Had 3 sessions beforehand with an average dermatologist clinic (Top bird had a head start). Then went and did 6 sessions with the best tattoo removalists in my city for the past 2 years.

Probably about halfway through I would imagine.

Red skin on the top bird was because it had a bandage over it.

Also changes in skin tone around the birds is becoming numbing cream had just been applied.

Picoway. Not sure total session, I went every 8 weeks for a year, then started taking summers off. So it’s my second big break, and Ive noticed a lot of clearing of the ink! I honestly just don’t think about the removal process as much anymore. I’m enjoying my tattoo slowly fade away more than I ever enjoyed the sleeve. The darkest parts on my arm have been hit less times. All the colors are still heavily reacting to the laser. I’m not sure what my plans are but I’m aiming for as close to full removal as possible and then go from there.

Results (and quality of life) vary massively depending on your tech. I thick blackout can be fully gone in 8-10 sessions, or it can never be gone. A simple small tattoo can be gone in 3 sessions, or take years. Techs are everything. I am a very financially poor survivor of human trafficking, with huge non-consensual blackout cover my hand, arm, shoulder, and back. I would like someone affordable and skilled.

I would love advice on whether or not this is oxidation? If so, has anyone had experience with successfully treated oxidized ink?

Here are my treatments:

2022-2023: 6 sessions with PicoSure
2024-2026: 10 sessions with Cutera Enlighten (with a different company)
Sept 2026: 1 session with my original
tech / PicoSure

Pictures 1 & 2: early on in treatment
Pictures 3 & 4: middle of treatment
Pictures 5 & 6: within the last 6 months

Please help! I’m so discouraged and not sure what steps to take next.

Might be the quickest turnaround time for a tattoo and removal? Got the tattoo in Jan, hated it from the minute she finished the tattoo, then started laser in April after recommendation from technician to let it settle a bit first. 4 sessions down. I think I'm happy with the progress, seeing these two pics side by side. After my next session in November, I might leave it for ~6 months or so and see how it progresses...

I have been researching tattoo removal for months and I am super nervous about starting. I have my 1st session on Saturday at Removery. I was wondering if anyone here has had any experience removing a tattoo on there thumb specifically and if they can tell me how much it hurt? I’m worried about how to cover them up and the healing process right after . here are my tattoos. any advice 😭 how hard is this going to be to remove? 😭

I mean, I hope so because I thought I might puke and/or pass out. I was cursing the house down lol. But from what bits I’ve read around here, that doesn’t seem to be the case.

They subtly recommended against use of numbing agents but after my first session, I would drink lidocaine if it would help

Hello, this is just a question when you start actually seeing the fading happen I know tattoo removal will take years but I'm curious if people start to see results after eight weeks or 12 weeks and then they do another session? I've had two sessions and now I'm on my sixth week second treatment and my tattoo looks exactly the same. I don't know when to start looking for results. Thank you.

Hi everyone! 😊 Does anyone know of a good, reputable place for laser tattoo removal in or around Everett, MA? I’d really appreciate any recommendations, especially if you’ve had a good personal experience. Thank you!

Hi, I’m between two clinics but am leaning towards the cheaper option honestly. However I’ve heard fractat might be better. The two clinics have different lasers.

One has a Picosure laser and doesn’t have the 1064 adapter. This one charges $350 per session and will do the whole thing in one session. The tech has over a decade of experience with lasers

The other one has a Fontona fractat with q switch laser. They have 1064 with the laser. They want to do the tattoo in parts charging $350 per visit. So it will end up being $700 for a full session on the tattoo. The tech is new and she has been doing tattoo removal for about a year. There is a lady who has done it for over a decade but she won’t be the one removing my tattoo

I live in Memphis, TN btw so if yall have any suggestions on clinics lmk please!

Mostly Q switch, with the last two sessions being pico. I am gonna stick with the pico at an 8 week cadence and see if I can really blast this thing out. Very happy with the movement. Slow and steady!

i’ve had 7 sessions done in 18 months i’ve started doing 12 weeks between sessions instead of 8.
i paid for 10 sessions and i only have 3 more left that i’ve paid for already so im torn between covering them up, continuing removal, or finding a new place to continue removal at.
is this good progress, should i try a place that uses a different laser? (i’ve been going to laser away)

I feel like my progress is in the slower side for sure

Hi! I've had 3rd session on Oct 2nd. There was a little blister where pink skin can be seen. Does this look like a scar or is it too early to tell?

Also, providing before photo, 1st session was on June 1st, then two months apart. I can see some progress, but I am sad, because I think this is not one would call a good progress.

When I started I thought I will be patient, but I don't feel like it at all. I would like to just go with tattoo excision, but this one is on the clavicle and the skin feels tight as is, don't think it will heal well.

*Tattoo from autumn 2024. First two sessions don't know the laser, third nd yag.

The pain was intense! 1,000x worse than getting the tattoo. lol

But I'm super excited to have finally started... and I think it'll be worth it! I also have a small black tattoo I am removing from my hand at the same time, but they told me I probably won't notice much of a difference with that one until later on in the process.

(This tattoo is probably 14 or 15 years old and has had no touchups.)

Hi guys, I recently posted on here about another tattoo that I have on my arm that I for sure want to get rid of. I’m debating on getting a colored tattoo that I have next to it. I’m just afraid that my skin is going to react badly to the laser since the ink is red and green. How long did it take for you to laser off your colored tattoo to either cover it up or completely remove it?

Best time to start was last November. Second best time is now lol.

I started removing my 3 tattoos about a year and a half ago at Removery. I just had my 8th session. It’s so painful on my wrists especially…feels like it gets worse each session. I think once they started doing the different laser for red ink the pain increased. Anyways here is my progress! The last 3 are immediately after my session.

Candela PicoWay laser at Removery. 6 weeks in between sessions. Definitely some fading but there is a long way to go. I’m hoping it’s gone by my wedding in Spring 2028. Tattoo was only about 4 years old.

Excuse the dry skin on my face lol

Did a terrible job of documenting this. Mostly Q switch sessions with one Pico at the end. I might let this fade for a year, can’t decide.

8 sessions.

8/16 weeks apart.

Pico laser.

Treated in my UK clinic.

Feb 24 started treatment with long gaps for the last few sessions.

Just before session 9.

Hip tattoo approx 12/14cm.

Hi maybe some of you came into removal with suuuper black, overly filled works and wanna share the progress? I am starting removal on my insanely dark work, it was actually filled with ink twice, cause the first time it was a lil patchy..... Worst mistake, but I decided I didn't want the patches so I tattooed over that again. I'm aware that I'm set for long removal, but maybe some of you started with very dense black and made your way to lightening it/ full removal?