POSTED UNDER Tattoo Removal REVIEWS
My Tattoo Removal - 13 treatments so far!
ORIGINAL POST
Immediately after getting my tattoo and taking the...
palmtree16February 7, 2013
$5,018
Immediately after getting my tattoo and taking the bandage off I knew I hated it and it wasn't me. I didn't rush out and get it. I thought about it for a long time. But unfortunately I didn't end up loving it the way I thought I would. It's been almost a year and a half since I got it. I immediately started looking into removal options and went for a few consultations. I started removal only a few months after getting it.
I have now had 6 removal sessions. The first 5 were done with the medlite C6 laser. For my 6th treatment I switched to a new removal place because they have the new TATTX laser. I was started at a very low setting there since all my other sessions were at a different clinic and they didn't know how my skin was going to react. I have not noticed a difference since that treatment but I'm hoping when I go for my next session and the laser gets turned up I'll notice more fading. I really hope I can get rid of this thing, and without scarring. There are only a couple people who even know I have it and I hate the thought of anyone else seeing it. I dread summer because it's not exactly in a easy spot to hide.
I wanted to post a review because when I was looking for options I couldn't find many reviews from actual people undergoing removal.
I have a few photos I am going to try and post but I'm not sure of the exact date of them or what treatment it was. I don't have any recent ones since my sixth but nothing noticable has changed.
Replies (45)
February 12, 2013
wow, tons of fading, awesome!!! How many sessions did they predict for you for full removal?
February 12, 2013
The first place I went to said 6 - 8 treatments. But after 5 sessions there I wasn't seeing a huge difference. A lot of shading was gone but there is definitely still some there and the line work really has not changed. I think I still have a long way to go! :( Hoping full removal is possible.
February 13, 2013
I believe a full removal is very possible....what will you do if it does not completely go?
February 13, 2013
Continue to hide my back with high neck shirts and never go outside in the summer! lol I'm just REALLY hoping I don't have to worry about that :S I'm hoping to go for my next session soon! And really hoping that if it does go away I'm not stuck with scarring in its place!
February 13, 2013
I don't think you will have scarring, and based on the fading that has occurred already I am certain it will be fully removed.
Keep us posted.
February 14, 2013
You should do the R20 method. There's also an R0 method out but only in NYC.
February 14, 2013
I have read that scarring is more likely with the R20 method. As much as I want this thing gone I'm trying to be very careful since I don't want to be left with scars in its place. What is the R0 method?
February 14, 2013
That's interesting. I read that although there is more epidermal injury with the r20, there is no extra scarring. That's what all of the websites say. The r0 method is the same as the r20, but a topical cream is applied first, so there is no need for the 20 minute wait in between. Saves an hour and 20 mins per session. laserskinsurgery has a website about it. It doesn't allow a direct link.
July 10, 2013
I have been doing the R0 method. Makes the appointments very quick and I am seeing good results so far!
July 11, 2013
good. Mine is still a work in process, I have a whole bunch of hypo pigmentation and puffyness on the tattoo. I'm hoping it goes back to normal one day.
July 11, 2013
Yes, I have some redness, too, but it does fade somewhat between treatments. I am hoping to just get rid of the ink then deal with what is left. I try to space my treatments out a few weeks further than they recommend, too, to give the skin plenty of time to recover (and for me to save money!). I worry a bit about scarring and such, but luckily mine are in easy to hide areas (which sometimes makes me question why I am doing all of this to begin with - I just hate these two being on my body) so I imagine I can keep them under wraps for as long as it takes for scarring og pigmentation changes to fade. Good luck wtih yours! How many treatments have you had? And success?
July 11, 2013
I've had about 9 and they're pretty expensive here in NYC. We have to team together and tell the FDA to make it a requirement to use that ink that is easily removable. A company makes it now.
July 11, 2013
I actually switched and go to NYC now. We probably go to the same place. Which doctor do you see? And what colors is your tattoo? I was hoping with R0 I wouldn't have to do nine or more. Do you mean nine total passes of the laser or nine total treatments with several passes each time? How many do they do each time? Mine does three passes each time and I have gone three times so far. I just had my third so I have yet to see how it worked.
July 12, 2013
Not sure which dermatologist I saw. I did six regular sessions and three R20 sessions (four passes at once). My last one was four months ago, and there's still slight raised skin, and pinkness with hypopigmentation around the tattoo. It's all black, but three year old tattoo, so it's new.
UPDATED FROM palmtree16
I went for my my 8th treatment yesterday. (3rd...
palmtree16April 28, 2013
I went for my my 8th treatment yesterday. (3rd treatment with the Tattx laser). The laser was turned up to the highest setting and it hurt so bad! (They don't use numbing cream there - just cold air and ice packs for a couple minutes before). Immediately after the treatment my back felt super hot and sore but that didn't last for too long. Today it is just a little tender and very red.
I asked them to send my pictures to me so that I can post on here for everyone to see but I haven't received them yet. For now I tried taking a picture myself to show it but I apologize for the crappy quality! lol The picture definetly doesn't show how red it really is.
The tattoo is definetly lighter then before I started treatments but at the same time I was hoping for better results by now :(. The lady doing my treatment said she thought maybe 3 more sessions but said its hard to tell. I was told I would probably only need 3 or 4 treatments when I went for my Tattx consulation and it's already been 3! Hoping since they laser was turned all the way up this time I see greater fading (and no scarring).
I asked them to send my pictures to me so that I can post on here for everyone to see but I haven't received them yet. For now I tried taking a picture myself to show it but I apologize for the crappy quality! lol The picture definetly doesn't show how red it really is.
The tattoo is definetly lighter then before I started treatments but at the same time I was hoping for better results by now :(. The lady doing my treatment said she thought maybe 3 more sessions but said its hard to tell. I was told I would probably only need 3 or 4 treatments when I went for my Tattx consulation and it's already been 3! Hoping since they laser was turned all the way up this time I see greater fading (and no scarring).
Replies (1)
UPDATED FROM palmtree16
I have also noticed this time that the spots with...
palmtree16April 28, 2013
I have also noticed this time that the spots with lots of shading still left look sort of white / grey - I am hoping this isn't the start of scarring / hypopigmentation :S. Does anyone else experience this right after a treatment?
Replies (17)
April 29, 2013
You're doing great!! Thanks for the update and hang in there ok :)
April 29, 2013
Thank you! :) I'm always so worried after my treatments until it starts healing because it always looks so awful and I'm afraid I will scar. Now that the weather is getting hotter too its even worse because its harder to find clothes that will cover it. I'm hoping one day I can go out in public in a tshirt again! lol
July 21, 2013
Your fading looks amazing to me... I totally understand the clothing issues with heat, but we will all be there soon... I sustained slight scarring from initial placement of my tattoo in some areas, so it feels raised occasionally... I have read and was told if needed there's scar treatment later to even out the skin... But it should heal itself in time...
It usually does... It goes flat and then I get layered again...
April 29, 2013
I think the R20 method is definitely worth a shot. I've never heard of the TattX laser. Do you think it's working better than the Medlite? Maybe the tech had the settings low... sometimes they do that to keep customers coming back. You should look into the Revlite or the Picosecond laser. You are getting a lot of fading! Sometimes I guess these things just take time. I am scheduled for my first R20 on June 1st and I hope the outline of this newly applied tattoo goes away FAST!
April 29, 2013
I'm not really sure. Its hard to tell. I noticed a lot more fading with the medlite but that was because there was a lot of light shading and that is always the easiest to remove. I have noticed more lines breaking up. Most of the shading was gone by the time I started with the Tattx and linework takes a lot longer to remove. I do notice that my skin doesn't seem as damaged after the Tattx treatment though. The area usually looks back to normal pretty quickly and I haven't really blistered. I did ask them about the R20 method but she told me there is a greater chance of scarring with it. So I would rather continue doing it this way. As much as I want it removed I don't want a scar left in its place. Good luck with your treatment! Do you have a review posted?
April 29, 2013
aloha palmtree16, You are doing so great, I think you'll have excellent fading. I don't think you'll be having any scarring or hypopigmentation, from what I understand from others' treatments this type of thing happens with more treatments that are agressive. Don't let anything stand in your way of removing the ink. As for the number of treatments: during my initial consultation I was told ten, then after my second session I was told 15. This lead me to believe that there really is no way to tell how many sessions will be necessary, everyone is different, ink varies, and all of this is one big crap shoot. But I think it's worth the gamble. I have had one R20 session with three passes about five weeks again. The area still feels raised but I'm thinking this is just part of thehealing process. I slather on vit e oil and hope for the best. I know many people don't want a scar, but for me I'd rather have ink free visible skin with a small scarring that I could treat with mederma. Good luck! aloha...k
What a bummer to dislike the tattoo as soon as the bandage was removed. :( I'm sorry to hear that.
What was it about the TATTX laser that made you want to switch clinics?