Tattoo Removal

Steph0871

Anyone done this? I know it's a totally random topic, but I don't know where else to post it

I have a tattoo on my wrist that's bigger than I intended (yes, I saw the drawing. I was just SOSUPEREXCITED to get it that I figured it wasn't really *that* big. Yes. Yes it is.)  It's bothered me since about the day after I got it, which was... 2 years ago?  There's a place in Minneapolis that has great reviews, and I think I'm going to make an appt with them for pricing, etc.

But, has anyone done it? Does it hurt really really bad? Is it super expensive?

SarahPLiz

My friend did it. She said it was extremely painful. It was like standing too close to the sun for an hour. Her words, nut mine. And there is usually some scarring, especially on olive and darker skin. But if it's that important to you, go for it!

aprovencher21

My cousin is in the process of having it done to a huge tattoo on her shoulder.  It seems pricey and uncomfortable.  She's kinda a wimp about pain so I don't really imagine her continuing with the treatments if it was super painful.

SarahPLiz

Damn iPad typo.

aprovencher21

Are there various processes to do it?  Some more painful vs. others?

kd.joseph

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_tattoo-removal?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:17Discussion:3f2cafb4-478c-4f25-9b24-5647f6651874Post:f0df8875-8d68-4e8c-8560-d1deaa128703">Re: Tattoo Removal</a>:
[QUOTE]Damn iPad typo.
Posted by SarahPLiz[/QUOTE]

Sure blame the Ipad!

Steph0871

Well, in all fairness, it's a really small tattoo, in only light black ink. It's just on my wrist, maybe  2"x2", and really fine lines (just two words in German.)  So HOPEFULLY it won't take too long, and it won't be too expensive.  Although, it's on my wrist, which sucks.

Steph0871

P.S. neither of you are helping my nervousness.

Steph0871

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_tattoo-removal?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:3f2cafb4-478c-4f25-9b24-5647f6651874Post:062c3b9f-f9e5-4b95-9383-5c36a96004e9">Re: Tattoo Removal</a>:
[QUOTE]Are there various processes to do it?  Some more painful vs. others?
Posted by aprovencher21[/QUOTE]

<div>Technically, but I think the 'best' is the laser removal. </div>

aprovencher21

I almost got the playboy bunny tattooed on my ass when I was 18.  That would totally look awesome in 50 years.

MRSBJS

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_tattoo-removal?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:17Discussion:3f2cafb4-478c-4f25-9b24-5647f6651874Post:e3ce9ae8-6836-47f9-97ff-4908409600f5">Re: Tattoo Removal</a>:
[QUOTE]I've heard it hurts like hell. I have a tattoo on my tummy that I want removed and was told it could be close to $1000 to get it taken off.  Stupid $50 tattoo when I was 18...sigh.
Posted by ILoveMilkDuds[/QUOTE]

That's me, too - except on my leg. I really only want one word of it removed, but I don't have $1000 to spend on laser removal...ugh <img src="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-undecided.gif" border="0" alt="Undecided" title="Undecided" />


P,S, Steph, when do you sleep? lol

anna.oskar

i'm so glad my father, on my 13th birthday, made me swear not to get a tattoo until I was 25.

Steph0871

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_tattoo-removal?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:3f2cafb4-478c-4f25-9b24-5647f6651874Post:7620693c-21a9-451b-a5f8-0f46ef9ac134">Re: Tattoo Removal</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Tattoo Removal : That's me, too - except on my leg. I really only want one word of it removed, but I don't have $1000 to spend on laser removal...ugh <strong>P,S, Steph, when do you sleep?</strong> lol
Posted by MRSBJS[/QUOTE]

<div>huh?</div>

aprovencher21

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_tattoo-removal?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:17Discussion:3f2cafb4-478c-4f25-9b24-5647f6651874Post:0f19ffe8-19ae-468b-8349-aa694cd0cb51">Re: Tattoo Removal</a>:
[QUOTE]i'm so glad my father, on my 13th birthday, made me swear not to get a tattoo until I was 25.
Posted by anna.oskar[/QUOTE]

My parents were relaxed about most things but not tattoos.  They informed me if I got one anywhere then I was paying for college all on my own.  I could never think of anything I needed inked on myself badly enough to forgo having their support in college.  It worked nicely cause it always made me second guess anytime I got crazy.

MRSBJS

You were the first post I saw this morning and you'll be the last post I see before bed

Steph0871

oh. It's only 9 here.  I usually pop on in the morning while H is in the shower.  I actually sleep a lot lately lke 9-6 or 10-6.  Just good timing I guess!

MRSBJS

Well, I'll see you in the morning then - I have to do SOMETHING at work lol

achiduck

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_tattoo-removal?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:3f2cafb4-478c-4f25-9b24-5647f6651874Post:1f5ebaab-667b-4558-a0ba-e03a4d136dac">Re: Tattoo Removal</a>:
[QUOTE]I almost got the playboy bunny tattooed on my ass when I was 18.  That would totally look awesome in 50 years.
Posted by aprovencher21[/QUOTE]
Oh my...

mob2689

My daughter almost has hers completed. It has taken her 12 sessions,(each being six weeks apart) With each visit the pain gets more intense then the last. She said it feels like  someone is snapping rubberbands on the area hundreds of times per minute. They also said the # of treatments depends on how professionaly the tat was done. Professionals get the ink in deeper which takes longer to remove. They also told her the darker the color the harder and more treatments it takes to remove if the tat was professionaly done. Size, in this case,  doesn't matter LOL

kimheartsscott

I heard it's painful as shiit, the scars are not pretty and it's expensive and takes forever.  Honestly, if it were me I would get a cover up tattoo (won't work for you since it's already too big) or a nice wide band wrist watch.

jasmineh7777

Have you heard of that cream? I think it's called Wrecking Ball, or something like that. It fades tattoos pretty well from what I hear.

reddy123

Noooo creams Jas. No, no, no.

I agree with PP's removal is very painful. Not impossible, but much worse than getting the tattoo. And it can take two to six 'treatments', the first one may not do the job right away. 

Go in for a consultation! You may get the answers you need, and it could be something you plan or save for.

ETA: NM, PP said 12 treatments, damn, that must've been a big tatt?

jasmineh7777

Why no creams Reddy? Do they cause cancer? Or give you super powers?
 My friend was just talking about that one the other day. Should I tell her not to use it?

ootmother2

Drugs

Drugs are the answer here and the more you can scarf down, withing reason, the better.

Look at your wrist. Do you see anything other than skin and the bones below?  That makes the location of the tattoo more difficult to work on.  Less flesh = more pain.

Drugs

before, during and after

HTH

reddy123

I don't actually know a whole lot about the creams, Jas. I just know they aren't approved by the FDA and promise a fairly quick, easy process for something that costs the rest of the world A LOT of pain and money to do? I just smell something fishy. Like diet pills. They promise too much for too little.

Laser Tat removal = heating the ink up so hot with lasers the ink particles break down much smaller, and the body absorbs/rejects them.

(In my imagination) Creams= an acid or salt scrub that is deteriorating the skin. Again, I don't know much about how the creams work, I only know about laser removal. Which does scar and kill skin cells, but it's much more controlled than a cream (and researched?).

reddy123

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_tattoo-removal?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:3f2cafb4-478c-4f25-9b24-5647f6651874Post:8d3253d6-86ba-4ec6-ac53-afcace91be57">Re: Tattoo Removal</a>:
[QUOTE]Drugs Drugs are the answer here and the more you can scarf down, withing reason, the better. Look at your wrist. Do you see anything other than skin and the bones below?  That makes the location of the tattoo more difficult to work on.  Less flesh = more pain. Drugs before, during and after HTH
Posted by ootmother2[/QUOTE]

<div>lol, it took me ten times to read this and realize you were talking about pain killers.</div>

avsfan33

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_tattoo-removal?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:3f2cafb4-478c-4f25-9b24-5647f6651874Post:cbe3d0dd-29f3-4c4e-8b2a-508738e131d2">Re: Tattoo Removal</a>:
[QUOTE]I don't actually know a whole lot about the creams, Jas. I just know they aren't approved by the FDA and promise a fairly quick, easy process for something that costs the rest of the world A LOT of pain and money to do? I just smell something fishy. Like diet pills. They promise too much for too little. Laser Tat removal = heating the ink up so hot with lasers the ink particles break down much smaller, and the body absorbs/rejects them. (In my imagination) Creams= an acid or salt scrub that is deteriorating the skin. Again, I don't know much about how the creams work, I only know about laser removal. Which does scar and kill skin cells, but it's much more controlled than a cream (and researched?).
Posted by reddy123[/QUOTE]

It isn't the BEST article to use but I found this (it's Canadian).

<a href="http://www.cbc.ca/streetcents/guide/2005/08/s02_01.html" rel='nofollow'>http://www.cbc.ca/streetcents/guide/2005/08/s02_01.html</a>

aprovencher21

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_tattoo-removal?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:17Discussion:3f2cafb4-478c-4f25-9b24-5647f6651874Post:cce64546-7f46-4afa-b3fd-02ff63cb354b">Re: Tattoo Removal</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Tattoo Removal : lol, it took me ten times to read this and realize you were talking about pain killers.
Posted by reddy123[/QUOTE]

Me too.  I thought she was recommending that Steph get high so she wouldn't see her tattoo clearly anymore.

ootmother2

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_tattoo-removal?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:17Discussion:3f2cafb4-478c-4f25-9b24-5647f6651874Post:cce64546-7f46-4afa-b3fd-02ff63cb354b">Re: Tattoo Removal</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Tattoo Removal : lol, it took me ten times to read this and realize you were talking about pain killers.
Posted by reddy123[/QUOTE]

Yes, I have friends that have done tattoo removal and said it was pretty painful, hence, my suggestion that you take some pain meds before starting on this plan

sorry if I wasn't clear before

mob2689

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_tattoo-removal?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:17Discussion:3f2cafb4-478c-4f25-9b24-5647f6651874Post:d98acf01-92e6-4ad4-9534-29c4638b6667">Re: Tattoo Removal</a>:
[QUOTE]. ETA: NM, PP said 12 treatments, damn, that must've been a big tatt?
Posted by reddy123[/QUOTE]

Not good with guesstimates but hers was maybe 5" x 3" .......she had a top tat professional do it in the area. They used alot of  dark color in hers. The lighter the color the easier it is to remove.(you can't even tell there was anything where the lighter color was)

It's not cheap! I think she has one more or just finished her last one.( They gave her 2 free sessions since it is a hard tat to remove) When I was down there last month, and I looked at it, I could vagely see it (sorta looked like a connect the dots pictures, but the dots were faded pen marks), . She doesn't have any scars. I am guessing because of the time they spaced between  each treatment. It gave the skin time to heal. She has been going for 16 months I think.. (The first 3 were closer than 6 weeks apart) Traveling 2.5 hours one way each visit.
 
As PP said the thinner the skin the painfuller(if that's a word) it is which. The wrist would be painful as well I would imagine.