POSTED UNDER Tattoo Removal Reviews
Complete Inner Bicep Tattoo Removal
wilks1986's provider
UPDATED FROM wilks1986
4 years post
The End
I've decided not to persue any more treatment; the remaining ink is so faint and minimal it's just not worth battering the skin again to try and get at it.
I recently saw a doctor about the option of dermarolling to smooth the scar tissue out, but she said it was so slight that, again, it wouldn't be worth it. She felt the skin would continue to improve by itself.
So, this will be my last update. I'm really happy I persevered with this process. I won't lie, it's been horrendous (but it doesn't have to be). Tattoo removal isn't fun, it takes an age, its expensive, it's painful but if you stick with it, you can obtain full clearance (or as near as possible).
I hope my blog provides people with a little bit of comfort. I know all too well how much of a strain this process can be mentally (which you can see throughout my blog entries!). For a good while I was pretty damn depressed about the whole situation. I hope this community continues to thrive, as I found it a really useful platform to get my thoughts and feelings out amongst folk who are dealing with the exact same issue. It's been a real help.
The main advice i can give is be prepared to invest a decent amount of time in the procedure. Generally, you're talking in years rather than in months, but time (and an experience technician) is what wins this battle.
All the best,
Paul.
I recently saw a doctor about the option of dermarolling to smooth the scar tissue out, but she said it was so slight that, again, it wouldn't be worth it. She felt the skin would continue to improve by itself.
So, this will be my last update. I'm really happy I persevered with this process. I won't lie, it's been horrendous (but it doesn't have to be). Tattoo removal isn't fun, it takes an age, its expensive, it's painful but if you stick with it, you can obtain full clearance (or as near as possible).
I hope my blog provides people with a little bit of comfort. I know all too well how much of a strain this process can be mentally (which you can see throughout my blog entries!). For a good while I was pretty damn depressed about the whole situation. I hope this community continues to thrive, as I found it a really useful platform to get my thoughts and feelings out amongst folk who are dealing with the exact same issue. It's been a real help.
The main advice i can give is be prepared to invest a decent amount of time in the procedure. Generally, you're talking in years rather than in months, but time (and an experience technician) is what wins this battle.
All the best,
Paul.
Replies (2)
July 28, 2017
Congratulations on making it to the end! You're journey has been inspiring and seeing your whole progress through this review has been so uplifting, so... thank you!
September 14, 2017
Hi Paul.
I know we've messaged before a couple of times on here. Firstly I just wanted to say congratulations! I am so happy for you that you've managed to completely remove the tattoo, youd never know it was there!
We spoke before because I have the same issue with the rusting colour. I'm going back for session #4 today. I was wondering if you can remember when the laser started to remove your rusty colour ink. Did they carry on treating it as if it was black ink (what mine are currently doing) or did you see someone who amended the settings to specifically target that cplour.
Im looking to speak to my technician tonight about one more session on the normal setting to remove some more black and then maybe some test patches in 8 weeks to try different settings and target the browny colour. Would appreciate any advice!
Many thanks
September 14, 2017
Hey. As I recall we pretty much continued treating it up until about treatment 8 or so, with the same laser. I still don't know for sure what caused it - whether it was the ink breaking down or excess skin pigment following the inflammation caused by the laser, or both! The main thing that saw it fade away was time. As of right now it's still very faintly visible but still seems to improve gradually month by month. I reckon it'll still be another year before the final, final result, which is no problem. I remember how much i despised the initial rusty colour after those first couple of treatments, but it did fade to almost nothing eventually. Hopefully you can take some comfort from that. Keep persevering with the treatments and give yourself plenty of time between sessions (months rather than weeks). That sounds daunting but it really pays dividends in the end and the time will pass faster than you think. Good luck!
September 14, 2017
Thank You! I went and had session 4 today. The laser snapped and hurt on bits of black but I felt barely anything on the brown. I had a new technician and she said that if it wasn't snapping that the rusty colour probably wouldn't come out. Did you ever have it where it wasn't snapping and turning white on the brown parts? I was doing quite well with the whole thing until today, bit of a set back! Next session booked for 12 weeks and I left it 10 between the last one.
October 15, 2017
Congratulations on our perseverance! I can see that it was I longer emotional and physical journey! I'm so thankful to have had the opportunity to read most of your blogs. I got my first tattoo January 2017. Something I had wanted for a long time. I did my research, found. Great reputable shop. Little did I know they gave me a guy who had only been doing tats for one year! He could not do what I wanted saying it would be big. But it wasn't in the picture I had So I let him talk me into changing what I wanted... big mistake! And I let him do it. I had immediate regret as soon as Ieft. I cried every day for a week. I immediately started searching how to get it removed. I called the tattoo shop and spoke to the owner and told him how disappointed I was. He offered me 1/2 removal there. But i had to wait 3mos to heal first. My sister talked me out of laser and told me to try what they offered, so in April I did. I found out later it was a medical grade acid that they tattoo in circular dots off of a marked grid.
(My tattoo is several small ones in a cluster 4x6)
So they did about 30 dots. That bled, scabbed, itched horribly, scabs fell off and slowly healed to clear light skinned spots. I couldn't stand the thought of going through that over and over again for over a year. So, I just hd my first pic sur laser treatment a week ago. It didn't hurt near as bad. Maybe because they blew cold AC air on it while doing it. She was done in less than 10 mins. It was white when she was done, no bleeding and very little burning. They smeared a lot of aquafor on it. Put non stick bandage and said to keep wrapped for a week or longer if I have blisters. Then no bandage but a thin oat of aquafor every day.
I was just wondering if you can tell me how you cared for your skin during the process? I'm thinking I should peel off the loose skin where the blisters popped?
I've always been told I have great skin and I heal very well.
Thanks
UPDATED FROM wilks1986
4 years post
Still here!
Hey guys, just a quick update (apologies for not posting sooner).
I haven't had a treatment in over a year now and my skin has thanked me for it. I am still debating whether or not to have one final one perhaps in the winter to target a few rogue areas where the ink is still very slightly visible.
Under harsh light and at the right angle it's quite obvious that the skin is raised. I'm not sure if there is anything that can be done about this, but if not it seems a small price to pay and is probably only noticeable to me.
Couple of pictures below to show how we're looking (they make it look a little better than it is in reality, but just so you can get an idea).
I'll post again later in the year!
I haven't had a treatment in over a year now and my skin has thanked me for it. I am still debating whether or not to have one final one perhaps in the winter to target a few rogue areas where the ink is still very slightly visible.
Under harsh light and at the right angle it's quite obvious that the skin is raised. I'm not sure if there is anything that can be done about this, but if not it seems a small price to pay and is probably only noticeable to me.
Couple of pictures below to show how we're looking (they make it look a little better than it is in reality, but just so you can get an idea).
I'll post again later in the year!
Replies (5)
June 2, 2017
This is a great reminder that slow and steady wins this race. So happy for your awesome results!
June 16, 2017
You give me great hope as I begin the removal process!
June 19, 2017
I'm removing a full sleeve so believe me when I say that you'll have no problems removing your small tat.
July 5, 2017
Wow, that's amazing. You can't even tell it was there. Thank you for sharing your story with us.
Replies (5)