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POSTED UNDER PicoSure Reviews

feeling defeated tattoo removal - Pittsburgh, PA

UPDATED FROM mbarlow05
2 years post

Not much longer

WORTH IT$3,300
I go today for another session... just posting a “before” pic.. will come back and update with the most recent season. I need to get better at updating, I know many of you have been following my progress so want to keep you posted.

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Invisible Ink

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Amazing. I drive 2 hours one way just to go here. Everyone is so friendly and helpful. The place is clean and the staff are very knowledgeable when it comes to removing tattoos because tattoo removal is their only and main focus. Thanks to my girls in Pittsburgh! You're making me feel beautiful again!

Replies (12)

Thanks for sharing. How many more tx do you think you have left. Your results are amazing btw. Looking forward to seeing your results.
They told me 2-3 tops and I will be done!!! I can see how much more came out this time and it is finally giving me hope! It is very itchy and still red and swollen which it has never lasted this long.. I will post more pics when it is not red and looks somewhat normal again.. thank you!
Thank oh for sharing! I know you've had some discouraging moments from reading your story, but you've come such a long way and have gotten through so much already! You are very strong for getting this far. Keep it up!
Thank you! I go back December 28 for my next treatment! Looking forward to getting closer each time to bring ink free
youre really strong! i would like to like you..
Like to like me? lol I haven’t been back yet but need to schedule an appointment soon.
Hey you. Can you post an updated photo?
I don’t have any updates since I haven’t had any treatments in several months. I will not be back for treatments until January 2020 after my baby is born.
Your process is looking good, even though there are still some stubborn ink left, but I am sure you will be tattoo free in the near future, as long as you keep up the treatments. I am a Chinese (pardon my poor English), and I have been in the same journey as you are, I have just finished my sixth treatment of Picosure two weeks ago, my skin is still have some redness and a bit itchy, I had blisters after every single treatment, it's always hard to get through this kind of recovery period. I feel the same way that you did, being fear about unfriendly jundement from other people, so I always hide this stupid tattoo under my sleeve when I am out (mine is on my right arm close to my shoulder). But, let's have some faith and keep it up. One suggestion for you, try a treatment with Picoway if possible, because it has a longer wave length 1064, and it may make you bleed a little bit, but personally I think that's good to bring more ink out by this method, same idea as using a Q-switch laser, but with a longer & effective wave length to break the ink underneath.
Thank you... I have to take some time off because I am expecting a little one and it is not safe to get treatment right now.. will continue after my mini is born in November! Thank you!
i think thé picosure its not thé best for black, you can test another laser with 1064nm!
I've had great success with picosure. I have taken a year off due to pregnancy and have my next appt scheduled for January 3. This time off between has really been working in my favor. My tattoo is extremely faded and light. I think I will only need 2 more treatments and it will be gone for good!
UPDATED FROM mbarlow05
2 years post

1 week post treatment #11

Today makes exactly 1 week since my 11th treatment.. I should have taken pics of it after treatment because it was so red and had a ton of blood under the skin. The redness went away around Wednesday of this week.. it is still a little red today but not near as much as last Friday. The nurses at my laser treatment facility are telling me approximately 5-6 more treatments for complete removal :-/ still kind of depressed

Replies (26)

Have you experienced hypo or hyperpigmentation?
nope.. I have a few ghost lines from the tattoo itself where it was scarred from the tattoo artist using uneven pressure but is barely noticeable to the naked eye, and of course I notice it because it’s my body but no one else can see it unless I point it out to them.
Lucky!
I wish I was lucky! if I was, it would be gone!
Taking long breaks between treatments has helped me with additional fading. Also oils like bio oil or rose hip help with scarring. I hope you keep going you'll get there!
I don’t have scarring, just a very minimal amount of ghost lines from the tattoo artist, not the removal. I use a mixture of vitamin e and bio oil to keep the skin soft and hydrated. I take 3-4 months off in between.. I have a year of treatments for free so I am going to take advantage of it while I don’t have to pay.
depressed? you’ve gone a LONG WAY. be hAppy of the progress! you’re almost there honey!
it’s been a very very long process.. depressed that it’s taken so long and I can’t expose this arm to sun, which means no beach for the last 2 summers. the beach is my favorite place to be other than Milan Puskar Stadium on game days :( thank you for thinking I’ve come along way... still have a very long way to go!
How's the healing coming along. Was just thinking about your removal
it doesn’t take long for me to heal.. just patiently waiting for my next session.. end of June... hope to see more fading... I want to be able to wear tank tops again.. and be able to wear a swim suit and lay out and get a tan :-/
How long do you wait between sessions again? This is picosure right? Amazing progress! Im inspired!!! Line work is really tough to remove but wow look at yours
I’m sorry, I am just now seeing your comment! I wait 2-3 months in between my sessions. My outlines are so fair at this point.. just had my most recent session about a month ago and they said I would be ink free 100% by April. It will have taken 2.5 years from start and it was a very large and dark tattoo when I started the process. I need to take updated photos because I am just absolutely blown away at the progress!
Wow! Please post !!
Got a question.. as you progress tolater and more treatments and laser intensity is increased.. does the pain increase as well? Also do you blister and all?Does it get worse with more treatments?
I don’t really feel anything until hours after treatment Is done... then it just feels like a sunburn. I haven’t blistered at all since my first ever treatment. I don’t think any of my treatments have been bad. I look forward to going to them.
UPDATED FROM mbarlow05
1 year post

24 hours after treatment #10

I haven’t posted in a while but I jut went yesterday for my 10th treatment... still feeling discouraged :( they have had the laser on the highest settings the last 2 times I’ve gone but I don’t see any progress :( just a few red areas today.. no soreness.. just numb to it all anymore, feel like I will never be ink free...

Replies (11)

It's definitely coming off! Don't be discouraged! Great progress! How many more treatments do they estimate?
they said 3-5 more... I was only estimated at 8 for complete removal, so it will be more like 15 :(
Have you thought about going someplace that has a different kind of laser? In Reading other people's reviews I see that that's what some people do. Maybe just a consultation with another Laser Center?
Hi, I have had 12 so far and definitely benefited from 3-4 months' breaks between the last few treatments... It looks like you're nearly there too - mine's a lot thicker than yours and it looks like it's going slowly but surely, so I think yours will fade completely eventually - just be patient! Good luck!
I just get discouraged so easy... I was told last year it would be gone before this summer and now they’re telling me next summer it will be gone... I just miss being out in the sun and being tan.. so pale and lack some vitamin d... I go back on March 23... just want this hideous thing gone :(
I understand totally, I spent two years hoping it would be gone by the summer and it didn't happen... However it's a lot paler than originally and you probably notice it a lot more than others would. The girl who does my treatment said sun exposure in the summer will be beneficial... I wish you all the best!
the girls at my center said absolutely no sun on the area during or in between treatments because of the way the sun changes the pigments in our skin and said it would cause scarring, hyperpigmentation and make me have to wait another 6 months to be able to have treatment again!
How often are you having your treatments? My last couple have been about 4 months apart and it faded quite a bit during this time. I'm going back in 4 month for either #13 or a review - so maybe in my case it would be a case of taking a very long break over the spring/summer with no danger of sun exposure affecting treatment.
I get treatments every 3-4 months.. if I would go out in the sun this summer even for 1 day and get any sun on my treatment area, I would have to take a 6 month break. not risking it when I have come so far.
Hey girl can you update with how things are now?
I actually just had a session on Friday and was going to take pics later this morning and post an update.. stay tuned
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