Removal of brand new dense black

Thanks a ton! Your review was the one that got me going on this :) can't wait till I'm on session 7 too!

:) you're welcome, you will get there very soon!

I think it's a really well done tattoo but its just not right, especially in the spot it's in. I'm also getting one removed on my thumb and I keep forgetting to take pics but its really faded and by the fourth treatment I could barely feel the laser... Congrats on your engagement!

It's just awful that once we decide we don't like our ink it plagues us from then on... Try getting a consultation and see how you feel afterwards! I know I felt so so so much better after my first consultation. Looking forward to hearing your story soon!

I've actually had two consults! I really liked the second one . I'm just scared to spend $4,000 with the chance of not seeing the results I want :( it's a lot of money !

It's definitely a gamble :/

Did they tell you how many treatments they thought you would need? Mine said anywhere from 15-20. $800 for 3 sessions. I'm kicking myself for not leaving the original tattoo alone. It was smaller and faded , now the black is darker. I wish I could just ignore it. I don't prance around in a bikini or belly shirts these days anyways lol so at least nobody can see it but it still bothers me a lot!

Yeah she quoted me 15-20 sessions also... I feel the same! If I would have known that removal was so tangible then I would have left the old tat alone! Now I know better I guess LOL!

Hindsight is always 20/20 as they say lol

I am going once a month so every 4-5 weeks. I suppose the fading is more if you wait longer but I feel it's just going to prolong the process... Who knows but I'm impatient haha! Yup we are hitting the while thing :) you can see in my last pic that some of the stockings on her legs are starting to fade!

Thanks a ton for the thoughts and encouragement! I'm excited to get three out of the way, now only one more before the wedding! My tech asked me today if I was going to buy makeup to cover it up on the big way and after I thought about it I figured no, I won't. I think I am totally fine with this now and someday I'll look at my wedding pics and think "look how much my life was changing back then!"

Don't be afraid ari3...I know from experience, I was afraid to begin the laser removal and opted for a third try to make the tattoo likeable/acceptable.  Now I've got a much bigger tattoo that is being lasered off at 3X the original price...sigh...wish, oh so wish I had done the lasering in the first place.  As for scarring, don't pick at blisters, scabs.  As for pain, there is pain numbing creams and injections.  Good luck!  aloha...k

I have to say I was a little scared at first, but since starting this I have actually just begun finding the whole experience completely fascinating. Technology is a crazy thing! I will say it is a great releif to finally get started on the process. It was so shocking to have this huge dark thing on my arm and now it's faded enough that I feel more comfortable with it. Good luck and keep us updated!

Thank you. I must say reading everyone's experience puts me at ease a lit bit

Will do :)

Yes! We sit with I've packs for about ten minutes before she starts. She then continues to use the packs as she goes, doing a section then icing then doing a section then icing. It's definitely painful but it's over before you know it ;) I have to say though that the first time I couldn't drive myself home because I went into a sort of mild shock, but the other two times I was mentally prepared and felt much better afterwards. When do you plan on starting?

my first session is in 2 weeks. im really nervous but at the same time i cant wait to get started. i have an upper arm half sleeve. thankfully its all in black so im hoping it will remove well but its very dark and dense also.

I can't wait to see how it goes! I feel that once I had my first session I felt sooooo much better. My anxiety was completely gone. Good luck!

Don't be!!! I was like that, & honestly it felt like getting the tat again. She only used 2 (intensity) I used ice before & for abt 1 hr after. I did not blister or anything. Looking frwd to read abt your journey.

aloha nomistaketoobig,  the anxiety before the first session is overwhelming but once the session is done it'll be like "is that what I worried about".  I had such huge relief.  I'm sure the clinic will start off with a low setting (that seems to be universal) to prevent scarring.  With each session the laser setting will be adjusted depending on your healing and skin type.  One of the things to remember with laser removal is patience and perseverance is important, this takes time but it'll be worth it.  Good luck!  aloha...k

thank you all for the reassurance! i will make a post once ive started to share my progress as well.

Yes i have. Immediately after this session a lot of the lines turned brown (but have gone back to black). the edges of the shading have turned brown and a couple of the lines have stayed brown. it looks a lot lighter when its brown!

I had the treatment were they use the laser wait 20 minutes use the laser again and so on 4 times. I blistered pretty bad but the doctor said it was ok and something they seen more of on the older laser. I was just wondering cause part of the black tattoo is changing colors throughout. Brown and sometimes even a bluish color (foggy look).

Yeah I think it may be fairly common. I will be able to say more about the browning in a couple of months

Thanks for the tip!

She is estimating 15-20 sessions every four weeks so I am in it for the long haul :/ don't be scared of the blisters! They actually help suck the ink out and as long as you don't pop them they will heal naturally and not scar... I got a great tip from someone when I started this ... She had gotten a bad thesis degree burn on her leg and while it was healing she treated it with vitamin E oil and no part of the burn scarred at all! If you're worried about the blisters I would get some E oil and rub it on them once they've gone down. Keep us updated on how the removal is looking!

Soooo it's *third degree burn lol

Thank you so much. Yes I guess it just is looking so scary right now because of the blistering, but this is a good thing huh??? Where do u boy vitamin e oil at??? Great tip I appreciate it flamingo... It's so nice to have people to talk to

Buy I mean

I bought mine at Whole Foods but I bet you could find it at a drug store too. It really is awesome to have people to talk to here. Honestly it's what made me feel good enough to get the laser done and to not feel ashamed and anxious anymore. I actually feel comfortable talkin to friends and coworkers now because of this site! Are you gonna post your story?

I know. I am so embarrasent I feel like I'm keeping it a secret but I know I can't fit much longer. I'm ashamed if what I did. How could I have done this??.... Only a few close friends Nd family know. I hate trying to hide it but how do u even begin to tell someone "oh yea I got this tattoo 2 months ago and now I'm lasering it off..." I mean how crazy would I sound?? It sucks. I don't know if I'm ready to share my story yet. I wish I was. You are so brave. It's been a tough few months I need to get back to "me" again. This site is awesome and I appreciate the support

One thing that helped me was telling people that I didn't realize that a big cover up would fade in a few years and the old tat would show through (this is true) so after I started the cover up I realized later sessions to lighten the old tattoo will make for a better quality cover up in the future! And even though I don't plan on doing another cover up in the future it usually just makes people think I know what in doing LOL and takes away the embarrassment. You can just tell people you initially wanted a cover up but then decided that the best option was to just work on lightening it. It's been a great ice breaker for me. Good luck though Hun, I hope hope hope you feel better soon

aloha Ash77, I don't think you should be embarrassed about your tattoo. It was a decision that you made but now you regret and that's really all it is. There are many decision we make, even with the best intentions, that turn out to be mistakes. And all they are, are simply mistakes. With tattoos our mistakes are often visible and people may feel the need to comment either to offer an opinion, offer critique, offer support...but it's really just a mistake. One of the Ruiz agreements that I adore "Don't take things personally" it's not always about you, you are the center of your story and others are the center of their stories. So if someone says something nasty, it's not about you, it's about them, don't take it personally. This is hard and especially hard with a visible tattoo and the need to be liked, supported. My tattoo, my ink regret is on my hand. I get a few comments and questions on the appearance of the lasered ink but I just offer a simple answer "it's a work in progess, just like all of us here" and often that is simply enough. Share your story when you're ready and share when you feel the need and when you feel safe to do so. Until then, you don't need to say anything else if at all. We on the forum are here for you, we're living it right along with you. I am confident that my ink regret will be a part of my history and nothing else. And I'm confident that will be the case with you. Good luck

Thanks for the support. I like the comment of our ink regret being part of our history and nothing else. I really really hope this is the case. Everyday is getting better and better. I'm glad I can know if I'm feeling down to talk to people here. It's so helpful.