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Thinking About Tattoo Removal - Big Black and Red Tattoo on Forearm

ORIGINAL POST

Thinking About Tattoo Removal - Big Black and Red Tattoo on Forearm

Hi to all,
as many of you, I'm thinking about removing a tatto I've just done on my forearm, regret came in quick.
It's not a bad tattoo (I actually think it's a work of art) and it's not the first I get; I'm regretting just this one only because of its placement on the forearm. I fear I'll never get used to see my arm like that.
I looked around the web for research, and I learned as much as I can about laser technology.
I might give a try to a doctor near where I live that's using Pico Discovery Quanta.
Everybody in this section of Realself is obviously asking about opinions from people who did similar treatments.
What I'm asking is: I know it won't be easy, it won't be short and it won't be cheap.
But I would be anyway positive to do a laser removal if I knew that slowly it will fade and get overall better. My fear is that, even with the latest technology, one could easily "hit the plateau" too soon, and get at the point where each successive laser session adds (or, should we say, subtracts) nothing more to (from) the previous one.
Some say black ink always will progressively go away, better if removed with the right lasers, even if it could take years.
But in other cases, I see people with pretty straightforward and small tattoo that are "stubborn" and keep almost the same appearance after the 8th-9th treatment.
I don't know what to think, please help me.
I've read many reviews here on Realself and elsewhere, they're useful, but I also get the impression that 90% of laser tattoo removals are "simpler cases" (both in a positive and negative sense) that don't make their way to forums and websites, because the subjects are rapidly satisfied by treatments or totally dissatisfied by them, and move on in silence and some kind of shame.
I dunno how to explain it in other words, that just my feeling.
Psychologically speaking, it would be great for me just to see it fade in time, even if it happens slowly.
One poster says "you go from anxiety and regret, to just be annoyed it's still there" when you start laser removal treatment. It would be enough for me, I think.
I do not fear little scars or depigmentations, I have others on my body (for different reasons) and I don't care about them.
I post a pic; you see the black and the red to be very flashy because the tattoo is fresh, and my skin is a little swollen. When it's healed, colors will be softer.
Any contributions would be helpful, thank you.

Replies (3)

I'm also concerned about the same things, haven't started treatment yet but I worry I won't get my tattoo fully removed, (half leg sleeve kind of, various colors) I see posts with simple tattoo removals, but complex tattoo removals seem to linger in before and after pics, when I'm not looking to get a cover up exactly? It's nice to know someone else shares my same anxiety. I think I'm aiming for a picosure treatment at least in the beginning of the treatments, that's my plan so far.
Hi to both of you! I have a “half leg sleeve” also. It has been 9 months now since I have started treatment and I have gone through a range of emotions both positive and negative-but it’s better than feeling always negative about disliking my tattoos when they were dark. I completed my 5th session yesterday and I have truly seen fading in all of them, some fade faster than others but they all are changing. I know it may be years and many many more sessions for complete removal but with the progress I have made so far I do believe it is possible. Good luck to both of you. Stay patient.
Have you made decisions or started treatments? Mine is colorful as well.. it can be very discouraging seeing some of the reviews for colours and it makes my anxiety spike too.. how did you decide or did you proceed with removl?
I like your tattoo! The feelings you have are very common. I was going through the same! It was too black, too bolt, to dominant.... I hated myself, I thought I I mutilated my body.
My suggestion is: give it time! You have a great quality artwork and it's only been there for a while. It's weird to accept something new on your body that hasn't been there before and the mind can go seriously crazy. However, many people feel like you are feeling right now. I did too.
However: I really like mine now! I sometimes have a bit of regret but feeling proud of it over weighs the negative feeling more and more.
I know it's easier said than done but stop obsessing with it. Stop reading about removal because it's just a horrible downward spiral.
I hope you come to like it, it's really cool!
I am feeling the same way with a tattoo in a similar spot. How are you doing now?? Any updates or decisions? ?? It can be confusing and discouraging to see some tattoos barely fade and others fade significantly and those small damn old ones be almost completely gone. It's hard to know what your results will be which is terrifying to take a leap like this.