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POSTED UNDER Tattoo Removal REVIEWS

Enlighten Laser tattoo removal on colorful forearm tattoos

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Where to begin without sounding completely idiotic...

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SabriLowe
WORTH IT$3,600
Where to begin without sounding completely idiotic... I'm only 22 years old, I have a son Im married now, & when I was fifteen I got a bow done and some buddies apartment and then later when I was 18 got it redone professionally because it looked like trash. now at 22 years old and i had the bright idea to cover the bow with a portrait of my son looking into the Galaxy. I go to a local tattoo shop and get what's the start of my cover up done. I've only had it for 4 days and I hate it. I don't think it looks like my son. the bows not even covered yet, its just sitting right under the portrait. I was supposed to go back this Thursday to get the Galaxy finished which would be covering the bow but I'm so scared that I'm just going to be making a bigger darker mistake. now I have two completely separate tattoos right on top of each other on one arm and I feel like absolute trash. I am young so I do have the time to get it removed I just don't want to be 30 and still having to go through this. I want to have a clean slate by at least age 27. I don't want to be tattooed at all anymore. I don't want to be this person. I was hoping to join this site to find people that I can relate with.. am I the only one that's gotten a fresh tattoo & automatically hates it ? maybe I'm thinking too hard into it but if I can't be happy looking at my own arm how can I ever be happy? I have a laser removal consultation set up for tomorrow instead of going and getting my tattoo Thursday. I cancelled the tat and is now going to be looking into removing both of my big mistakes. I am very terrified ! I come here seeking guidance and support people... my husband is on board all the way even though we just wasted $300 on a picture of a kid I don't even know who it is. Is there anything that I can do to prep myself for tattoo laser removal? Any vitamins I can take anything to help my blood circulation to pump the ink out anyway to fade this brand-new tattoo I got anything to help me get this off of my arm would be helpful. Please don't judge me, I realize that I am young and dumb and trust me I'm living with it. I feel like that's enough shame I need to bear.. everything I'm reading about the laser removal tells me that this is probably going to be the longest journey ahead of me not only am I very pale skin but it is my whole forearm thats covered now from my wrist to my elbow but facing inward, so it's far from my heart, which takes longer healing.... I'm just really nervous cause I can't believe I just made the second biggest mistake of my life thinking it was going to make the first one better.

Replies (14)

July 13, 2016
I know how you feel. I had a tattoo that I wanted covered up. He said what I wanted wouldn't work because of the placement of the original tattoo. So impulsive me agreed to something I really didn't want on my arm. It's too big. It doesn't cover the first tattoo and I hate it. I'm in my late 30's. I've had it a week. I also looked into removal. I'm so worried it's going to cost A LOT. You are not alone.
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July 15, 2016
Thank you for sharing ur story, I feel like getting a bad tattoo is kinda of like having really really long hair and loving it and then shaving it all off because you wanted to for some weird reason . it's like you made a decision to do something drastic and after you do it that's the only time it will settle in what you've actually done. Its a big change all at once, the only difference being our hair will grow back, but tattoos do naturally fade as well. I feel like if I never got this tattoo I would only have always wanted to get it no matter how much people would have tried to talk me out of it so either way I think in this world and this life I live I would have gotten this tattoo one way or another and then regretted it afterwards haha. Like I said I'm going to learn to live with it. it is a picture of my kiddo and it does make me smile whenever I'm in the mood to like it. Maybe I'll feel different after its completely done :)
July 13, 2016
Im 45 and have several tattoos I regret. They kept me from getting jobs when I,was younger. They have gotten me in fights ( Confederate flag tat) . I have women leave me because after I took my shirt off they thought my tattoos made me look trashy. Join the club girl. I want to start getting mine removed but am willing to wait for the new tattoo eraser procedure or the tattoo removal cream the canadian college kid came up with and sold the patent to a pharm company. Life is too short to worry about it. Do not get it covered anymore. Laser or wait for new procedures. Laser will W I L L get cheaper in a few years and the phalange cream or tat eraser will be out. Im optimistic the way technology is in 10 years bad tattoos will be laughed about and not stressed about. You are a pretty girl and have a child and husband. There is so much more important things in your life to think about instead of tat regrett. I went from hourly to daily to weekly to monthly to yearly regret in the last 25 years. I will probably be 55 by time I get mine gone but am so much happier once I said F it ! My grandkids who are babies now will rember Granmps bad tats and the stories and learn from my mistakes hopefully. Good luck. 99 times out of a hundred most people dont care about out bad tats. Most people are anonymous. It bothered me family and friends said mean things but as far as strangers who look and ask etc. I simply tell them I not want to talk about my mistakes I made. Lets talk about your mistakes. They shut up and never ever bring it up again. I do wish you well and I KNOW what you are going thru. You are in the right place for support. Bad tats hurt the people who have them not the people who judge the person with tattoos. I know most people in 2016 do not think Im trashy as the people did 25 years ago. Now they think thats a mistake he regrets and judge people by kindness and actions. I do not mean to ramble just really feel bad for you and want you to know it gets better. If I can cover mine up for 25+ years you can get thru this. Mine are waaaaay worse than yours. Take it easy.
July 13, 2016
Millions of people have tattoo regret. Just looked it up online. Millions -over half people with tattoos have regret. None of that matters when it you though. If you still feeling bad and antsy you may want to talk to a doctor. They may put you on anxiety pills for a week or two to calm down. Mommies stress affects the whole family and that cute kid and husband you have love you no matter what. I dated a girl with her exs name on her thigh and her breast. It did not bother me. A tattoo of your kid that turned out not like you wanted is not soooo bad now is it?
July 14, 2016

It s a little bit too orange and i think the tattoo needs to be reworked in the eyebrows to resemble more your kid the hair is maybe a bit too dark, it s not that bad overall, don't be sad
As a artist those are the mistakes i can notice but i think it might get better after your tattoo gets fully healed

July 15, 2016
Hello, absolutely no judgement. I think buyers remorse is a pretty common reaction with tattooing. It's hard to have strong emotions, I know. Please do this thought exercise: sit with yourself, breathe, and realize that the real you is not your thoughts and emotions, but *the awareness behind them.* Watch your thoughts and emotions go by and just detach yourself and be the real you, who has had many, many thoughts and emotions and will have many, many more. Try to understand them like you'd try to understand someone you've just met. And read the Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle. That's where that philosophy comes from and it could really help calm you down. You got a tattoo of a kid's face, not a bunch of swastikas on your face. You are ok! The real kid won't even look like himself in a few years, he'll totally change. If this tattoo is the biggest mistake you ever make in your life, you're gonna be alright.
July 15, 2016
Don't feel dumb. I had my first laser treatment yesterday on a tattoo I regretted getting the very next day. It wasn't that painful to be honest, and the paler your skin, the better. It will be a long journey but that first treatment had me excited yesterday, because I want my arm back and I want to not get sick to my stomach every time I look at it. You are making a very good first step.
UPDATED FROM SabriLowe
Day of treatment

Vlog.. I have to spread my story

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SabriLowe
Here's a vide of my wrecked-ness. This is the fifth morning its been like this... I'm dead on the inside guys.... I need life brought back to me

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July 12, 2016
Hi. You are not alone, not. I recently got cover up on my chest and I cannot look at myself anymore. Tattoo is super large and it covers nothing. So, basically I have one tattoo on top of another and it is a mess. And, in a country where I live there is no possibility to safely remove tattoo. So, yes... Don't worry, you will be ok. We all will. If you want you can massage me anytime. Be strong.
July 13, 2016
Sorry to say, but you might feel like this for a bit. Guess it's part of the process the brain goes through when adjusting to the tattoo being there. I don't usually comment on posts, but your video made me think of myself right after I received my tattoo almost a year ago. I remember completely losing myself, not feeling at all like the person I was before, and also having thoughts on if it could be cut out (glad I didn't follow through with that one). So know that you are not alone by a long shot. That being said, the feelings you have now will dissipate after your initial shock wears off. You are high on emotions and you will come back to earth. You just need to stay strong in the process and not let this incident control your life, and I know that's easier said that done. Your skin will need to settle before you attempt to remove anything, at least a couple of months. So I suggest that you use this time to try and forgive yourself and make good and healthy decisions. If you decide on removal, know that it isn't guaranteed and will be an ultimate test of patience. Know that, ink or not, it is your skin you're talking about here. Be smart. I'm 9 months and 4 sessions into my removal on a forearm tattoo. It's been 4 months since my last treatment and I have decided not to rush things. You have to sort of accept that you are in it for the long haul. Whatever you decide to do, know that you will power through and be much more stronger for having gone through it. Almost a year later and I still definitely have my days, but I promise that things do get better with time. If you need anything, feel free to message me. Good luck
July 13, 2016
Not alone! I did basically the same thing and I also live in OKC. About 2 years ago I covered an old tattoo that I had and as soon as I got home I was tripping out with regret, self loathing, etc...!! But I calmed down after a few days and don't worry you will also, life goes on.

I was going to go to a removal place called ATR tomorrow for consultation, but I may not even show, I'm just not sure if I want to go down the laser removal road yet, maybe later on... But!! I have found a temporary solution!! For the 4th of July I went on vaca and I didn't want to feel selfconcsious at the beach swimming, so I figured I would try a concealer. I didn't think any of that crap would work, but I researched and ended up buying a tube of dermablend ($25 Amazon). I got the color toast, it was way to dark for my skin, but I did play around with it and determined that this [RS bleep] works pretty good and it stays on. I sent back the toast and got the medium/beige color and it was almost perfect match. You have to play around with applying it a little, but you will get good at it. I'm a dude and I was able to figure it out. I have a large upper arm/half sleeve tattoo and it doesn't take long to cover. I just ordered the powder that you are supposed to put on after applying the cream, so it should work even better now for me. NOBODY knew I had a tattoo the entire weekend at the lake!

I know it's a temporary solution, but I just wanted you to know how easy it is to cover up and that at least you have that option, plus it's instant.

Wait a few weeks for your skin to heal before thinking about laser removal, but when you start the laser treatments, you can apply the concealer to hide it until you complete the process. Just make sure the technician says it's okay, but I'm pretty sure after a week out from a laser treatment it would be safe to apply the dermablend. Take care! :)
July 13, 2016

You're not alone. The most important is that you didn't get galaxy finished.

You must know that laser removal isn't a perfect treatment - you must be well informed by a doctor how good results you can expect.



I have my "tattoo of shame" since last week. I wanted to cry, but I can't let this relatively small part of the skin to ruin my life!! I hate looking at it.

I trusted this tattoo artist, because he did my other tattoo (roses, which are beautiful)- unfortunately this time he did a tattoo-nightmare to me (differs significantly from the design that i chose)!

In addition, it is multicolour, so removing it is almost impossible, after many laser treatments it could look even worse than before (scars, pigmentation, remnants of pigment in the skin).



So I will be waiting for new solutions: Cipher Pharmaceuticals tattoo removal cream (developed at Dalhousie University by Alec Falkenham) or US STEM Cell's Eraser (tm) system or a full clearance laser (check out: https://www.realself.com/forum/new-tattoo-removal-cream-development-stages-work)



I won't try to cover it with another tattoo - I want to get rid of it completly!

As a temporary solution, like @maximus2015, I thought about Dermablend foundation or maybe the Kinesiology tapes - maybe you would like to try it too.

August 23, 2016
Sabrina, you have a beautiful face and disposition. The laser can rid you of the tattoo. Hang in there. You're a sweet, decent, good person. We all make mistakes and have regrets. You are not alone. Take care.
UPDATED FROM SabriLowe
3 days post

Its getting better

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SabriLowe
Hey guys so after sitting here and reading all of your comments and after sitting with myself and my husband for the last week since having my tattoo I've decided that it's getting better. I did have a laser consultation that I went to. I was probably more upset leaving that place than I was before because she told me they didn't even have the technology to remove such a large tattoo. So with that being said and Kat von d concealer doing nothing for such vibrant work, I decided that I'm just going to go ahead and get it finished. Maybe the reason I'm hating it so much isnt because of what it is but it's because of whats still there that i originally hated...the bow. I mean it is a picture of my son and it does definitely look like him I agree that the eyes need to be a little bit fixed but it's nothing too serious. I really hope that you guys can feel free to still message me I'm going to keep my blog updated so everybody can find out I guess what happened to me I didn't just fall off the face of the Earth. Lol. Tattoos are permanent so if you're reading any of this you've probably already gotten one you're questioning but if you haven't gotten any how about just wait. And don't just go into the first tattoo shop that's down the street from your house do some research talk to artists get some stencils on your arm sit with the stencils for a couple days and see if that's truly what you want.

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