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44 Year Old with MASSIVE Regret on my Arm. - San Antonio, TX

UPDATED FROM nickyvandy

My finale

$3,000
So, went for my last touch up on my new tattoo last night. I have to say, I love it! The colors are so bright and pretty and it feels like the tattoo I wanted in the first place. I still struggle some with wishing I had never gotten a tattoo, but I have it now, and I am happy with the results. My skin had too much damage after 4 sessions to continue with laser treatment.

I wish everyone on this site the best of luck with your removals. I know it is a difficult road and can be horribly depressing, but remember you are still you and a tattoo does not define who you are. Take care of yourselves!

Replies (10)

Beautifully done!! I'm so happy for you!
Thank you so much!
I am happy your journey is over, well done!!
Thank you! I still struggle with the whole 'big tattoo on my arm" but at least I like this design
Well done you! I have come to accept my tatt, like you I wish at times it wasn't there but it is and I have no compulsion to go through laser removal. You are right it doesn't define who you are, it's a piece of art that decorates us and makes us individual. I'm so pleased for you x
Thank you! I am happy to hear you are accepting your tattoo as well (which is gorgeous by the way!) I will be glad to wear short sleeve shirts again and try not to worry when people stare (if they do) or be self conscience. I really like my new design and hope I can just move on now.

Good luck to you!!!!
Ahhh I love it!! Colours work perfectly with your skin tone :))) Congrats :)))
Thank you! I am so much happier now! I don't fret in the mornings when I wake up and see it every morning.

How are you feeling about yours these days?
I live around the San Antonio area. I wanted to know, if you don't mind, who the dermatologist was you went to
Dr. Kimberly Finder. Good luck!
UPDATED FROM nickyvandy

Over it, moving forward

After 4 treatments, scarring, hypo-pigmentation, way too much money and pain, I have decided to get my tattoo redone. I could not go through any more removals. My skin is ULTRA sensitive and I realized I was just doing too much damage.

So, now that the blue and sky line are faded enough, I am having more work done to my tattoo. Last night was adding more outlines and making my original tattoo actual look like a tree. Phase 2 will be adding colors to make it really pop. I could not be happier with my decision. I realize I do like having a tattoo on my arm, i just did not like the way my tree looked after I got it and then HATED the blue that was added. Now, I am much happier and am looking forward to the addition of color.

This has been the wildest ride with lots of tears, self loathing, and pain (especially the removal). It has definitely helped me realize a few things about myself and how I can handle stress.

I really hope the best for all of you on this website. I know what you are going through and I wish you all the best with whatever direction you decide to go! I will update once more when I get my color added. Until then, take care all! Good luck!

Replies (2)

Yay! So happy for you and I can't wait to see the finished coverup!
Thanks!
UPDATED FROM nickyvandy

6 weeks post 3rd treatment

Hi all. So I had 3 treatments so far. Most of the blue is gone and the black line above the tree has faded a lot. I haven't touched the tree yet but I did have some of the flowers treated just to see if it would work. There was quite a bit of fading. So I believe if I want full removal it will happen after a long time. Still not 100% sure what I want to do.

My niece has drawn up some ideas for me for adding on to what I have. I like a combo of the two. Would love to have other opinions. Not really sure I want to spend the time and money to remove a tattoo that has the most meaning in my life. I am starting to get used to it and maybe once all the blue is gone I think I will like it even better. But part of me still struggles and wants the whole thing off. I just don't know what to do.

Replies (4)

Since you're asking for opinions this is mine-

I agree with you that now that the blue is going bye-bye it looks better. It surprisingly looks a lot more elegant than it did before. I think the flowers sort of don't "mesh" with the rest of your piece but the additions your niece made to the flowers definitely help with that a lot. And I also think the addition of a little green on top of the tree would be lovely as well. I also really, really love that there's meaning behind it.

However, before you add anything else you need to take time to figure out if you want to live with it or not. I've seen some beautiful tattoos that the wearer decided they could not see themselves wearing for the rest of their lives and so they started removal. No matter what we say here, it all comes down to what you want. I know it's hard. I flopped back and forth for months before I came down to the realization that I could never be happy with the black mess of ink around my tattoo. And even though my black ink isn't 100% off quite yet, I can already tell you I'm happier because it's so much lighter.

Take your time deciding and don't rush into anything. Maybe make a list of pros and cons, or write out how you feel.
Thank you! I agree. I am going in November to do another session with the blue and sky and to fade the other flowers surrounding it. After that, I am going to decide to go full removal or just stop and move on. I am tired of stressing about it, thinking about it, etc.

How often do you go for treatments? Your progress is so amazing.
Thanks for checking out my review. :)

I do a session about every 2 months because that is what my laser dude recommended. I'm usually totally healed up within a few weeks but as I'm sure you've heard, fading continues even after your healed.

I know there's someone here who waits even longer between sessions. He has done less sessions than me (which is less $), but it might end up taking him a longer period of time. I guess it kind of depends on your laser persons opinion, your opinion, and how well your skin seems to be handling treatments.
I think I really like the idea with green! Maybe look into the design using the celtic ethnical designs, especially if by your nature you feel connected to nature :)) Loads of love for the christmas, and hope you are feeling good :) (As Nina Simone once beautifuly sang)