Post # 1
Member
27 posts
Newbee
Hi bees! I covered myself in tattoos when I was young and reckless and now I am racing the clock to get them off of me via laser treatments before the wedding. What can I say? I thought I was edgy and alternative and I wanted to be Angelina Jolie when I grew up. Now I look in the mirror and think “What WAS I thinking?” Especially the one on my wrist. I suppose the others can wait but I can’t have this tattoo in all of my ring exchange photos.
Anyone else deperate to enter married life with a clean skin slate so to speak?
I most recently decided to try a co2 laser. They carry a higher risk of scarring but I’m told the effects are much more significant. It. Was. Terrible. I was immobile for a week; I couldn’t even dress myself. I am posting a photo of the one on my wrist post-co2 laser treatment because it’s not too gory. Other, less, um, appetizing pictures can be found here: http://www.princessburlap.com/tattoo-removal/
Post # 3
Member
6317 posts
Bee Keeper
It’s almost gone… that’s a good sign! Ouch, getting them removed sounds painful. Just another reminder why I am never going to get inked myself lol. I definitely am fickle.
I hope that you achieve your goal – good luck!!
Post # 4
Member
722 posts
Busy bee
Jeez that looks awful! Ive been getting lasering done every 7-8 weeks since christmas and although my tattoo is fading, i have my doubts as to whether it will ever be completely gone. my tattoo is on the back of my neck though, so thankfully i cant see it while its healing.
do you think the co2 laser worked well enough? Im almost at the point i just want to surgically remove the damn thing lol im not removing it for the wedding. I could care less if my family and friends see it. Im doing it for professional reasons. I dont want to be judged based on a stupid 18 year old decision by my patients or colleagues.
this is my progression from before (top left), after first treatment (top right), after second treatment (bottom left), and after third treatment (bottom right)
And this is just after my sixth:
Post # 5
Member
2294 posts
Buzzing bee
I’m currently having tattoo removal done on my wrists using a Quanta Q-switch laser.
Did you just have the one treatment? I’m now 7 treatments in with the Q-switch.
I’m post-marriage, but getting them removed now that I’ve “grown up.” The actual procedure is quite painful, but after the laser stops, I am good to go, other than a little tenderness.
Before any treatments & after 6 sessions:
Post # 6
Member
7384 posts
Busy Beekeeper
I want several of my tattoos removed because they suck, but I’m too scared to throw money at a non-problem. I know a place here that basically uses a tattoo gun to scratch over the tattoo and then douses it with saline solution, which, to me, sounds like it would work.
Post # 7
Member
2294 posts
Buzzing bee
@vorpalette: That would *not* work. Sorry. That would cause scars and all sorts of nastiness, but would not remove your tattoo.
Lasers, CO2 and excision remove tattoos. That is it.
Post # 8
Member
938 posts
Busy bee
I had a tattoo removed (about the size of a quarter, over my heart) about 4 years ago. I could have likely gone for a few more treatments, however if you didn’t know it was there, and didn’t inspect me closely, you would not see anything there. To the OP (and others), if you can get it faded enough before the wedding, you should be able to at least cover it up. (Mine was impossible to cover with cosmetics)
Post # 9
Member
216 posts
Helper bee
@Dayna_RA: Hi, I stupidly covered my arms in tattoos between the ages of 17 and 19…. I am just glad I got some sense and didn’t get more. I am usually ok about it and just cover my arms but wedding dress and tattoos just don’t go 🙁
I have been having laser tattoo removal doing 3 at a time for the past 2 years but they are just fading really slowly (rubbish immune system). I have found some glamerous fingerless gloves which go with my dress though and I will just photoshop the other tattoos that I don’t like out.
I have considered some rather drastic action but am just taking it slowly.
Yours is tiny and hardly notceable, you could get rid of any of those tattoo marks using a very simple photo program or even ask your photgrapher to do it for you.
Post # 10
Member
27 posts
Newbee
@dv3849: The co2 laser was highly effective in removing the ink. When I get home I’ll post some “today” photos for comparison. I’d say it lightened them about 40% after only one treatment, but some of them scarred. I personally would rather have scars than these big ugly things all over me, but it’s an extreme route to go. I looked like something out of a horror movie in the two weeks after treatment. If you dare follow the link haha you can see the carnage in the month that followed.
http://www.princessburlap.com/tattoo-removal/
I am currently evaluating if I want to go through that again or go back to the nice, non-violent lasers that maybe take longer but won’t have me out of work for three days.
Post # 11
Member
946 posts
Busy bee
If yours are all as faded and far along as that photo you should be in great condition by the wedding. Even if they are not totally gone you should easily be able to cover them with makeup at this point.
Post # 12
Member
27 posts
Newbee
@urchin: I had the Q-switch done twice on the wrist one prior to the CO2 laser but the results were really minimal. I know it is a gradual process and the Q-switch really is the way to go because it helps avoid scarring. I’m just so ready to have them gone forever.
The ones on the link (the very large obnoxious bloody ones) had never been treated, the CO2 was the first treatment I had on the big ones, and the results were very significant. About half of them scarred though so it’s a trade off.
Also of note, the CO2 treattment was MUCH cheaper. $400 to hit all of my big ones. I paid that same amount to hit the tiny one on my wrist and a similar small script one on my lower abdomen.
Again though, the scars… I will take Freddy Krueger scars over these tattoos though. They remind me of a person I used to be. A person I don’t even know anymore…
Post # 13
Member
7384 posts
Busy Beekeeper
@urchin: But saline solutions are used to clean out wounds (it’s the recommended form of aftercare for a piercing). I don’t know, I did a bit of research after a friend mentioned this method (a local place does it). I found this thread, but I don’t know how reliable that is. The saline flushes the abrasions and the ink and the abrasions are done with a tattoo gun to get them down to where the ink is. Sounded better than a laser lol.
Post # 14
Member
714 posts
Busy bee
@Dayna_RA: If you are really concerned about the one on your wrist can you wear a pretty, but thick bracelet or some kind of gloves on your wedding? Do you think some makeup on the area might help for photos?
Post # 15
Member
254 posts
Helper bee
@Dayna_RA: if you aren’t able to fully remove it, there’s a coverup at Sephora that will completely hide it!
Post # 16
Member
128 posts
Blushing bee
I have yet to see laser removal look inconspicuous and sometimes looks worse than if the person had just kept the tattoo. Saline and a tattoo gun does not sound like a win. Maybe a professional artist can airbrush the area?