POSTED UNDER Tattoo Removal Reviews
Instant Tattoo Regret - Not Anymore!
UPDATED FROM MickMarc
Grown on me
Alright. Right after I got the tat I was in a state where I had to have it removed no matter what. I just went on two trips through Europe ('cuz I have summer break from university) and realised something. I've absolutely grown to love the tattoo. I think that's partly due to me realizing that there's more important things to worrya about or spend money on. It's also due to the fact that the tattoo itself looks absolutely beautiful, and that my sister has the other half of it tattood on her leg. Being on the beach I felt really comfortable with it and I just see it as a colourful accentuation of my leg. So all in all, I will not have it removed. I am, however, leaving this post here, so that people can see this little journey and realise that their pain might also go away. It took around 2 weeks to fully appreciate my tattoo, so don't make any rash decisions before waiting 2 weeks after getting it. Here's another pic of it ;)
UPDATED FROM MickMarc
Update 1
Yesterday I called with a removal clinic near my location. They said I have to wait at least 8 weeks to get it removed. Later that all of a sudden I felt happy with my tattoo and decided to leave it there, but today I feel miserable again. I'm terrified that getting it has changed my life forever and that getting rid of it wouldn't fix the sadness I feel. I'm so done with this crap.
Replies (2)
I’m so sorry to hear what you’re going through! Let me start by saying I got a tattoo around a year ago and had almost the exact same experience - doubting myself going in, letting myself get talked into it when I wasn’t fully comfortable, and then being miserable the second I left the shop. The amount of depression and anxiety was extreme - I was physically sick, I couldn’t eat or sleep, I couldn’t work, and I couldn’t get out of bed. I felt like I had completely, permanently ruined my body and I hated myself for it!
So let me tell you now that what you’re feeling will stop. It’s hard to believe it right now, but you won’t feel this way forever. Don’t isolate, spend time with friends and family, and find things to do to take your mind off of it while it’s healing. If you’re anything like me, you’ll have more or less forgotten that it’s there by the time you go in for your first laser treatment!
As for the removal, Picosecond lasers work wonders on colored ink. I’m having a turquoise and yellow tattoo removed from my ankle and it’s already fading noticeably after just one session. If you stick with it you’ll be able to more or less get rid of it completely, or at least fade it enough to cover it up with a design you really love. And by that point I guarantee you’ll be feeling better!
Also, for what it’s worth, I think it looks great!
So let me tell you now that what you’re feeling will stop. It’s hard to believe it right now, but you won’t feel this way forever. Don’t isolate, spend time with friends and family, and find things to do to take your mind off of it while it’s healing. If you’re anything like me, you’ll have more or less forgotten that it’s there by the time you go in for your first laser treatment!
As for the removal, Picosecond lasers work wonders on colored ink. I’m having a turquoise and yellow tattoo removed from my ankle and it’s already fading noticeably after just one session. If you stick with it you’ll be able to more or less get rid of it completely, or at least fade it enough to cover it up with a design you really love. And by that point I guarantee you’ll be feeling better!
Also, for what it’s worth, I think it looks great!
Thank you so much. This was very encouraging! It's always nice to hear someone went to the exact same thing. Really, I can't thank you enough! I will take a few trips soon which must be able to get my mind off of it ;) After it's healed, I'll see what I'll do.
You’re welcome! Keep your chin up and everything will be fine!
I promise you are not alone. I can relate to IzzyTiz in every way of his/her post. I got myself in the same dilemma about a week ago and keep having ups and downs with the thought of ruining my body w a large piece. Even it wasn’t done on impulse and there was a lot of years of research and thought going into the piece I got, I instantly regret it. I have been sick to my stomach, waking up w night sweats and anxiety. I’m so desperate to have it removed. My piece is measuring at approx 40 sq inches. It is very large and the stress of finding a reasonable removal service is very real. I have consults scheduled back to back until I find a Dr. to remove it at a reasonable price. You are not alone. This app has helped me cope with the stress a little since I have found people on here dealing w the same issue. Stay strong, keep your head up. The good news is there is a solution. Though it will be a little time consuming to deal with it don’t give up. You certainly are not alone. I am learning that instant regret is very common but the good news is it’s reversible. Meeting with the 2nd facility tomorrow for another consult. Best of luck to you. It’s gonna be ok.
Thank you so much!! I must say it has grown on me a little now. But I think this is the result of realising that it IS reversable. I can always have it removed later if I want :)
ORIGINAL POST
Instant Tattoo Regret
I'm a 20 year old male who had never had a tattoo or piercing in my whole life before this.
Yesterday me and my sister got a matching tattoo. We had been planning to get one for a long time and we've been experimenting with designs for around 2 years. Me and my sister have had a great connection for as long as I can remember. Back in the day we spent hours playing Donkey Kong Country on the Super Nintendo. This sparked the idea to have her get a Donkey Kong tattoo and have me get a Diddy Kong tattoo, since she always played as Donkey Kong and I as Diddy Kong. I contacted an artist via Instagram and made an appointment after she made a sketch which me and my sister both liked. On the way there in the car I felt extreme doubt and anxiety and I even called up the artist saying that I'm not sure if I still want that tattoo. When we arrived I showed an alternative design which I was thinking about, a cigale (a moth-like bug), but that one wasn't possible due to the amount of detail it had. I ultimately decided not to have anything then and me and my sister talked about what she'd like to do (since she has some other ideas too). Then the artist gave me the sketch and I put it on my upper arm. It looked great and for some reason I decided to 'just do it'. If I'd just listened to myself and stood my ground at this exact small moment, I'd not be miserable now.
So right after I got the tattoo I already felt bad. My sis was up next and so after 4 hours and 500 euros later we left the shop. I was telling myself I liked it but I felt weird. We came home and I explained what had happened to my parents. They were very enthousiastic because the tattoo itself looks absolutely great. It has really nice colouring. I went to sleep shortly after.
When I woke up the first thing I thought was 'what the hell have I done?!'. I felt terrible the whole day until I just broke down and told my mom about it. My mom's very supportive and says I should let it heal and if I still dislike it after it has, I can remove it with laser technique. I am absolutely devestated by the fact that I didn't listen to myself. If there was one part of my body I was proud of it were my legs and now there's a painting on one of them that should not be there. I used to be very confident and energetic and now I'm just insecure, miserable and tired all the time. I have the urge to slam my head against a wall for not listening to myself at that exact moment of decision. I've included a pic of the tattoo. Does anyone have success stories to share about removing coloured tattoos?
I'm still in the 'maybe it'll grow on me'/healing phase but I honestly have already decided I don't want it anymore. Of course I'll let it heal first (about a month). The fact that I've altered my body makes me wanna turn back time. The best phrase I can think of when I ask myself why I don't like it is 'it's just not me.' There's some good removers here in the Netherlands, so that's encouraging. All in all I don't recommend anyone to get a tattoo if there's even a slight bit of doubt. As soon as there's doubt: break it off, even if later you feel like you want it again. But these are just my words.
In short: it's not that the tattoo has lost it's meaning. It's not that it's ugly (because it isn't). It's the self-doubt that went prior to it and the fact that it doesn't suit the kind of person I am or want to be.
Yesterday me and my sister got a matching tattoo. We had been planning to get one for a long time and we've been experimenting with designs for around 2 years. Me and my sister have had a great connection for as long as I can remember. Back in the day we spent hours playing Donkey Kong Country on the Super Nintendo. This sparked the idea to have her get a Donkey Kong tattoo and have me get a Diddy Kong tattoo, since she always played as Donkey Kong and I as Diddy Kong. I contacted an artist via Instagram and made an appointment after she made a sketch which me and my sister both liked. On the way there in the car I felt extreme doubt and anxiety and I even called up the artist saying that I'm not sure if I still want that tattoo. When we arrived I showed an alternative design which I was thinking about, a cigale (a moth-like bug), but that one wasn't possible due to the amount of detail it had. I ultimately decided not to have anything then and me and my sister talked about what she'd like to do (since she has some other ideas too). Then the artist gave me the sketch and I put it on my upper arm. It looked great and for some reason I decided to 'just do it'. If I'd just listened to myself and stood my ground at this exact small moment, I'd not be miserable now.
So right after I got the tattoo I already felt bad. My sis was up next and so after 4 hours and 500 euros later we left the shop. I was telling myself I liked it but I felt weird. We came home and I explained what had happened to my parents. They were very enthousiastic because the tattoo itself looks absolutely great. It has really nice colouring. I went to sleep shortly after.
When I woke up the first thing I thought was 'what the hell have I done?!'. I felt terrible the whole day until I just broke down and told my mom about it. My mom's very supportive and says I should let it heal and if I still dislike it after it has, I can remove it with laser technique. I am absolutely devestated by the fact that I didn't listen to myself. If there was one part of my body I was proud of it were my legs and now there's a painting on one of them that should not be there. I used to be very confident and energetic and now I'm just insecure, miserable and tired all the time. I have the urge to slam my head against a wall for not listening to myself at that exact moment of decision. I've included a pic of the tattoo. Does anyone have success stories to share about removing coloured tattoos?
I'm still in the 'maybe it'll grow on me'/healing phase but I honestly have already decided I don't want it anymore. Of course I'll let it heal first (about a month). The fact that I've altered my body makes me wanna turn back time. The best phrase I can think of when I ask myself why I don't like it is 'it's just not me.' There's some good removers here in the Netherlands, so that's encouraging. All in all I don't recommend anyone to get a tattoo if there's even a slight bit of doubt. As soon as there's doubt: break it off, even if later you feel like you want it again. But these are just my words.
In short: it's not that the tattoo has lost it's meaning. It's not that it's ugly (because it isn't). It's the self-doubt that went prior to it and the fact that it doesn't suit the kind of person I am or want to be.
Replies (2)
I like it a lot. I think it looks fun and it’s well done
Thanks. I like it too. But I don't want it to be on my body forever. It's something I highly underestimated.
I felt the exact same way after getting the tattoo I am currently having removed-I felt that way as I was leaving the shop 11 years ago. If you don't like it now, you wont like it 11 years from now, trust me on this one. Good luck to you!
We'll see. I think the fact that it's a matching tat with my sister really helps. If I don't like it in the future, I will have it removed (but as of now I'm not that bothered by it anymore, especially since I'm a student without lots of money haha). But your comment is helpful anyway, really! Thanks!!
I've grown to absolutely love it! I'm sorry you didn't feel the same, but I have to prove your statement wrong here.
Replies (1)