Black Ink Sleeve Text Tattoo Removal Picoway

Figured I'd document my process here with tattoo removal and give everyone something useful to find if they find themselves in this place in life. Hopefully this is the correct place for that.

I'm going through with 100% removal, so this will be a long journey. I've went with Invisible Ink, and paid in full. I had enough ink to justify a 'half sheet' in their measuring guidelines, which cost around 4k for 9 sessions (18 visits for splitting up the arm). They have the Picoway laser and I'm told it's truly the only one out right now that really (really) works. I have all black pieces on my arm, most all done in the last 5 months. No cover-ups. I don't hate them but I decided I want a full cohesive sleeve done by a better artist. I got these done after my friend committed suicide in December and was beside myself for months, during which this process of tattooing memories of him was cathartic. I woke up a few weeks ago and realized all of this and decided it was time to go through removal. I understand all aspects of this pretty well and know what to expect for the most part.

I had my first treatment today and it hurt more than the tattoo. Not totally intolerable, but I'd say two times more pain than the tattoo itself. Especially on the inner arm. I left some text untreated by the numbing cream to guage how much of a difference it makes with pain, and can say the difference is negligible for me. Basically feels like a really hot grease splatter hitting your arm. And your body reacts right away. Lots of redness and swelling. Since my pieces wrap around my arm, they are doing the top and bottom half in sessions four weeks apart until probably session 4 in order to reduce the risk of circulation being cut off from swelling.
I'll post the 24 hour picture tomorrow, then follow up with one post between each session so you can see progress. If anyone follows this feel free to ask questions.

I'm already seeing some pretty significant light shading/shallow lines breaking up right after one treatment, which is promising. Basically everywhere the laser hit I can tell a difference, even though it's small.

Still continuing to see some shallow shaded areas of ink fade, and also the edges of text look blurred. Slight itching over the last couple weeks, nothing bad. Went back to the gym after 3 days off. It seems with blood flow or just a little sweat the area will continue to get slightly irritated in the surface, but subsides after an hour or so after the workout. Got a few very small pimple like blisters that do not hurt or itch. Just can see them. Other than that I've been covering up in 95 degree heat so that's going to suck this summer, but it's the bed I've made.. next treatment is two weeks in the underside of the arm.