut it out correct?

I know what you mean. It seems everyone is proud of their laser. I would rather people be honest too. They need to realize its a big decision.. A lot of time, money, and, pain go into it. So far from what I'm hearing a majority of people don't regret laser removal, but they still haven't removed their tattoo 100% and are hopeful they do. It looks like you are having good results from your photos. It looks like the red in the flowers is almost gone if not gone already. :)

Hey NI\ix, yes excision is used actually anywhere there is enough skin to cut out the tattoo and sew it back...b/c my tatts are really small at 1"sq, it would be ideal for me...but in your case, i highly doubt that excision would be an option b/c yrs is more like a backpiece. All I am saying is that it is a very painful, LONG, COSTLY process....and I have yet to even see 100% results from an actual client (client, not medspa or laser center)...everyone I have seen who has gone through this process, including me and my 1" black outlines tatts after 7 sessions, still have faded outlines of the ink...the black outlines turn more brownish and colors tend to darken up as if black was added to them...and that is b/c the laser chemically reacts (burns) the ink pigment, and yes, many metals are released in during this process...if you are in tune w/ you body, you will feel somewhat sick b/c your immmune system is being overworked. I posted a blog asking if anyone has ever seen 100% results, and so far (what a surprise) no one has! I am just trying to give you a realistic perspective b/c no one gave me one...if I would have known after 7 sessions and over$2k down the drain, I would have either got cover ups or excision..or just left them! Good luck on your decision either way, email me if you have any questions.