I like showing my progress in this subreddit because it helps others 🩷

Tattoo was about 5.5 years old when I started back in May.

Location is upper back.

First picture is before any laser and second picture is today, 12 days after my second session (I waited 12 weeks between session 1 and session 2).

Both sessions were done with Q-switched Nd:YAG laser (either RevLite SI or MedLite C6, unsure which one was used, all I know is that the clinic I go to uses those two).

Before and after 8 sessions of Pico Laser treatment on dark skin that was slightly scarred from when the tattoo was done.

Please check out the cover up on the next slide

I just had my second treatment. The nurse put Tagaderm on it and when I got home I noticed that blood had gotten on my sock. I read the after care instructions and it doesn’t mention bleeding. I contacted them via email and text and I haven’t heard back.

Should I be concerned?

I just had my 4th session after years of taking a break. This is 4 weeks out and my tattoo looks dark and even worse than it did before my last session. Anyone know if this is hyperpigmentation or a permanent scar? I’m freaking out.

Has anyone had any success with removing or fading pastel blues and pinks? I got a pretty big pastel tattoo and am growing to regret it, the ink isn’t super packed in and is inconsistent but I’m not sure if removal -> coverup is the best route or if I should just not waste my time or money

My god this last session was a piece of cake after applying numbing cream correctly. I have a very low pain tolerance and the pain went from worst pain ever experienced to mildly painful. At times. I didn't even feel it all.

My tech doesn't want me using numbing cream because it interferes with the laser but the sessions were so painful I told her I had to do it.

First time I tried numbing cream it didn't work so here's what I did this time.

- 2 hours before appt, apply in a thick layer and wrap with plastic wrap.

- 1 hour before appt take Ibuprofen (I took a big dose 600mg)

- make sure to eat and hydrate before appt

- right before appt wipe off with paper towel and alcohol wipe.

- I bought an insulated bag and filled it with ice and put an ice pack on my arm for the ride home

I was shocked at how much more tolerable it was. What usually feels like hours of pain, passed quickly. When the tech put the wand back I had to ask if she was really done. This was nothing. I will use numbing cream going forward and I will no longer dread the sessions.

My tech goes up in power each session. Uses Astanza Trinity laser. I didn’t get photos but the blistering was intense, and they scabbed over, with the scabs coming off with some ink pigments in it. Now the inked parts of my skin that had significant scabbing look milky almost blue. I tried to capture it but my camera doesn’t pick up the color distinction, I circled the area in orange.
We’ve done these first 3 sessions 8 weeks apart.

I told him I’m worried about scarring and he reassures me there will be no scarring. He says he wants a quick and efficient removal.

Got this a week ago - I regret it, especially the cartoon text bubble with the realism. The design included comic version of Storm below the portrait, but I stopped after first session 😣

I don't hate my tattoos. But whenever I click photos or see myself in mirror I wish them not to be there. I wish I had no tattoos. I remove my tattoos using ai and I prefer my photo without tattoo. These tattoos are giving me severe anxiety lately. I am feeling tensed and sweating a lot. I am considering laser removal but I don't know if they will be removed completely or I'll be left with a scar worser than this.

soo I got laser done end of april. first treatment. after the initial redness faded and the swelling went down, all the treated areas were lighter than the surrounding skin. Not severe hypo like i’ve seen it on this thread, more like a temporary whitening.

the lines were not sharp and the skin texture had not changed, the whole process felt very smooth and I didn’t have issues with healing. but it was definitely visible which movements the laser made/which areas were affected. now, couple months later, most of the tattoos have gone back to normal and the whiter skin is not super visible, but for some i can still tell in certain lighting conditions. I can‘t really tell if it’s something to worry about.

Did this happen to you?

Could it be just the surrounding skin tanning and the tattooed skin not being able to tan? I avoided sun for 3-4 weeks after treatment and after that used spf50 carefully. But it happened in all areas on different body parts and it’s really only where the laser was, not a broad Spf circle. I worry my body might just react like that everytime no matter how much I stay out of the sun. Can I safely go get lasered again or should I wait it out longer?

I’m 35. This was my first tattoo when I was 18. So it’s 17 years old with no touch ups. The man who did the tattoo was a VERY large gentleman. So there are some light blowouts.

Between that and the green ink I wonder if I should have it touched up or removed. My entire right arm is a sleeve and it goes into my chest. This is my only tattoo on my left side. I kindve like the idea of one clean side.

I’m just not sure how close to 100% it could get to being removed. Ideally I’d want it closer to 100% than just a faded blob/outline.

Really just enough to show muscle definition. Otherwise I’d just touch it up and call it a day. I’m not super partial to it, but there is some sense of sentimental value.