Tattoo removal advice?

Has anyone here actually dealt with removing a bio-tattoo before?
To be honest, I’ve been stuck with this bio-ink for four years now, and it hasn't faded even a little bit. It still looks this weird greenish-gray color and stays raised above my skin... 👎 There's absolutely no way it's just going to vanish on its own. Seriously, everyone, please don't fall for those gimmicks like bio-tattoos!!
So, what's the best way to go about getting rid of it now?

I ran into some totally wrong advice earlier 😁 ..first off, why on earth would anyone say you can't wash a new tattoo? You actually *should* be rinsing it with lukewarm water every single time before you apply your Bepanthen ointment.. and the plastic wrap is strictly for when you're heading home right after your session; otherwise, you shouldn't be covering the tattoo with any bandages, gauze, or tape. It's better to just stick to cotton T-shirts... As for the process itself, getting tattooed isn't even that bad (I once got one on my wrist), it just stings a little, nothing crazy, though it does feel a bit itchy later on.

Anonymous said:I ran into some totally wrong advice earlier 😁 ..first off, why on earth would anyone say you can't wash a new tattoo? You actually *should* be rinsing it with lukewarm water every single time before you apply your Bepanthen ointment.. and the plastic wrap is strictly for when you're heading home right after your session; otherwise, you shouldn't be covering the tattoo with any bandages, gauze, or tape. It's better to just stick to cotton T-shirts... As for the process itself, getting tattooed isn't even that bad (I once got one on my wrist), it just stings a little, nothing crazy, though it does feel a bit itchy later on.

Every artist follows their own set of rules, don't they?

My personal suggestion is to gently clean the tattoo with lukewarm water and pat it dry with a clean, disposable paper towel, then follow up with some Bepanthen ointment. Ideally, it might be helpful to wipe it with a disinfecting wipe or another antiseptic solution first, though I know some people insist that you need to wash the area constantly—personally, I wouldn't recommend overdoing the washing.

I also suggest that if you're worried about contamination during those first few days while the tattoo is still fresh, it's better to protect it with a piece of gauze for an hour or two rather than using plastic wrap. Since the skin can't breathe under the film, you shouldn't leave it on for too long. But again, I have a medical background, so I realize other artists might suggest something entirely different.

Anonymous said:I ran into some totally wrong advice earlier 😁 ..first off, why on earth would anyone say you can't wash a new tattoo? You actually *should* be rinsing it with lukewarm water every single time before you apply your Bepanthen ointment.. and the plastic wrap is strictly for when you're heading home right after your session; otherwise, you shouldn't be covering the tattoo with any bandages, gauze, or tape. It's better to just stick to cotton T-shirts... As for the process itself, getting tattooed isn't even that bad (I once got one on my wrist), it just stings a little, nothing crazy, though it does feel a bit itchy later on.

The wrap is there so nothing irritates skin that's already super sensitive. Gauze is a bad call because it sticks to everything, and ripping it off could mess up your skin all over again. For some people, that means complications, for others, it just drags out the healing process, and for a few, nothing happens at all.

But yeah, it really comes down to the artist. Everyone has their own "philosophy" about it.🙂

Hey everyone—ended up here after searching through some scar threads. I’ve got a few questions about scarring, but let's keep it to the serious stuff, okay? I have this surgical scar from when I had to get some tattoo removal done because things went sideways—it's about 3cm wide and happened just over a month ago. So, the big question: once a year and three months have passed, can I actually hit the beach or use a tanning bed without issues? I basically spent my entire last summer hiding from the sun because of this thing—didn't even go on vacation! How long are you actually supposed to stay out of the sun or away from tanning beds after surgery? Here is what the scar looks like after a year http://img27.imageshack.us/i/122710162719.jpg/ Thanks in advance for any help

Thomas Rodriguez14 said:Hey everyone—ended up here after searching through some scar threads. I’ve got a few questions about scarring, but let's keep it to the serious stuff, okay? I have this surgical scar from when I had to get some tattoo removal done because things went sideways—it's about 3cm wide and happened just over a month ago. So, the big question: once a year and three months have passed, can I actually hit the beach or use a tanning bed without issues? I basically spent my entire last summer hiding from the sun because of this thing—didn't even go on vacation! How long are you actually supposed to stay out of the sun or away from tanning beds after surgery? Here is what the scar looks like after a year http://img27.imageshack.us/i/122710162719.jpg/ Thanks in advance for any help

I think you're good to go. It's been a long time and the scar should be fully healed by now. Still, the smartest move would be to give your doctor a quick call to confirm (you could even ask a pharmacist), or honestly, even check with a tattoo artist since they deal with skin healing all the time...

Just a heads up, any info you pick up on a forum isn't always rock solid, since you never really know how much weight to put behind someone's advice. 🙂

Brandon Lopez6 said:I think you're good to go. It's been a long time and the scar should be fully healed by now. Still, the smartest move would be to give your doctor a quick call to confirm (you could even ask a pharmacist), or honestly, even check with a tattoo artist since they deal with skin healing all the time...

Just a heads up, any info you pick up on a forum isn't always rock solid, since you never really know how much weight to put behind someone's advice. 🙂

So I called my surgeon and he gave me the green light. Said it's totally doable, but I gotta keep in mind that the ink might look a little lighter on that spot—just a heads up.😁

Thomas Rodriguez14 said:So I called my surgeon and he gave me the green light. Said it's totally doable, but I gotta keep in mind that the ink might look a little lighter on that spot—just a heads up.😁

Honestly, among preteens—you know, that 10 to 12 age range—it’s actually pretty trendy to leave a little bit of white showing. It's just part of the look.
You’re gonna be a total legend. 😬

All jokes aside, I'm stoked it turned out so well. Now go ahead and soak up that ocean breeze for the rest of us who can only dream of hitting the coast. 🙂

So, I’m currently dealing with this scar from a recent tattoo removal session, and honestly, after spending way too many hours scouring endless forums for anything that actually works, I stumbled upon a little trick that—believe it or not—actually does the job. You just take some basic Nivea cream and some aluminum foil, slather the cream over the scar, and then wrap it up using the shiny side of the foil against the skin; you'll probably feel this slight, weird tingling sensation, but trust me, it works because the scar eventually starts looking lighter and feels much softer 🙂 It’s easily the cheapest alternative out there, but more importantly, it actually gets results

Come on, is there really nobody in the US with actual experience regarding tattoos and tattoo removal besides the few people mentioned above... and that one girl...? I’m thinking about getting mine removed, but the clinic didn't really give me any red flags. It's just a black ink design, and since I have pale skin, I assume the risk of heavy depigmentation is pretty low. Plus, it’s always easier to cover a tiny little scar with some Dermablend or concealer than to deal with an entire tattoo. I am mostly just wondering if there are any risks to my lymph nodes or blood... since everything gets flushed out through the system? I read somewhere about a woman in America who developed thyroid cancer because of it, and a few people apparently felt nauseous after their sessions... but honestly, this tattoo is driving me crazy and it's over ten years old now. I need it gone. And because of work, I *have* to get it done. It is what it is. Please share your experiences if you have them 🙂

Hey everyone, does anyone know where the best spot in the States is for laser tattoo removal? Looking for something that actually works... Thanks! 🙂)

Hey everyone! I noticed this thread is pretty quiet, which is weird considering the title is literally 'tattoo removal'.
So, here I am. I feel like I've been backed into a corner somehow, and I really need to get rid of a tattoo I've had since I was 12 years old.
I've spent so much time Googling and searching everything up. I even flew over to New York for a consultation, and everywhere I turn, people are warning me about potential scarring or at least some kind of fading/blurring left behind.
Plus, the whole process takes forever—we're talking up to 9 months because you have to go back every 30 to 40 days for the sessions (I'm looking at the latest laser tech).
My ink is right on my upper back, centered between my shoulder blades.
Honestly, I actually love the design! The *only* reason I'd ever consider tattoo removal is if I need to clear it up for a specific job I really want. That's the bottom line.

I found Cosmoped.com based in Chicago that does it, but I still need to give them a call and get some real advice first. If there's going to be a huge, obvious scar, then forget it—I'll just pass on the whole thing. But if it can be done reasonably well, I'd like to give it a shot.

Has anyone here actually gone through with removing their tattoos? Please, tell me your experiences or give me some advice! I find it hard to believe that only a handful of people have posted anything about this.

Best to all!

I went through tattoo removal a few years back. Honestly, my luck was on my side because it was a pretty amateur job, so the ink didn't go too deep. I went to a laser center run by Dr. Kostović over in Chicago—back then he was still at that location before moving his practice, though the center is still up and running. The tattoo is completely gone now. If you get incredibly close, you might notice a tiny difference in skin tone, but even that fades over time. Nobody can tell there was ever anything there. As far as I recall, they used a Ruby-Q laser. It took about seven sessions, and since it wasn't a huge piece—only about 1.5cm—each treatment only cost me $83.

Thanks so much, cosmicbadger83, for replying and sharing what you went through. I actually wrote down that doctor's name—I'm definitely going to try and track him down to see how things work these days. My tattoo was also done by someone who was kind of a semi-pro, though it turned out really well. It feels pretty deep since the ink hasn't faded at all even after 12 years, but then again, it’s a decent size at about 12x7cm. I mean, it's not massive, but compared to yours... wow, it's quite a bit!

Honestly, I've been overthinking this for a whole month now. I'm just so terrified of being left with a scar, or even worse, those weird pigment changes. Since I have darker skin, scars tend to show up really easily on me—I mean, just look at my stretch marks, they're super noticeable, and I've got other little marks too....

I am clearly not making any smart decisions here 😢

Chloe Thompson66 said:Thanks so much, cosmicbadger83, for replying and sharing what you went through. I actually wrote down that doctor's name—I'm definitely going to try and track him down to see how things work these days. My tattoo was also done by someone who was kind of a semi-pro, though it turned out really well. It feels pretty deep since the ink hasn't faded at all even after 12 years, but then again, it’s a decent size at about 12x7cm. I mean, it's not massive, but compared to yours... wow, it's quite a bit!

Honestly, I've been overthinking this for a whole month now. I'm just so terrified of being left with a scar, or even worse, those weird pigment changes. Since I have darker skin, scars tend to show up really easily on me—I mean, just look at my stretch marks, they're super noticeable, and I've got other little marks too....

I am clearly not making any smart decisions here 😢

Chloe Thompson66, you're going to see some pigment differences right after the laser because its whole job is breaking down those pigments, and let's face it, the machine can't tell the difference between ink and melanin. But natural pigment eventually regenerates, and things level out after a while. Personally, I can barely see the difference anymore. The only thing is, for the first two or three years, you have to be careful not to expose that area to the sun and make sure you're using sunblock.

Has anyone here gone through laser tattoo removal at the Nora clinic or maybe at a Cosmopolitan studio? Looking for some real experiences. Thanks