POSTED UNDER Tattoo Removal Reviews
Regretting my Watercolor Sleeve - Konstanz, Germany
UPDATED FROM surfingflamingo
Session 5
$3,365
Hi guys,
it's been a while since my last update. I just had my 6th session 2 days ago and it is still blistered so I will show you the latest pictures from a few days ago before my 6th session.
As mentioned before, I moved and therefore switched lasers after my 3rd session. My last 3 sessions were treated with the Cutera Enlighten laser.
However, it obviously doesn't improve as quick as everyone wants it to. But I guess that is just the way to go.. It currently looks super messy but this is also supposed to be normal. The progress seems super slow if you look at the pictures from session 3 to session 5. It's been a year now and I'm pretty sure it will take at least another year - probably even longer. So summer is approaching and it will be my second long-sleeve summer. But I try not to beat myself up and make the best out of it.
So here are the photos from a few days ago. I noticed some parts look actually worse than before but I assume it's because of the bad lighting.
it's been a while since my last update. I just had my 6th session 2 days ago and it is still blistered so I will show you the latest pictures from a few days ago before my 6th session.
As mentioned before, I moved and therefore switched lasers after my 3rd session. My last 3 sessions were treated with the Cutera Enlighten laser.
However, it obviously doesn't improve as quick as everyone wants it to. But I guess that is just the way to go.. It currently looks super messy but this is also supposed to be normal. The progress seems super slow if you look at the pictures from session 3 to session 5. It's been a year now and I'm pretty sure it will take at least another year - probably even longer. So summer is approaching and it will be my second long-sleeve summer. But I try not to beat myself up and make the best out of it.
So here are the photos from a few days ago. I noticed some parts look actually worse than before but I assume it's because of the bad lighting.
UPDATED FROM surfingflamingo
Session 3
I had my 3rd treatment 10 days ago. As always, I was super excited for the treatment as this means progress on my tattoo status. This time we used an ice pack with the cooling hose since the laser was supposed to be a little stronger than last time. The cooling almost hurt more than the treatment itself but this session was I think the most painful one. However, I rarely felt any pain afterwards plus I didn´t get any blisters at all. I was kinda confused, as I assumed right away that the treatment didn´t really help. I didn´t really see a lot of progress and got depressed right away as I was hoping to get quite a lot removed during winter. Now, that it peeled off, I think there is some more progress but nothing crazy. I expected a little more since the 2nd session was so effective.
As I am moving to Berlin next week, I will have to go to a different laser guy anyway. Does anyone has experience with the Cutera Enlighten laser? I read it´s newer and more effective than the picosure. I was thinking about giving it a shot since my black doesn´t really fade and only breaks up suuper slowly.
Looking at the pictures, it looks more faded than it actually is (or at least feels like).
As I am moving to Berlin next week, I will have to go to a different laser guy anyway. Does anyone has experience with the Cutera Enlighten laser? I read it´s newer and more effective than the picosure. I was thinking about giving it a shot since my black doesn´t really fade and only breaks up suuper slowly.
Looking at the pictures, it looks more faded than it actually is (or at least feels like).
Replies (4)
I've done 15 sessions for my deep, black ink and I can tell you some sessions it reacted more than others. Sometimes I'd have just a little swelling and redness and some days I'd have blisters.
In my case, I think it's because my laser guy likes to switch the laser settings from high to low and back and forth everytime I go in. He explained to me that nobody can be sure which setting would be the most effective on my ink and with my skin and body and so to make sure we had the best results possible he was going to try a different setting each time - which makes complete sense to me but I am not sure how many laser removal places do this?
It's also possible that the skin is just more senisitve some days rather than other days?
In my case, I think it's because my laser guy likes to switch the laser settings from high to low and back and forth everytime I go in. He explained to me that nobody can be sure which setting would be the most effective on my ink and with my skin and body and so to make sure we had the best results possible he was going to try a different setting each time - which makes complete sense to me but I am not sure how many laser removal places do this?
It's also possible that the skin is just more senisitve some days rather than other days?
Hey, thanks for your comment. 15 sessions... uff that´s quite tough. My laser guy said it will take 6-7 sessions but I also think that it will be more for sure as now I had half of it.
So far, my laser guy told me that he will raise the power with every session in order to aim for the color that hasn´t been ´destroyed´yet.
I was also thinking that maybe the swelling wasn´t so bad as we used the ice pack for the first time.
Luckily you are almost through - can´t wait to be in that stage :) Good luck for your further treatments!
So far, my laser guy told me that he will raise the power with every session in order to aim for the color that hasn´t been ´destroyed´yet.
I was also thinking that maybe the swelling wasn´t so bad as we used the ice pack for the first time.
Luckily you are almost through - can´t wait to be in that stage :) Good luck for your further treatments!
There's a lot of progress for only a few laser treatments on so many colors.
I personally haven't heard of the Cutera Enlighten laser, but I wanted to say that your tattoo has come a long ways from your 1st picture to now. I understand the regret for sure, I'm there myself with my shoulder to shoulder one. I would love to have that one removed but because of the size and colors, my Dr. feels I would spend a lot of money and very possibly end up with a 'ghost shadow' of it. Good luck to you!
Hey, thanks for your comment. Yeah, I guess I can be happy with my progress so far. Just made my next appointment for the Cutera in December. Fingers crossed that I will make some more progress.
Which laser did you use for your other tats? Have you considered a 2nd opinion? Would a part removal and a lighter cover up maybe be an option for your back piece?
Good luck for you, too!!
Which laser did you use for your other tats? Have you considered a 2nd opinion? Would a part removal and a lighter cover up maybe be an option for your back piece?
Good luck for you, too!!
She uses the Astanza Trinity laser, and no, I haven't checked into a 2nd opinion yet. I live in a very rural area, and was unable to find a Dr in my area who is as advanced as Dr. Chavez, which is one reason why I travel 3 hours to Albuquerque, every 2 months, to get the laser treatment. The other reason is Dr. Chavez is open on Saturday's, which works great for me because I don't need to take time off from work! I have considered a cover up, but the tattoo artists I have talked too, tell me that in order to cover up I would be looking at a much bigger tattoo. I really, really don't want that. :)
Updates?
UPDATED FROM surfingflamingo
10 days after 2nd session
My arm ist almost fully healed again. Just a little itchy and some last peeling. The second session was way more effective than the first and I can see some nice progress. I attached some before and after pictures. It's crazy how fast the skin is able to heal itself after such an intense treatment. I'm so happy that my skin does such a great job! I didn't really have big blisters. Just 3-4 small to medium ones. Still wondering how it might look once the tattoo is removed. I pray that there will be no hyperpigmentation or obvious scars. I already have some spots where the blue color or some outlines are gone and you can't see it was there. Crossing fingers that the rest will heal like that too. Once my arm is healed I really can't wait for the next session. I'm so impatient. Just want it to be over!!
Replies (3)
Wow your post is giving me so much hope. Please share your after care right after the session and after it's dry. I will start mine on September because i have holidays coming. Please post more updates soon!!! Your posts are very helpful as we have similar tattoo
Hoping the best for you. I have a similar issue and a similar style tattoo so I'm interested in the results of this.
any update?
Hey, I just went for my third session a week ago. Will Post an update once it’s healed
Replies (4)
I will post new pictures from my 6th session soon once my skin healed from the treatment.