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POSTED UNDER Tattoo Removal REVIEWS

19 Y/o and Regretting Fresh Ink. Mexico, MX

ORIGINAL POST

Hello everyone! I'm a 19 year old girl who got an...

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lullaby96
Hello everyone!
I'm a 19 year old girl who got an instantly regrettable ink on herself two weeks ago. It was not my first tattoo, so I didn't think I would regret it. But now I think of it as my worst mistake ever! Sucks big time. It's my third tattoo, but the first one without any meaning whatsoever, and I wasn't pleased with the result either. So I decided to be mature from now on, and work hard to get it removed. I know it's going to take 10+ sessions, using the Alex Tri Vantage laser because that's my nearest laser available :( And each session is approx. $130 USD. I'm starting on june and will share updates on every session.
Tattoo is mostly thick black lines and the colory-center of the peacock feather's eye.
Sometimes I feel depressed about the long time I expect to fully remove it (1 year and a half to 2 years) but I try to look at it as a lesson about decision-taking and try to focus on other things. I remember to myself that it is placed near to my heart and the healing process will be quicker than if it was placed somewhere else.
Greetings to everyone else who is or will be going through this journey! We can do it

Replies (13)

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April 28, 2015
As soon as I got my tattoo on my hand I instantly regretted it. I had a thick black inked tattoo from my wedding finger to the top of my hand and I hated it, I tried everything from chemical peel to sitting in the sun but nothing would fade this tattoo. 2 years ago after long thought I decided that the best thing for me was laser removal. 8 sessions down I'm still here trying to remove it. Yes its a long process yes its painful but every time I have a laser session I feel that little bit happier that it is going. if I could go back and not have it done I would, I don't like butterfly's and wish I never had it on my hand but I have so just need to get on with it. I cant even cover my tattoo because of were it is and just makes it that little bit worse. If you do decide to go for laser remember the longer in between you leave it the better so it will take time. hope this helps.
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April 28, 2015
Thank you so much! I am going to start with 8 weeks of rest between every session, and I expect to have 12 or 13 sessions for a significant fading. I do know it is going to be a looong and painful process, but that's what we get to pay for our mistakes right? I mean at least there's a solution for it, no matter the time needed we can get to feel confident again :) Thanks so much for the support and I hope your fading improves so you can give me hope as well haha!
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April 29, 2015
I can 100% see my fading it just takes so long I get impatient ha-ha. Yes this is what we get for making mistakes but like you said at least there is a way to remove it.
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April 28, 2015
To be honest it's sort of pretty, I'd prefer your mistake over mine. :-P However you don't like it and that's what matters. Looking at it with a critical-eye, I do think the artist should have made the 'peacock eye' part way more feather-like. (If that makes sense). Instead they made it as a solid teardrop-shape, and that makes it look unrealistic. - - Welcome to the journey though. I am only on my 2nd session and have my up's and down's. If you ever need to talk or vent, message me. I know I need it a lot too. My fam is getting tired of my complaining lol.
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April 28, 2015
Thanks for the support. Yeah, that part turned out to be much bigger than what I had in mind, or should I say, I didn't even have in mind... didn't put much thought to it, I just had the money and wanted to get tattooed -- yeah [RS bleep] would certainly happen afterwards lol. And the thing is, I found out I am not a tattoo person. I have two others that are placed where I don't always see them (side of the thigh and back of my neck) But this one just smacks on my face every time I get undressed and look in the mirror... I knew since the first day I will never get used to it nor to like it. Yes I'm afraid of the laser pain, yes I'm aware it's going to be a long long journey but I'd rather do that than to live with this forever. I've read your review as well and I truly hope you can remove or fade your tattoo to the point where you feel confident again! At least we can learn so much out of this right?
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April 30, 2015
Depending on how your laser-person handles it, you may not have much pain at all. I only get an ice pack, it hurts, but it goes sooo fast. By the time I've had enough, he's already done. -- And yeah, this is a learning experience for sure. I'm just so thankful I'm able to talk to other people going through the same thing, because honestly, no one in my everyday life really understands why I'm freaking out lol.
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April 30, 2015
I'm not going to lie, though there are a few weeks before I start my treatments, I'm scared of the pain. Because it is quite a big tattoo covering my rib area, I just pray that I can handle it. I'm also pretty impatient but this experience is going to teach me to be the other way around :( Sometimes I actually like my tattoo so I'm hoping that I don't freak out too much during the healing process. Then again, because I expect 2 years for a significant fading, I try hard to like it every time I look at the mirror... But what else have I learnt out of this? To look past people's looks! I think that is a trait I wouldn't have learnt easily through other ways. Now I'm more grateful for my overall health, glad to live another day, etc. Idk who would know some ink could lead to major changes in your life hahaha
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May 1, 2015
If you made it through getting your tattoo, I think you'll be surprised how well you can handle the laser. Especially since it's much, much faster. My tattoo is large too and I still think it goes pretty quick. You'll have to let us know how it goes. :-) -- I think I get what you mean when you say sometimes you like your tattoo... Sometimes I like my tattoo too. I like the placement, I love having a tattoo, I love my hummingbird... but then how come I still hide it, even from strangers? Because the black lacey crap NEEDS TO GO. lol. We just have to keep reminding ourselves of how much happier we will be when this is fixed. I cannot wait to have an awesome tattoo that I want to show everyone. :-D
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May 1, 2015
Aw thanks, I'm crossing my fingers I can cope with the pain lol. I'm glad you at least like your placement-- I hate mine. Tat came out much bigger and front view than I expected :/ I thought of a delicate feather sideways of my ribs, and this is what I got lol. But now that I really think about it, I'd rather not have anything tattooed at all in this part of my body, I found out I like and enjoy seeing tattoos on other people but not on myself, so live and learn that is. Still, I do see ourselves in a couple of years with this ink being a sole memory :)
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April 29, 2015

Welcome to the community! :) I used the Alex Tri Vantage laser-- it worked good on my tattoo. I had 9 sessions on a really dark cover up, it faded really well and then I got a cover up. I know it sucks to have a tattoo that you dislike, but be glad that it's in a spot where it's easy to hide. Keep us posted on your progress, good luck!

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April 30, 2015
I just saw your results on your review-- I must reckon it was a success! However you had a lot of shading and I'm afraid my thick lines were deeply placed :/ So we'll see how many sessions I'm going to need for significant fading/almost complete removal (I'm guessing 15 at the most) Thanks for the support!
April 30, 2016
I think it's really pretty! I would probably be a less painful and cheaper process to have more feathering and possibly add another feather like one of your posted photos to make your tattoo look more realistic. Just make sure to spend the extra money and see an artist who's very experienced and talented!
UPDATED FROM lullaby96

Note to future self

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lullaby96
Hi all, thought I could update this with the reasons why I'm getting my new tattoo removed.
I'll write it mostly for me, because I need to be my own counselor and cheerleader, whenever I start to feel down (like today) because of the tattoo.

Tattoos aren't meant for everyone, sadly I learned it the bad way.

I have lived with body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) almost my entire life, always pointing at the mirror the things and physical traits I didn't like about myself, and always dreamed of changing them. Yeah I considered a couple of plastic surgeries to be done in some future. I've never been 100% confident of my body, and being self conscious most of the time.
I've also dealt with chronic depression for a long time in my life, and I happened to get this tattoo at a moment when I was feeling down. Ever since I got my first tattoo (on thigh) I enjoyed the sensation of it and planned ahead to get even more. I started to admire Suicide Girls and the overall look of the alt. people, have also been attracted to tattooed guys as well. I wanted to eventually be covered in tattoos too. Boy was I wrong.
I used to think if I covered my body with ink, I would stop seeing those flaws I hated about myself. I didn't like my ribs. My solution? -get tatted. But I ended hating it even more. Now I can't stand the idea of covering the rest of my body and have to look at the same pictures on my skin for the rest of my life.
Don't get me wrong- I still love tattoos. I still enjoy looking at tatted guys and girls, and will always think they are hot. But not me. I found out this is not the way I want to look for the rest of my life, and is not helping either with my BDD.
Yes, I felt even worse when I realized the removal process was going to take at least 2 years of my life. But I don't even care at this point, when I take an insight of my ink-free body again, and having confidence once again. This whole experience has made me more grateful for not having a lethal disease, or not missing an arm, etc. Somehow made me grateful for being complete, healthy and alive.
In my early teens I dealt with severe acne and a bad short haircut, so I know how it is like to wait for years till you get to a certain look you are confident with. So I know I can do this. It's not gonna be as easy, but like everything else, you get to be stronger and wiser after every life lesson.

Replies (5)

May 3, 2015
Im hoping to rid myself of a tattoo on my forearm. Keep me updated please!
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May 4, 2015
If it's not too much trouble you should write a review. Everyone here is very friendly and pretty much in the same boat. I think it would be helpful for you. :-)
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May 4, 2015
You poor thing. :-( I struggle with pretty intense worrying/anxiety and if I let it, it turns into depression real quick. It's hard to have invisible problems. It's not like breaking your arm, where everyone can see it and try to help you. I'm happy for you that you can see this really sucky thing that happened to you, and you are trying to turn it into something good. You grow the most from the hardest things in life, at least that's what I keep telling myself. Even though it may take a year or more, in the grand scheme of things this is just a speed bump and you and I both will be much stronger for it. Keep moving forward and please keep posting if it makes you feel better. :-)
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May 7, 2015
Yes, you are right, I'm really looking forward to remove this and be able to help others who would be in our situation, we are only human! And we can get over this! Thanks for reading my updates as well- it does help to let out my emotions writing here haha.
February 5, 2016
Exactly what I've been feeling, I have the tendcy to pick out the flaws of everything and I made a permanent choice of getting a tattoo on my hip and it shattered my confidence for a few days and now I want to get rid of it, but I've learned to embrace it and thank god I can still wear short sleeve shirts and shorts but the tattoo you have is beautiful, I would just stick with having one tattoo, I mean bc you only live once right? I mean we all make mistakes and learn from them the hard way but that's life. We can't all be perfect.
UPDATED FROM lullaby96

Rethinking... should I get lasered after all?

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lullaby96
So I had one of those nights...
I couldn't sleep.
Well, it was more likely because I had a nap during noon, and then I ate a couple of chocolate ice cream servings when I woke up, so... Hahaha.

I had this stressful nightmare (napmare should I say?) where I already started my laser treatments, and took it really bad... I also was dealing with removal on a tat on my face- wth?? That felt incredibly real I could feel the laser heat on my cheeks! When I woke up I felt relieved it had been only a dream- the face tattoo part, because my rib ink still was there, happy to find a home on my skin.
I continued to do my research on tattoo removal, what has turned to be a daily routine since I got it. I keep counting the days and possible dates of my treatments, and around june 20s of 2017 I'd be on treatment 15, or so.
I felt anxious by this thinking. Because of lots of things. I don't know if I can commit to such a long experience of not doing many things, of stress, of pain during treatment and healing days... I don't know if I will be pleased with the final result after being waiting for such a long time...
Then I remember, why did I get this in first place? I can't deny it was impulsive... But it is also true I didn't like my body before.
So, why not accept my mistake... maybe I can get used to it and accept a new perspective of my body, I mean if I didn't like the way it looked like when it was ink-free, how am I going to like it if it ends with a ghost image... after years of pain and patience...
I looked up some images of girls with stomach tattoos, they were inspiring and definitely made me feel better. Who knows, maybe I get to like tattoos on me after all. Maybe I was meant to have them. Maybe I can find a way to work mine out. Maybe I can feel confident again and learn to live with it and love it. Maybe...
My idea is to add another feather in scaling size below this one, like so.. I need to think seriously over this. I really don't know if I can handle the laser...

Replies (2)

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May 7, 2015
Hi Lullaby! I really like the 3rd picture! i honestly think that correcting this tattoo a little (on the side, the black part) and adding additional feathers will look really good on you! I think it will look really well on you!
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May 11, 2015
Thank you, but I'm afraid I'll never get to like this tattoo as it means nothing to me nor looks good in my opinion, so adding to it would probably just make things worse :(