Lasering for a Coverup. I Just Want my Piece of Mind Back. - Kentucky, KY

Hi...can you just go and get it lasered off...just start the removal please. A cover up will just messed up it even more. Is easy, is all black. Unless you find a place where they give you anaesthesia it will hurt a lot but go and get rid of it. Speak to your parents, you are too young and you need help. I did same stupid mistake when I was 17. But was worse than yours, bigger, double that size and I suffered from anorexia wich now is gone thanks God for that. Please go and speak with a therapist, your parents and find a good place to start the removal.

aloha kidpyr0, As a recovering anorexia nervosa survivor (it's quite common in young women, we're always trying to be perfect and in control) I understand your pain, I've been there.  I did not get a tattoo but made another life-alternating decision, but I survived.  Yes, counseling helped tremendously.  It does take work and I see that overcoming BDD is a challenge for you but I'm sure you can do it.  You have been able to reach out to us in the forum and that's a huge first step.  Good for you!!  Now for your tattoo, have you had a consultation and have to a first session.  The first thing in your favour is that the ink is black and there's shading, all of this is results in good removal and it's on your back which is good for removal, anything in the centre of your body, close to your heart, close to the circulatory system is good for removal.  I think you have a good shot at removal, yes it might take several sessions and it might take years (and I know that might be hard to hear right now) but these things take time but it's worth it in the end...and you're worth it.  Do you have to make a decision right now to have a cover up...no, I don't think you do...right now you might want to focus on the next step, having a first session or a partial session done.  We're all here for you, we're all in the same boat dealing with laser sessions, sad feelings afterwards and the hope that the offending ink will be removed.  Good Luck!  aloha...k

Hello, I feel your pain, I am 40 and made a huge mistake, I did a cover up thinking it would hide my small bad art, instead it make it worse, so please please think long and hard before you ever get another tattoo of this size. I did recently get a small ankle henna tattoo (henna inspirited) and I LOVE IT, but it's my style, what's on my back isn't. You are in luck that yours is all black and grey scale, I have seen very good results, look up the guy in California who has almost completely removed a koi fish from his upper arm, his tattoo was big, and black, also it was new....sorry I can't recall his name, something like "lots of patience" You have to take care of yourself, and I understand how hard this is, you wanted something beautiful, and instead you got something you don't like, and to top it off, it's big, I am in the exact same boat, except mine has lots of color and will take years to remove...I am not sure what I will do once my 15 sessions are complete, I will assess it then, and decide if I will cover or continue to remove. I love tattoos when they are done correctly, when the artist is skilled and the tattoo fits your body and your personality. The new one on my ankle is just beautiful, I would never remove it, the one on my back, I am so disconnected from it I can hardly believe I did that. Please don't be so hard on yourself, you are certainly not alone, you are young, and this issue will resolve itself. You should check for programs in your area that might help pay for the removal. Also, you parents should check their work benefits, for me, I was able to claim my removal on my health spending account, so each year I get $700 back...you never know. Best of luck.

It's good that it is in black and grey! You will see better results because of that choice. Good luck!