Tattoo removal

knucklehead G · #1 05-09-2011, 01:41 PM

Anyone ever had a tattoo removed? How did you do it? I'm between saving up for a laser treatment which could take a few years, or trying Wrecking Balm if I can find any honest success stories.

This isn't one of those deals where I regret getting the tattoo, but I was in a motorcycle accident a few years ago and it has a big scar on it now from road rash. I kept trying to deal with it, but its bothering me more and more now, and it is in a visible place (forearm) so its hard to keep covered.

Jimbob Jones · #2 05-09-2011, 01:43 PM

Angle grinder.

I'm kidding, don't really use an angle grinder...please

MatticusMania · #3 05-09-2011, 02:25 PM

Flay off the flesh. East said flesh. Wield said power of Tatu!

Fassa Albrecht · #4 05-09-2011, 02:27 PM

Best bet is laser treatment. It's getting better and better at removing tattoos.

ugly_bassplayer · #5 05-09-2011, 02:27 PM

You could also get a cover up. It's been done to cover scars.

HEIST · #6 05-09-2011, 05:33 PM

I worked in a tattoo shop for 6 years. Laser please!!! No balms, lotions, acid peels or anything of the sort. It'll take quite a few sessions, hurt a lot more than your tattoo and cost a lot more (and at the same time it might not take it ALL off). Definitely think your tattoos through.

sloasdaylight · #7 05-09-2011, 05:36 PM

i_got_a_mohawk · #8 05-09-2011, 05:39 PM

Lasers work (pew pew pew). Tho you do pay through the teeth for someone with minimal training to use a cheap piece of gear!

Out of interest, if the tattoo isn't the problem, but the scarring and damage is. Why not get a cover up? Or get it fixed up?

Blort · #9 05-09-2011, 05:49 PM

Tattoo removal is dependent on the colors and kinds of inks used. Off the top of my head, I believe colored tattoos are more difficult and expensive to remove.

knucklehead G · #10 05-09-2011, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HEIST

Definitely think your tattoos through.

I did, I had the design for a year before I had it done. If it wasn't scarred over, I'd still like it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by i_got_a_mohawk

Out of interest, if the tattoo isn't the problem, but the scarring and damage is. Why not get a cover up? Or get it fixed up?

I've had someone try to fix it, but the color didn't take over the scars. A coverup would have the same problem from what I've been told. Plus the guy who tried to fix it got outside the lines in a few places that involved having to do more stuff I didn't want to hide those spots, and I'm just sick of looking at it at this point.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blort

Tattoo removal is dependent on the colors and kinds of inks used. Off the top of my head, I believe colored tattoos are more difficult and expensive to remove.

It's black and red, and it has been gone over by two professional artists at this point. Luckily it isn't all colored in, as I realized what a crappy job the second guy was doing and had him stop. I'd been to the shop before, but not that particular artist.. My fault, I trusted the shop and didn't think to ask for the guy's past work. He was just doing a touch-up after all. He is no longer at the shop.

Lazylion · #11 05-09-2011, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sloasdaylight

That ain't gonna work, there's no belt on there!

anyonefortennis · #12 05-09-2011, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lazylion

That ain't gonna work, there's no belt on there!

Maybe it's an iron with wheels

sonic assassin · #13 05-09-2011, 11:42 PM

a buddy of mine had to get one removed to enlist because it was too close to his wrist. was using some ointment. i dont know if it hurt, but i saw it start to disappear. i know the guy doesnt have much money, so i cant imagine it was expensive.

shame theres not a good way to cover.

Absentia · #14 05-10-2011, 06:24 AM

GO to the tattoo shope have them put a bunch of gang stuff on top of it for 50$ then a few weeks later go to another shop that removes gang tats for free.

WIN!

bongomania · #15 05-10-2011, 08:14 AM

FWIW, I used to be a tattoo artist, and I did a lot of cover-ups. Your situation is rough because on the one hand, it's absolutely true that ink doesn't take well in scar tissue--but OTOH every "removal" I've seen left a big scar in the shape of the tattoo. So one guy for example went from having a big stupid pot-leaf tattoo, to having a big stupid pot-leaf scar, and the scar was a different color than the rest of his skin, and raised up. I did the best I could with a black "tribal" tattoo cover-up, but the ink came out more of a shiny gray in the area of the scar--so even though the eye gets distracted by the tribal design, it doesn't take long to still see the pot leaf image.

This was more than 10 years ago, though, and I understand laser removals have improved since then. But I 100% guarantee that the acids, lotions, and abrasive methods have not improved since then. So go laser, and make sure the laser shop is using the very latest tech, and knows what they are doing with it.