My Break From Laser Treatments

Well it's now September and I have taken a break from treatments for a while. I moved from New Jersey back to Boston so now I have to start the process of finding a new doctor up here. As you can see from the pictures, my tattoo has lightened considerably and I am pleased with its progress. There are a few spots and scars, but overall they kind of blend in. I have had quite a few people ask me recently what the heck was going on with my tattoo, which was to be expected. Random people I first meet ask me if it's a really bad tattoo or am I having it removed. (yes, people really are that bold) There is a section of the outline that has disappeared completely, so it gives me hope that eventually the rest of it will fade s well, with more treatments of course. A worrisome spot is in the center of the triangle on my inner ankle. It scarred considerably and therefore created a blob, as you can see from the picture. 

I'll update in the spring, when I decide to continue the process. If you have any questions, please ask. My hope is to make this process easier for others to understand and to help inform people about their options. Thanks for reading....

Before and Mid-After...

Here is a before shot and a "mid" after shot. I have quite a few more treatments but the results so far are pretty amazing!

These pictures were taken today, so that makes it about 4 months after my last treatment. The huge blisters from before turned into weird scars. The first photo shows the scar that peeled the entire layer of ink! That is pink skin you see, minus ink! Weird. The triangle has its own issues which turned into a blob like scar. Not cute. I've been using this silicone scar gel, which doesn't seem to he helping but I'm continuing to use it just the same. Still trying to muster up the courage to go back for another treatment. I'll make it, I just need some more time...

A Few Weeks After 3rd Treatment

These pictures were taken a few weeks after my third laser treatment. The big blisters from the pics below popped and the skin became sore and raw. I kept it moist with antiseptic cream but once I removed the bandages and let it dry a bit, it became cracked. I'm not really sure there was too much I could do to avoid the scars. The good part is that the entire tattoo seems to be lighter. 

November 2007 My Third Treatment

This was my third treatment I had done at the end of November. The experience was pretty much the same, lots of pain and uncomfort. I had to attend class later that day so I managed to sit through 6 hours of class before I went home, exhausted and slept for the next 15 hours. This laser seemed a lot stronger than the other two and the blisters were huge! That big cluster on the top photo and the center of the triangle on the second photo has scarred a lot and I haven't gone back for another treatment since then. I'm afraid. I have to build up the gusto to get back there for a fourth time.