POSTED UNDER Tattoo Removal REVIEWS
22 Year Old DUMMY! Tempe, AZ
ORIGINAL POST
So after reading reviews and creeping all over...
So after reading reviews and creeping all over this site, I decided to make a post regarding my progress. After having my daughter I decided I wanted to get a floraly shoulder piece with an owl and my daughters name. It was supposed to have so much meaning, and so I found a guy who had good reviews and was cheap (first mistake), and he would come into your home and do it for you. Initial black tattoo cost me $140. Immediately I hated it. Pretty sure the guy was on some kind of drugs too. Long story short my friend introduced me to an artist who does AMAZING work, and I (not knowing I should have just removed it the !) decided to go ahead with a cover up. After multiple sessions I just kept adding onto it and eventually it just got so big and now I just hate it. I know I hate it because I have never felt this way before with any other tattoo. I got discouraged, being a young mom and knowing I couldn't afford to get such a large tattoo removed. I found a place near me that is a non profit for tattoo removal. A doctor volunteers one day every 5 weeks to remove tattoos, cutting the cost by like 90%. The woman seemed really nice and understanding and I don't have an exact quote for mine yet, but she said the smallest tattoo would be $65 a session with a sleeve for example being their max at $175. I'm guessing my sessions will be around the $100 mark, but I'll update when I know more. Im willing to go to as many sessions as it takes for this to come off. I'm just so upset. I didn't realize how much this would affect me. Having many small tattoos that I love, to this big tattoo that just looks way too hard for me. It's just manly! Anyways I'm basically just looking for support, it's amazing to know I am not alone and many people feel this way also. It's just too bad I'm so young and have ruined my skin so early!
Replies (25)
October 26, 2015
I'm my opinion( and I'm picky) it looks awsome. I wouldn't remove it. Granted people have said that about the half sleeve I'm getting rid of, but try wear it some. If you still don't like it then do something about it, but I would give it some time.
October 26, 2015
Thank you! The appointment is scheduled for mid December so I definitely have time to think about it, I am so on and off I just miss my perfect un-tatted skin! I see all these beautiful tattooed women and then I got one and it just wasn't me! I think I just like looking at them on others and not myself lol.
October 28, 2015
I feel ya. I'm the same way. I've seen some amazing tats and wish I had them, but after the process I'm going through, it makes me not want to get anymore. I have my second picoway next week.
October 28, 2015
Awesome, I'm following your progress as well. Are you opting for full removal? Or looking into a cover up?
October 28, 2015
As of right now full. But if it comes down to it and it all cannot be removed then I will get a cover up.
January 6, 2016
Just so you know, though, your skin afterward may not be what you expect. Especially if you have scarring from either of the tattoos, that's NOT going to go away, it will continue to be raised. The cover up looks beautiful, the colors are very nice.
January 6, 2016
Yea, it's something I think about every time I have a laser session. I'm sure she's thought the same.
October 27, 2015
Aww hon, sorry you're going through this...sending you hugs and lots of support from Florida.
October 28, 2015
I think both the original AND the cover up look great (although I think the cover up is better and doesn't look like a cover up at all).
I'm hoping that this sincere comment will make you like your tattoo a little more in case you decide removal is not for you.
I'm hoping that this sincere comment will make you like your tattoo a little more in case you decide removal is not for you.
UPDATED FROM Ryleesan1993
3 days post
Tattoo after first cover up session
After my initial tattoo I got my cover up done in multiple parts. This was what it looked like before the final cover. You can really see the tattoo underneath.
Replies (2)
October 29, 2015
Don't be so hard on yourself. Almost anyone covered in tattoos has something they regret. Be careful with lasers too. Not just anyone can do it. They will scar you too. I would wait until you have more money saved.
October 29, 2015
You will always see some of the old tattoo underneath. you will have scarring because of the multiple coverups
UPDATED FROM Ryleesan1993
3 days post
Question
So I'm going into my first treatment on Dec 12th. The clinic I'm going to is a non profit that only opens up one day every 5 weeks. From reading these blogs I've seen people say it's better the longer you wait between treatments, and that having them too close can cause scarring. Ultimately it's my choice I have to make, but I'd love any opinions. I could either go every 5 weeks, or I can go every ten weeks. What sounds better?? I just know I do not want to scar!! But I know with such a large tattoo I have at LEAST 2 years probably more to get this thing off.
Replies (7)
October 27, 2015
I also had a black tattoo, similar to yours, covered up with flowers. I do have to say, your cover-up came out WAY better than mine. I have been going through treatments for over 2 years now. It's going to be a long, painful, and expensive journey. So, I'd say, only remove it if you're really unhappy with it. I think it's best to wait at least 6-8 weeks between treatments. I wanted to get as many done, as quickly as possible, at first. After about 4 treatments, I started going less frequently, just because I dreaded the pain so much. It gives me a lot of anxiety. I also live in AZ, which clinic will you be going to? I'd really recommend either Phoenix Skin or Delete, they have the most up to date lasers. I am going to have my first treatment at Delete, with the Picoway laser. I was surprised at how reasonable the price was! Only $300 for my huge tattoo, granted, I don't think it would be that low if I hadn't already had 10 treatments on it. Good luck with everything!
October 27, 2015
Hey!!! Funny you sent me a comment, I sent you a Private Message earlier this morning!!! Your review is what got me on this site actually, being so similar to mine! And yes, I truly am unhappy with it:( I should have stopped after I got the first one but I opted for a cover up, having NO knowledge of tattoo removal. Pictures do not do it justice, as I'm sure you know. It looks GREAT in pics but I can look right down and totally still see the owl hiding underneath it. I'm going to a non profit called X-Tattoo removal. They use the Fotona which is a q-switch??? I'm still so confused with all the lasers and names. But I was looking into the pico AFTER I fade it with the other laser, to target the harder colors. I saw your quote was 750 for the first 6 treatments, and there is absolutely no way I can afford that, even with care credit or anything. They haven't given me a price on mine yet, but she said the smallest tattoo would be $65, with the largest (like sleeve size) being $175 which is their cap.
October 27, 2015
I really do hate it though. It's causing me so much depression and anxiety, I have a beautiful baby girl and it was making me feel like I couldn't even enjoy my family. The first few days was rough. I actually got this thing finished on October 12th. -__-
November 3, 2015
I know how horrible the feeling is. The only bad thing about the q-switch is that it will only really be effective on the black ink, since it treats at a 1064 nm wavelength. The red will ideally need 650 mm and picosure is definitely the best for green, blue and purple. Removing this tattoo effectively is going to be expensive. It was definitely a struggle paying $750 a treatment but now that I'm only paying $300, which is totally worth it. Today was my first treatment at Delete, in Phoenix with the picoway laser and it was my first pain free treatment! She was actually able to numb the whole thing! Phoenix skin could only numb a third of it. I would at least go there for a consultation with Dr Mundt, she may be able to work with you on price or set up a package. I told her I'd send people her way, so tell her Bianca referred you.
If q-switch is all you can afford then I'd say get started with that but you'll need the other lasers to clear the other colors.
If q-switch is all you can afford then I'd say get started with that but you'll need the other lasers to clear the other colors.
November 6, 2015
I feel for you, wishing you all the best. Hope the time goes fast for you. I know the wait is so hard. I was told 5 weeks apart, where I go the Lady said going more than that, the laser won't do anything.... She also told me from the first day of treatment to 5 weeks is when the ink is fading away. So you don't see a difference right alway :( I've had 9 treatments and still 6 or more to go :( .... I'm here for you too Linda
Hey there, first off I want to say that I think your tattoo is stunning, it's a shame you're not happy with it, it doesn't look manly at all. But I totally understand that you have to accept it and removing it is what will make you happy. Do you know what type of laser this doctor uses?
Hi Ryleesan1993, I don't know much about the Fontona QA, but I did a search on the site to see what the doctors had to say— doctor Mark Taylor says" Fotona QX-Max to be an excellent laser for resistant black ink." [ Read more]
Doctor Harold J. Kaplan explains, "For red, dark blue and black colors, the best laser is a q-switched Nd:Yg laser (Medlite, Revlite, Fotona QX Max, Quanta)." [ Read more]
I hope this helps, keep us posted. ☺
You're most welcome!