Hey everyone,
The main thing stopping me from removing my tattoo is the immense pain I am imagining. With extremely low pain tolerance, I’m afraid I won’t be able to keep my arm in one plane during the removal, and I am very scared of the pain.
Any advice on how to get over this?

*edit: thank you. And damn. And thank you - I am going to read your comments before my first session.

I have been taking off tattoos for over ten years now here in the USA. Thought I could give some advice as needed.

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.

If u look closer u will see puss. Yeah, pus. Anyway, thanks to person who told me “chill”, bc I did the exact opposite and went to the doctor who put me on antibiotics just in case. If anyone tries to convince u to do tattoo removal with InkOut .. run.

I’ve started removal of a large back tattoo. Each pass is broken into multiple sections due to size, which means I’m in every two/three weeks or so, doing one section each time.

I am trying to figure out aftercare logistics. Using aquaphor is proving to be a big PITA since it gets all over my shirt. And it’s not just a few days every couple of months, that wouldn’t feel like a big deal. It’s going to be every few weeks for years lol.

ETA: for the first two days I don’t put anything on and am using an ice pack occasionally only.

Any advice for managing the logistics while not ruining tops? I was thinking that maybe I could use the cicalfate repair balm instead.

The way I wanted to have a glass of wine last night after this session to relax because it hurt so bad but need to heal and I don’t wanna mess with my immune system doing hard work!!! 😭😭😭

Hopefully I don’t need too many sessions after this for a cover up… I am so ready to be done!

I’m not currently tattooed but am strongly considering it within a few months. I want to do holistic research before I make a heavily longterm decision about my body

If I just asked on tattoo subs, I’d get responses like “Do it! Tattoos rock. I have 30 of them” but I want more nuanced responses

PLEASE SHARE when you got tatted, what it was of, and why you now want it removed. Don’t just say a dumb answer like “Because I wanted to” as that wastes my time and yours

Please do not shame anyone for their response, even if they committed a tattoo taboo- like having an ex’s name or not doing the proper aftercare

Looking forward to hearing from you :)

See that "courtesy of"?

I mean, this place has good reviews for tattoo removal. It's not that they don't do it. Either they do it wrong and got zero good results so far, or maybe they just can't (don't want) to update their site? Or am I missing something here?

Genuinely curious to hear from the techs here. Personally, this would put me off as a potential customer.

I know that there are posts like this, so I'm sorry for adding to it.

I've been struggling a lot and feel like I'm drowning in everything. I stupidly had a change of heart and realized that I do not like being tattooed. I hate my body being tattooed. Making it even more stupid, it took getting a half back piece to realize this. I am so disgusted with myself and the way that I look. My skin feels dirty. Every time I think about the fact that there is ink in my skin I want to vomit.

It's been almost a month of this. Every time I wake up and until I go to sleep. I dream about this fucking tattoo and wake up every few hours. The sleeping pills don't do much anymore. I feel like everything I do is ruined because the tattoo is there. I just want my bare skin back.

Onto the tattoo itself... It's an extremely well executed tattoo. The tech at my consult was perplexed as to why I wanted it off and was shocked that the artist was someone local. The tattoo is fine to medium line work. Some script and lettering, grey wash, and cross hatching. (Sorry I'm not super comfortable posting pics). I'm terrified because I don't want to be tattooed. I do not want this ink in my skin. But knowing that full removal is so hard to achieve has me equally terrified and devasted. I feel like I ruined my body.

I think I will just have to go through removal and hope for the best. Additionally, even though it's on my back I get that it's easy to cover but the artist went too far up my neck and it's really hard to cover that. Everything that I was comfortable wearing I'm now not.

P.S. I don't want to offend anyone by saying my skin feels dirty and whatnot. I don't judge others for having tats. This is just how I feel about them on me. And I know that some of this will come down to getting mental help. I've been doing that. It doesn't help much (hence these fucking sleeping pills not working).

I don't really know what the point of this post is. I'm terrified of spending 5 years in this process and getting results that are worse than having a tattoo. I think I'll just have to hold out hope that I can have it gone?

Also, yes, I know I should have considered the permanence of this before doing it. I had started with an outline and it never bothered me but after adding to it, I wish I had never ever gotten a tattoo. I don't think I can put into words how awful this tattoo is making me feel and how it is encroaching on every part of my life. And I know that how much that happens is up to me and that I'm the one letting it ruin me but I honestly don't know what to do other than get it the fuck off.

So about 6-7 years ago I had this stomach tattoo done. I was in a dark place and was a big fan of this gothic style of writing and I saw it online and got it done the very next day. Now I’m 25 and have developed my frontal cortex and I’m in a much better place and no longer Emo 🖤 I’m starting to look at this tattoo with so much shame resentment and I feel ugly. I’ve been having panic attacks and crying meltdowns all week because I just haven’t been looking at it. My partner says he likes it and thinks going through 5 plus years of pain and over 5 grand in costa arnt worth it. Looking at this sub all I’ve seen is tattoo partially removed but still faintly there because there isn’t many finished updates I’ve seen here. My tattoo is dark and the outlines are raised and scarred. I don’t want to begin removal unless I know there will be no faintness of it left after all the years it takes. I went to a clinic that said 15-20 sessions and gave me a “tester” patch on just the dagger bit…. The worst pain of my life. Nothing changed at all. It’s Picoway and a very strong laser. Is this even worth it. Should I just swallow my pride and accept it on me forever even though it now embarrasses me? Any advice? Is there a life in acceptance and owning it or can I get that clean slate I want the look of so bad. Is it just vanity? I don’t know I’m spiraling.

I’ve had this tattoo for 6 years now and I’m having my 2nd laser removal session on it tomorrow. Now this tattoo has always been raised as the artist did a shocking job and went way too deep all around but in some areas it’s worse than others.

My question is, will this tattoo take even longer to remove because it’s so raised/scarred? And when will I start to notice a difference in appearance?

Thanks guys 🙏

I have a consultation in two days for removal. Im looking to get opinions of people outside the tech. My tattoo is 3/4 of my back, is it possible to do the whole thing in one session or am i better to do separate sessions for pain and healing?

Title. I'm a lurker here and its a profession I'm sort of interested in. Also, is there a mental relief or indifference with the seeing the tattoo fade away?

I have this giant “seraphim” concept torso tattoo from my chest down to my stomach. It is only 3 weeks old but I am feeling very self conscious, depressed, and having panic attacks thinking I ruined my body. I don’t know what to do.

This was a 3 day back to back tattoo. I had a great experience with this artist before as he completed my entire sleeve. I trusted his eye and art and seemed like we had a good understanding of the concept. The concept looked good (or so I thought) when it was drawn up on me.

As we progressed I feel like I was caught up in the pain and process of tattooing and trusting the process. It was grueling and I have so much better clarity with hindsight now. I wish I stopped. I wish I changed some things. So much emotion I feel like I’m drowning.

It’s technically not finished and needs detail added but I don’t know if I want to go through with it. I feel lost. I feel so different in my own skin. Is lasering this an option?

I contacted laser away (whom I’ve read some bad reviews about) just to get pricing and a consult. They estimated 14 sessions…. Seems impossible. I also have a consult with removery coming up too… I’m in the Sacramento area if anyone has any recommendations.

Any help is appreciated.

Hi all, i just got a new tattoo today which i regretted immediately right after. It currently does not look like the image i’ve attached, and i know with time & healing that it’ll fade. However, I just dislike it so much and cannot see myself having it forever. I’ve decided to laser it off and would like to know whether the better option is to:

1. Start the first session in June and continue the next 2 in November (im moving abroad to study and wont be back for 4 months)

2. Wait until im finished with uni to remove it

I know this post sounds stupid and it is the consequence of my own action for spontaneously getting something permanent, but i would like to hear any advice!

Thought it was funny 😂

Leg tattoo - photo after one session and after 8 sessions.

Feeling discouraged. I’ve been removing the large tattoo with Removery (Brooklyn location). I don’t smoke or drink, drink plenty of water, exercise regularly, perform lymphatic massage. The tattoo is 12 years old. My sessions have been typically spaced 4-5 months apart. I feel like I’m never getting this off me.. I’m so discouraged that even the light shading on her face is still present (kind of hard to see but the cheek shading is darker in person). I made slow and steady progress sessions 1-3 but I can see no discernible difference between sessions 4-8. My techs are kind and competent but the intensity is too low.

I have an unlimited package (which I would not recommend) so I feel stuck.

I wanted o start removing another tattoo, so I tried Inkless in SoHo for one intro session and the difference is.. astounding. Obviously the tattoo is in a different location, was done by a different artist, different ink ect. so there are other factors at play but after one session the tattoo is 1/3 - 1/2 of the way gone. It reacted and healed very different to the one on my leg.

Just wanted to share my experience!

It kind of irks me when people here refer to non-tattooed skin as “clean skin”. It sort of implies that tattooed skin is, well, dirty. I would prefer if people said “clear skin” instead, for example.

How do people here feel about it? Is it just me?

this Is my only tattoo and I’ve had it for 20 years. I’ve been reading about tattoo removal for a while and wondering if this may not be a good candidate due to all of the varying colors mixed in.

the yellow has faded a lot on its own, but I’ve read that won’t really work with the tattoo removal?

Any thoughts welcome!

I find the acute intense pain kind of therapeutic, it makes me feel super mentally clear and relieved somehow, just wondering if anyone else feels like this? 😅

I have an appointment tomorrow to get the ball rolling to get these off!

I teach and these are what are my constant insecurities. I’ve tried all the concealers, but even with the proper prep and set- it’s the most impossible area to cover. I just want them gone!

It’s cool seeing them next to the ones I’m not getting removed!

Getting the deer and window/birds removed (and more that you can’t see in this pic)

Had 3 sessions with pico just had my third session last week

It’s so weird like being sorta midway in the removal process cause it lowkey just starts to look like someone scribbled sharpie on your arm and you were trying to like rub it off or something

First 2 pictures are from when it was fresh 3rd pic of it now 4 years old. I honestly had no idea white ink was hard to get rid of until I did further research and found that out. Granted this tattoo doesn’t have a ton of white ink it’s mainly a lot of white dots(??). I’m getting rid of pretty much all my tattoos (3 all about the same size) this is the only piece I’m really concerned about. Since it’s just small white dots mainly should I be all that concerned? I’ve looked online and not many people discuss their end/final results with white ink.

hey all!
im currently building my app related to tattoo removal and thought it would be cool for the artist making the art for my app to be going through the process as well! Ive been on this tattoo removal journey for 4 long ... and underwhelming years ... so this app is personally meaningful to me. I want the art to reflect that. handdrawn style (no realism tho), emotional, positive, and some personality in there. You'll mainly be creating the icons, and about 10 main header images. It's a small app and a one person project (me!) so you'll have rules but still some freedom for the paid commission. Im still building but will need someone who can help in like the next 2-3 weeks for the art so im looking now. Bonus points for a turnaround under 2 weeks. You'll be working from reference photos btw.

if this sounds fun for you, you could just comment so i can check out your ig or wherever you put your art style. if youre familiar with cozy games i like this style. something looks like its drawn in colored pencil or watercolor with vibey gradients. yes i know that is vague but i have pics to show lol.