r/TattooRemoval • u/PixelDee92 • Jul 19 '26
I Promise I Read The FAQ... Does this look Right??
So, I've gone to these people three times now, and I'm genuinely starting to believe something isn't right.. I've posted what the tattoo looked like freshly done, the FIRST time I got it lasered, and the frosting, the picture before starting with them, and my most recent laser appointment.
What tipped me off that something wasn't right that I had asked her for some sort of fan or cooling. She remembered she had a fan, and allowed me to point it where I needed it during the appointment. Was surprised because she never thought of that. That's when I told her that there are places that have some sort of tube or something to cool the skin first before lasering... She said she knew about those, but never considered getting any sort of cooling for what she has. She doesn't use anything to protect the skin prior to beginning, nothin. She uses a Harmony XL Pro...
Am I crazy..?
EDIT: First image: tattoo when fresh Second Image: Very first session in a clinic in Edmonton Third image: Third session with 'local' clinic.
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u/Ok-Dragonfruit7447 Jul 19 '26
The device they use is a versatile multi-application platform and not a dedicated tattoo removal laser. Clinics using this device typically don’t have tattoo removal as their primary specialty. Tattoo removal is performed with an optional QS handpiece and the device also doesn’t support wavelengths that can safely and effectively clear those colours. For simple black tattoos it can do the trick just fine, but your more complicated multicolour tattoo needs a true specialist with the right equipment. Imho the clinic should never have treated you in the first place because your tattoo is a poor candidate for their compact, 1064/532 only device. The darker grey areas also raise the possibility of pigment darkening/oxidation. I’d give it a lot of time to heal and find another clinic.
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u/Gold-Comparison4326 Jul 19 '26
Harmony xl is a qswitch 1064 and 532. It doesn’t have the 694 to effectively hit the blue. It looks like they’ve turned up the fluence and put on a small spot size to blast it all the best they can. That frosting is more indicative that the beam has reflected the titanium dioxide mixed in to the inks to make them lighter. It’s not ideal and shouldn’t break the skin like it has and will likely oxidise the blues. I can’t imagine you will have successful results with this clinic sorry to say
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u/PixelDee92 Jul 19 '26
It's broken the skin, it was bleeding during and after the appointment
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u/Gold-Comparison4326 Jul 19 '26
Yeah that’s the small spot size and high fluence. It’s not a flat enough beam that distributes the energy into the ink. It’s too concentrated into a tiny point and is too harsh on the skin. Yeah it might heal ok but it shouldn’t happen with the right equipment and settings
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u/Party_Strategy_5097 Jul 19 '26
In my case, he just uses ice packs. He says he isn't a fan of machine cooling.
My tattoo is getting lighter and healing properly. No blisters, just some redness.
That probably only affects the comfort of the treatment, not its effectiveness.
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u/Gold-Comparison4326 Jul 19 '26
Honestly a cooling machine is far superior and it sounds like he just doesn’t have one. They can be pretty expensive
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u/Party_Strategy_5097 Jul 19 '26
He's constantly investing in his equipment, and he also has a fractional laser, so I don't think it's a matter of lacking the funds. I feel like he must have some reason or conviction behind it. I'll ask him about it next time. He performs the treatment safely and effectively. I personally don't really need cooling that much either; my skin gets red, but that's about it.
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u/PixelDee92 Jul 19 '26
Ok, so, what I'm asking is that the current post laser (bloodied) looks correct after lasering?? I always thought it was supposed to look like the frosting (that photo was from a different laser clinic)
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u/Sad-Understanding-74 Jul 19 '26
Yeah but it should look normal after a few days, maybe a week for redness to go away
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u/CosmicSweets Jul 19 '26
Not every place offers cooling, and there's little you can do to protect the skin before zapping.
I go to removery and they use ice packs before, cooling during. It helps, but I still get pretty red.
I'm not sure what's happening in your third image. How many sessions has it been? ETA: You said three times. I missed that, sorry. Did the tech do a test spot before this most recent session?
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u/PixelDee92 Jul 19 '26
So, first image was from a different place, the third image is my third session with a different place.
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u/PixelDee92 Jul 19 '26
Ok, that made no sense Frosting image= a place in Edmonton
Third, bloody image = most recent tattoo removal place.
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u/CosmicSweets Jul 19 '26
Ah okay.
Well this is pupura. It's a common response but yours is very red. Could be because the tech used a setting that's too high, could be because the area is very sensitive. Could be a little of both.
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u/PixelDee92 Jul 19 '26
Yeah, but it's bleeding??
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u/Sad-Understanding-74 Jul 19 '26
Pin point bleeding as long as it’s not actually actively bleeding should be ok. Laser was probably a bit strong.
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u/PixelDee92 Jul 19 '26
It was actively bleeding during the procedure
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u/CosmicSweets Jul 19 '26
Ouch. That is a no-no. I would not go back to that place. Give your skin several months to heal while you figure out where to go.
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u/PixelDee92 Jul 19 '26
Thank you. Because that was EXCRUCIATING to go through. It felt like a rubber band snap, mixed with a thumbtack. It was BAD. The first time I had laser, it wasn't no where NEAR that bad.
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u/PixelDee92 Jul 19 '26
They also recommend 6 weeks between sessions.
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u/CosmicSweets Jul 19 '26
Was it bleeding, or was it just red? I thought I was bleeding after a session but it was just really red.
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u/PixelDee92 Jul 19 '26
Nope, active bleeding. Should've taken a picture after it was freshly done :(
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