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26 years old, unfinished cover up tattoo. Seriously considering removal rather than finishing.
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26 years old, unfinished cover up tattoo. Considering removal rather than finishing.
Just got this tattoo cover up the other day. Wanted to cover up these Hebrew letters. Couldn't sleep the day I got it and stopped eating. After a session with my therapist and copious amounts of research on tat removal, I'm stuck between finishing it, and pursuing removal after healing. I've heard conflicting info about removal just after healing; on the phone, one place (with picoway) said its best to do it ASAP, but another place (only q-switched) said the older the ink the better.
I know time is an important aspect here, but is it worth having an unfinished cover up for a long time knowing I will laser eventually, or should I finish it and try to love it while saving up as much as I can in the event I want it off? FYI the tree is staying, it's just the letters/rocks and waterfall I want removed.
I'm lucky that most of the tat is black and blue, but there is some white shading on the rocks and the water, which I've read could be a problem.
What do you guys think? Is it worth finishing in case I can grow to love it? I know it'll look better finished no matter what, but finishing it means adding more blue and white, which supposedly aren't as laser-friendly.
I know time is an important aspect here, but is it worth having an unfinished cover up for a long time knowing I will laser eventually, or should I finish it and try to love it while saving up as much as I can in the event I want it off? FYI the tree is staying, it's just the letters/rocks and waterfall I want removed.
I'm lucky that most of the tat is black and blue, but there is some white shading on the rocks and the water, which I've read could be a problem.
What do you guys think? Is it worth finishing in case I can grow to love it? I know it'll look better finished no matter what, but finishing it means adding more blue and white, which supposedly aren't as laser-friendly.
UPDATED FROM avieblum
2,017 years post
Having a really hard time
The last week since getting my bad coverup has been really difficult. I've barely been able to eat, only enough to keep myself going. I can barely get myself to go to work and maintain myself.
I'm trying not to let a bunch of lines on my arm define me, but I'm also still just in shock. So many of your stories on here give me hope that things will get better, and I want to try and keep myself busy too. Being where I am, I am very isolated from my friends and family, my support system. I was already recovering from a bad breakup and I can't help but feel like this set me back; however, at the same times it also kind of trivializes the parts of my life I was stressing about in comparison.
My gut still tells me that complete laser removal is the way to go. But I will give myself time and many an in-person consultation plus (even more) copious amounts of research to confidently make that decision, me not as a reaction.
Thanks guys.
I'm trying not to let a bunch of lines on my arm define me, but I'm also still just in shock. So many of your stories on here give me hope that things will get better, and I want to try and keep myself busy too. Being where I am, I am very isolated from my friends and family, my support system. I was already recovering from a bad breakup and I can't help but feel like this set me back; however, at the same times it also kind of trivializes the parts of my life I was stressing about in comparison.
My gut still tells me that complete laser removal is the way to go. But I will give myself time and many an in-person consultation plus (even more) copious amounts of research to confidently make that decision, me not as a reaction.
Thanks guys.
Replies (11)
August 22, 2017
if u do not feel good about the tattoo now its not going to get better, stop everything take some time off, then if you wish do laser removal, not al laser work in the same way, so get them to try a little piece first, i had 2 tattoos removed its painful but what the hell cannot be more painful than a bad break-up, PS: do not know if you can do it on a fresh tattoo, just wear a shirt over and waith 6 months, do not continue if you are not sure cause removal will not come cheap - take wasy, life goes on
August 22, 2017
Thanks, that's definitely my plan right now. After it just happens, the shock of it all is so intense. How did your removal go? Did you get cover ups after or did you achieve complete removal? Thanks for your kind words and support
August 22, 2017
i got complete removal, however treated skin will remain lighter for sometimes
take it easy
take it easy
August 25, 2017
That's awesome. Thanks so much for reaching out, trying to take it easy and not let this tattoo take over my mind and life!
August 25, 2017
If you are considering laser removal, don't finish the tattoo... it'll just make it more difficult to take off. I'm on my 5th treatment of a full sleeve and the treatments suck and they hurt but soon as I got my first treatment I immediately felt better knowing it'll be removed. The older the tattoo, the easier to get it off though, since your immune system is always trying to break up the foreign particles from your skin over time. Any questions let me know. Good luck!
August 25, 2017
Thanks so much! I just wrote a new update saying that I won't continue the tattoo. I'll be setting up consultations this fall when it is fully healed. A full sleeve, eh? I'm sure that's really intense in the treatment. How've they been so far and what laser are you using?
August 25, 2017
The treatments definitely work, I see fading with every treatment which is all I need to keep motivated. I went with the quanta evo q-switch laser to start. I'll be moving in a few months though, so after treatment 6 I'll be looking to switch to picoway.. hopefully it'll speed things up a bit. It is a very slow process unfortunately, but time does fly.
August 28, 2017
I had a cover up and started removal a month after! It seemed very soon and one place told me they wouldnt even touch it for 6 months. I was suprised at how much fresh ink dissolved with just a few treatments of picosure laser. The dense ink seems to take longer to remove. I feel better with every treatment seeing my normal skin again, and you will too :) luckily ling sleeve weather is coming, keep it covered and try not to dwell on it. Its fixable! But its a long process so you have to be patiwnt. Hope it goes well for you.
August 28, 2017
Ugh, sorry about my typos. Also, the shading in my tattoo came off easiest. The older tattoo i had covered up was very dark ink and now i can see it again but they will hit just the old tattoo since the cover up is almost gone already after 3 treatments. i was in the same exact boat as you last march sick with regret and it already looks much better to me now it seems much more minor. Hope this helps you feel better about it knowing its not hopeless.
August 28, 2017
Thanks so much for your comment! It really does help. Can't believe how much conflicting information there is out there on this stuff!
August 29, 2017
I'm in the same position as you. It's very difficult n hard to function normally again. It's like u lost yourself.
UPDATED FROM avieblum
2,017 years post
Not Finishing
Thank you all for your support! Ive decided not to finish the tattoo and will most likely be pursuing removal in the fall once it is fully healed and after my move back down to NYC.
Replies (10)
August 28, 2017
Excited to follow your journey and keep your head up! Once you proceed with treatments you will start feeling better. Just know that after the first don't expect a huge change or change at all since they are targeting the deepest ink and it may not show on the top skin just yet. I got my hopes up on thinking I would see big results but not really much but i just had #5 2 days ago and its healing well so we will see the outcome in the upcoming weeks.
August 28, 2017
Thanks so much! That really means a lot. Coming out of a bad break up where I was cheated on & lied to, as well as just coming out of a decade of depression, this really hit me hard. But I refuse to let it hamper my recovery. It's barely been 2 weeks since getting my tattoo cover up and while the first week was severe depression, I'm now back to eating well and exercising (which I read also helps the fading process!). Some lines on my arm will not control my life.
I've been following your journey since I got my tat and you have amazing fading! Makes me feel very hopeful, inspired, and excited to start the removal process. Thanks again for reaching out :)
September 20, 2017
Keep your head up. Tattoo regret can be a severe and common cause of depression...but you have options. The technology and protocols have improved considerably. If this was 20 years ago you'd be in trouble but if you take your time and go to a professional, pull be fine. Good luck
November 19, 2019
Hello there, hope you are doing better. Have you moved ahead with removal?
Replies (5)