Tattoo Removal

[fortheloveofdiamonds]

Since I posted in the Tattoo thread I thought I would start this thread for tattoo removal.

I had my first Laser Tattoo Removal session today. My tattoo is fairly small. 1inch by 1inch. The cost for the first session was $100. I arrived and was put into a room. I put on these funky sunglasses and the nurse proceeded with my tattoo removal. First she cooled the skin with by applying cold air onto my skin. The she "lasered" the tattoo. The pain was not as intense as I had anticipated. It was pretty mild really. The area looked HORRIBLE after the fact. It was all blistery white bubbles. Only a little bit of blood, pinpoints really. She rolled this cool roller on the affected area for about 5-10 minutes. She applied a dry bandage and told me not to remove it or get the area wet for 24 hours. She said that I should go home and start applying ice on the area because it would get very hot and to take some Ibuprofen. After 24 hours, I should remove the bandage and start applying neosporin for about a week. Once the area has completely healed, it will be time for a second treatment.

I have no pain after the fact. The area does not feel hot and I don''t feel the need to apply ice or take ibuprofen. I can''t wait to see how much it fades with this first treatment.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Is it going to scar?

 

[monarch64]

Ooo, thanks for starting the thread FTLD! I''m glad you''re not in serious pain. You know what would be even more awesome than starting this thread? Posting pics of your progress, LOL!

I''ll be tuning in to see how it goes for ya!

 

[aphisiglovessae]

I''m curious about the possibility of scarring as well. Let us know how it turns out!

 

[fortheloveofdiamonds]

Is it going to scar? That is a possibility. Most people don''t scar but it is a risk that you take. I hope not.

Posting pictures: Do you really wanna see my gross tummy? It will give children nightmares.

 

[aphisiglovessae]

Date: 3/22/2006 4:04:55 PM
Author: fortheloveofdiamonds

Posting pictures: Do you really wanna see my gross tummy? It will give children nightmares.

Oh come on, I''m sure it''s not as bad as you''re making it out to be.

 

[fortheloveofdiamonds]

Okay ladies. I will take pictures of it when I take the bandage off tomorrow so you can see what it looks like.

San Diego Lady: There is no way for them to tell how many sessions it will take for the tattoo to be completely removed. There is no guarantee that it will be completely removed even. Because the tattoo industry is not regulated, e.g. there is no regulation on what type of ink and how deep the tattoo is applied, it is difficult to tell how well it will respond to the laser treatment. Black and red are the easiest inks to fade. The "lighter" colored inks are harder to erase. My tattoo is black and dark purple.

Will post a narly pic tomorrow. It really did not look pretty at the dr.''s office!

 

[AmberWaves]

Did she say to apply the ice only if it burns? Maybe it could be for something else? I just want to make sure nothing bad happens if you don''t apply the ice pack.

Good for you, with getting it removed! You''re much braver than I am!

 

[fortheloveofdiamonds]

Amber,

She said to apply ice to remove heat. Since I had no heat coming out, I figured it wouldn''t matter. She has said that some ppl go back to work after the procedure and had wished they had gone home to apply ice. It didn''t seem to be a "you have to put ice on it" situation.

 

[AmberWaves]

Awesome, I just wanted to make sure- sorry!

 

[fortheloveofdiamonds]

Date: 3/22/2006 6:51:56 PM
Author: AmberWaves
Awesome, I just wanted to make sure- sorry!

No No, I totally appreciate the concern!!!!!

 

[fortheloveofdiamonds]

Here is a picture of the tattoo the day after the laser procedure. I have just removed the bandage.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Do you have a picture of the tattoo before?

 

[fortheloveofdiamonds]

unfortunately, I don''t. It pretty much looks like it does now except for the redness obviously. it was a butterfly with pixie dust.

 

[fortheloveofdiamonds]

I am looking forward to seeing the progress come the next few weeks.

What is the delay on getting yours removed San Diego Lady?

 

[AGBF]

Why are you ladies having your tattoos removed? SDL, you may have given a hint about yours. (You said you think it is ugly and also mention your ex-husband.) Is one of those reasons why you want it removed or are they incidental? (I mean, is it a tattoo saying you love your ex or something?)

I have no idea why fortheloveofdiamonds is removing hers.

 

[fortheloveofdiamonds]

AGBF,

My tattoo is around my belly-button. I am having it removed before I get pregnant. I know that the skin around there will be stretched and that it might "never" regain its elasticity. I am doing this to avoid a HUGE stretched butterfly on my tummy. Some may say, "it may not stretch," but I am not willing to take that chance at this point. I''ve had this tattoo since 1996 and was 18 at the time. It was a spontaneous moment that did not have much foresight. So now I must spend the money to rectify my wrong!

 

[AmberWaves]

SD lady, I remember my tattoo artist told me that reds are one of the hardest to remove. Which scared me because with a ladybug on my back, it''s almost all red. Just FYI.

 

[AGBF]

Date: 3/24/2006 9:30:11 AM
Author: fortheloveofdiamonds
It was a spontaneous moment that did not have much foresight. So now I must spend the money to rectify my wrong!

I think you have wonderful foresight now!! How many women would think about a tattoo before getting pregnant? You had the foresight to realize that (a) it might be ruined by pregnancy and (b) that, if stretched, it would harder to remove later! Very impressive!

Deb

 

[fortheloveofdiamonds]

Date: 3/24/2006 2:14:17 PM
Author: AGBF



I think you have wonderful foresight now!! How many women would think about a tattoo before getting pregnant? You had the foresight to realize that (a) it might be ruined by pregnancy and (b) that, if stretched, it would harder to remove later! Very impressive!

Deb

Thanks AGBF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! very sweet of you to say!

 

[Richard Sherwood]

Can you expand that picture a little bit?

 

[rainbowtrout]

lech

 

[Gemklctr]

Date: 3/25/2006 11:01:12 AM
Author: Richard Sherwood
Can you expand that picture a little bit?

Rich,
Glad to see the attitude.

I''m sure DF agrees with that sentiment. Hope you are doing well.

 

[fortheloveofdiamonds]

Date: 3/25/2006 11:01:12 AM
Author: Richard Sherwood
Can you expand that picture a little bit?

ROFL LMAO! Ummmmm, this is a pg rated site!

 

[Marilyn]

thank you so much for show''n ur pic
i recently had my eye brow tattoo and lip liner removed
and i been cry''n for days cuz i did not expect for it to look like how it does now
but after see''n ur pic
i feel alittle relieve to see that it is normal for the tattoo to turn red
so dont worry bout ur stomach , imagine me wit my whole eyebrow red like ur tattoo
i look so fuk up i wont leave my home now
please let me know when the redness goes away and the tattoo fades
i been browse''n the internet so much to find out if wat im go''n through is all part of the process
couldnt find nothing till i saw ur blog
thank you so much again

 

[fortheloveofdiamonds]

Hi SDL,

My tattoo has faded a little. You can see definite breaks in the outline. It is still healing, however. The nurse said it would take about 6 to 8 weeks to heal completely. Once it has healed completely I will go in for the next treatment. I will post a picture the day before I go for the treatment to get the best "fadage".

 

[fortheloveofdiamonds]

Marilyn,

You''re welcome dear. The redness will fade within a week. Try not to touch it at all or you can make it worse

.

 

[larussel03]

I''m going in for my first laser treatment on Thurs to have a NEW tattoo removed off my wrist--the artist did a terrible job, the lines are wobbley and it''s actually blurring a bit. It was supposed to be a snowflake, but if you see the attached pic, the lines are so badly done that I''m almost embarassed of the quality of it--it actually does not look like the stencil did, it was rubbing off as he did the tattoo and I think that he just ''improvised''. They say you have to plan a tattoo before getting it, think about it, well I did and the thing I did not do was thoroughly research the artist. Thankfully it was only a once-over with black ink so it should be "easy" to remove in 3-6 sessions. What an ordeal this is going to be.

 

[larussel03]

Sorry that was huge, here''s one for size reference, I''m so bummed that I have to pay $180 per session to get it removed...my friends dont think it''s that bad but I dont know...:

 

[larussel03]

Not to thread hijack but I''ve had my 3rd and the lines look thinner and it''s breaking up at points, but it''s nowhere near gone. I have a feeling it''s going to take a loooooooooooooooooooooooong time for mine to come off.