POSTED UNDER Tattoo Removal REVIEWS
Left with a Ghost of a Tattoo -San Jose, CA
ORIGINAL POST
Several years ago I made the mistake of getting a...
jenamamaJune 11, 2013
$3,000
Several years ago I made the mistake of getting a tattoo at a convention. Although I was pretty certain of what I wanted, I had not taken the time to size and place it properly and the end result was a tattoo that was not only too large for my small frame, but it was placed too far out on my shoulder and had mistakes that made it look ugly. After a few years I decided to get it removed. I was under the impression that it would be gone, and after a few treatments it seemed promising. However, after the later treatments made minimal change each time and I ended up giving up after between 25 and 30 treatments. (They had reduced the price with each treatment, so my later sessions only cost me $65 each. However, I still spent close to $3K for all of them.) I am now left with a ghost of my former tattoo, and every summer I dread wearing tank tops or going to the pool and fielding questions about what that strange scar on my back is. Granted, most people cannot tell that it was a tattoo, but others can see it and can tell me exactly what it was without my prompting them. I am now on a mission to get rid of it, some way. I was told by a tattoo removal doctor to try Fraxel, which costs about $1500. But, when I went to the Fraxel doctor, he said to try Excimer, which costs even more and requires 25-50 treatments. So, next on the list is Derma Needle Roller and Red LED light therapy. If these don't work, I'll get a cover up.
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Replies (20)
June 12, 2013
Thanks for the picture! Maybe it's hard to tell but I think that looks amazing. When was the last appt you had? I'd rather have slight discoloration than a stupid ugly tattoo personally!
June 12, 2013
And also if you did decide a coverup was what you wanted I bet it would look great! But if you don't want another tattoo I still don't think it looks bad. I e read your skin will never look exactly like it used to so I think if you go into laser removal with the expectation that it will look like you never had a tattoo there you will be disappointed. Thanks again for the photo. You've actually given me great hope. I'd love to see a before pic if you can find one.
June 12, 2013
It certainly is all about expectations! I was told that I would not have a scar and that it would take about 6 treatments. I had nearly 30 treatments and spent more than $3K...alas, my disappointment. But yes, from what I've been told recently, it's amazing that they were able to get out the pastel type colors as well as they did.
June 12, 2013
Wow! Might be hard to tell in a photo but I think it looks great... I'd rather that than black ink on my arm :(
June 12, 2013
It looks great! I expect mine will scar and I'm perfectly OK with that. I just want the ink gone...and that is a long way off for me! Patience is a virtue.
June 13, 2013
THANK YOU so much for your review and photo! I was shocked to see how great it looks, from what you said in a post I expected worse, I think your results, based on the photo are great, and gives us hope! Made my day that's forsure. I have purple, green, orange, yellow, and so worried it won't come out, but after seeing this, so happy!
June 13, 2013
It will look worse by the end of summer, as even with sunscreen my back tans and the scar does not. I don't think the scarring would bother me as much if it were more of an all over blur. Since the photo is so close, it's hard to see, but, the outline is prominent. I am glad that this is promising for you. But keep in mind that this took FIVE YEARS of treatments 6-8 weeks apart and a ton of money...
June 13, 2013
Just out of curiosity, if you could go back, would you just have kept the tattoo and not gone through with the laser treatment? That's my biggest fear. Regretting the laser removal just like I regret the tattoos. Luckily my least favorite one is on my lower back and as a 31 year old mother of 2, I'm not a spring chicken anymore so nobody ever sees my back anyway! I don't even wear bikinis. Maybe if I lost 10 lbs lol but then why get it removed? Bc I still know its there and have to look at it anytime I get changed or take a shower or try on clothes at a store. So for me, I'd take the scarring over the tattoo. But I'm sorry you scarred at all, as I've read that doesn't often happen :(
June 13, 2013
I have paid for 15 treatments up front, I am on session 7 - going to book #8 in a few weeks. I am totally prepared for a cover up, I am not going to exceed 20 treatments, no way, although the clinic did say they would reduce any extra treatments, and may just continue with no charge. If they stick to that commitment of no charge, I am in it for the long haul.. as long as my skin can handle it!
Thanks again!
B11
June 13, 2013
Hi MomofTwoBoys, I know your question was directed to jenamama, however i want to say that I would never regret starting the laser, I realize I have a long way to go, but the way I look at it is.,..1 of 2 things can happen
1) Removal is a success with some light scarring/hypo or hyper pigmentation, which they say fades, you can either live with it or cover it
2) you do nothing, look back in 10 years and wish you and realize had you started 10 years ago you would be done!
That's my thought if it makes any sense :)
B11
June 13, 2013
There were a several things that I did not like about my tattoo, including the placement, the size, her ill proportioned legs and the one HUGE nostril of the fairy. In retrospect, I would have gotten the nose of the fairy removed and redone right, and had more tattoos added to connect the two separate tattoos. They can do amazing things with cover ups, so I think it really depends on whether you don't like the tattoo you have, or really don't want one at all. If it's black, I'd get it removed - the lasers really do work great for that. And if it's on your lower back, where you don't get much sun, you might not have the pigmentation issues like I have. You just need to really know what to expect going into it. I am jaded because I feel like I was completely mislead and wasted a ton of money and time and had false expectations of the outcome. (Once I was into it 10 sessions deep, I felt like there was no turning back - and at that point I kept being told I would not have a scar in the end.) Now, instead of people seeing a tattoo that I may or may not regret, they see two mistakes, the initial tattoo and removal scar.
June 14, 2013
I found a place that is not a med spa, it's just removal. They just opened last year tho so they are newer but they offer great deals and charge $200 a session no matter the size of the tattoo. Cheapest I've found near me so far. So I'm going to get a consult from them soon! My biggest fear is spending $3000-$4000 and just having a half lasered off tattoo! If I'm spending that kind of money I want results!
June 17, 2013
Hi Jena, did your doctor suggest the excimer for the proeminent lines? Or for the pigment? Thanks
June 18, 2013
For the pigment. Apparently it's used for Vitiligo, which is essentially the problem now.
UPDATED FROM jenamama
10 years post
Week one with derma roller
jenamamaJune 18, 2013
I've been using the derma roller for one week, in hopes that it will help minimize the scarring or at least help blend the pigment so that the outline is not so noticeable. So far, there's no change (which I certainly didn't expect in this short amount of time.)
I wanted to add this photo, since it's a of my full shoulder, so you can see more of the problem. Although nearly all the pigment is gone, you can still clearly see what was there.
I wanted to add this photo, since it's a of my full shoulder, so you can see more of the problem. Although nearly all the pigment is gone, you can still clearly see what was there.
Replies (34)
June 19, 2013
I think you're very lucky to have the results you have achieved, I would love to see a before photo of the actual tattoo. Can you confirm if it was dark with color?
June 19, 2013
Sorry, I wish I could find an old picture, but I can't. It was not super dark color. The outline was black and the colors were almost pastel. I realize that some see this result as a success. But, the cost (the $3K, the pain of thirty treatments over years, etc.) does not make me lucky. I was mislead. It's been a frustrating experience. My point in posting is just to help people really understand what they are getting into when they start treatment. Most people are told 6-10 treatments and no scarring - that's a very rare case. It takes a long time, it's painful and costs a lot of money.
June 19, 2013
The lasers don't work so well for pastel colors and the more treatments you have done, the more damage to the skin. The lasers have to have a contrast... dark ink against light skin to work effectively. That's why it's hard for more darker skinned ppl to remove dark colors and often they end up with hypopigmentation after treatments... especially if not done correctly. How many treatments in did it take for the black to dissapear?
June 19, 2013
Thank you for you information, you help set expectations. Everyone will have a different experience. I have already set a max of sessions which is 15, I will assess it at that point, I am prepared for a cover up, as it's not the fact that I have a tattoo that bothers me ( i have others) I just don't like the way this one turned out, it was not what I wanted at all. The artist just did his own thing, does not look at all like the sketch. Anyways, thanks again!
Thanks for sharing. What colors were the original tattoo? If you have one, it would be great to see a picture of the tattoo before it was removed, just so people can better understand what to expect. Please keep us posted on what additional treatments you do, if any, and what you think of them!
Okay I can sort of visualize the tattoo now when looking at the picture. Honestly I think it looks really good considering all those colors, but I get that you don't want the ghost of a moon on your shoulder. How big was it? I can't tell.