I'm finally starting to see results.
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| | | | I got a half-sleeve tattoo in December 2022 … and absolutely hated it. If you've been reading Wellness Wire for a while, you might remember that I wrote about my first tattoo removal session in May. Well, I'm back today to share a 6-month progress update! | | I'm about 1/4 of the way through the process now (with 6 sessions done out of 24 total), and I'm seeing real results. Scroll down to read about how it's been going, see progress pictures, and watch our new TikTok video with footage from my journey over the last few months. | | | | Zap zap,
Morgan Mandriota
Newsletter Editor, Healthline | | | | |
| |  | | Written by Morgan Mandriota
December 13, 2024 • 5 min read | | | | | | | |
| |  | | | How my tattoo removal journey is going | | Removery provided this service for free. Our opinions are ours alone and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by Removery. | | For the last 6 months, I've been going to Removery for tattoo removal sessions every 4 to 6 weeks. People with smaller tattoos may get one full treatment in a single visit, but because we're removing a large half-sleeve, we treat half of my arm each time. This means that I've officially completed three full treatments across six sessions from May to December. | | This spacing between appointments is meant to help support proper healing and preserve the long-term health of your skin. When you're anxious to get a tattoo removed, you might want immediate results. (Guilty.) But patience — and safety — are key. | | Results felt slow going for the first couple of months. My technician mentioned that most people start to see progress around the third treatment, and that's exactly what happened. It wasn't until then that I finally saw noticeable changes. Fast-forward to now, and my tattoo has drastically changed. | | Areas with dense black ink are faded to gray, fine lines have broken down, clear designs are blurred, and the overall intensity is much duller. My skin color is also showing in several spots that were once completely covered by the tattoo. You can really see the difference when comparing side-by-side photos of my arm from before the start of this process to now. |  | | One trick I learned to manage pain during removal is to ice my arm on the drive over to the studio. My tech suggested this, saying that her other clients swear by it. It definitely worked for me, too! In the first couple of sessions that I didn't use a cold compress, the pain was an 8/10, and I needed multiple breaks. Now, the laser still stings, but I can power through each 5- to 10-minute session without stopping. (Deep breathing and squeezing a stress ball also helps.) | | Side effects I've experienced include swelling, blistering, itching, and purpura. While uncomfortable, they're all common and temporary, so I don't stress too much. These symptoms tend to last for about 1 to 2 weeks before my arm returns to usual (aside from any new tattoo changes). | Between sessions, I do the following things to help relieve discomfort and optimize recovery: - use ice packs for the first few days post-treatment
- take Ibuprofen
- moisturize my arm with petrolatum jelly
- drink a lot of water
- exercise regularly
My next appointment is in January, and then there are "only" 18 sessions left after that. It's definitely a long-term commitment, but I'm fascinated by this process and incredibly grateful for the opportunity to remove this unwanted art from my body. I'm very happy with how this journey is going so far, and I can't wait to see what the next 6 months will bring! | | | | | | | | | | Direct to your door | | | | Sponsored by | | | | | | | |  | | Shop FSA/HSA Eligible Items on Instacart | | Instacart is popular for grocery shopping, but did you know you can order almost anything you'd grab from your local drugstore, too? Think over-the-counter medications for pain relief, vitamins, and supplements. It even has a nifty section that shows products you can buy using funds from your flexible savings account (FSA) or health savings account (HSA)*. Get $10 off eligible items when you spend more than $35 and use your FSA or HSA payment card with code FSAHSA1035**. Don't wait because this offer expires December 31! | | | *FSA funds may be forfeited if not used during the plan period, but your plan may have a grace period or carryover provision. HSA funds typically do not expire. HSA/FSA eligibility information on Instacart is provided for your convenience and accuracy is not guaranteed. Contact your plan administrator or employer for more information about expiration or with item eligibility questions. | | **$10 off valid through 12/31/2024 for one $35+ order containing a minimum of one eligible FSA/HSA item with one retailer and purchased through Instacart.com using your FSA/HSA payment card, while supplies last. Discount will be applied to the total purchase price for all nonalcohol products, and excludes taxes, service fees, special handling fees, and/or other fees. Instacart reserves the right to modify or cancel this offer at any time. Instacart may not be available in all zip or post codes. Additional terms apply. | | Every product we recommend has gone through either Healthline's or Optum Store's vetting processes. If you buy through links on this page, we may receive a small commission or other tangible benefit. Healthline has sole editorial control over this newsletter. Potential uses for the products listed here are not health claims made by the manufacturers. Healthline and Optum Store are owned by RVO Health. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Thanks for reading! Feel free to email wellnesswire@healthline.com to ask any questions about my tattoo removal journey, and let me know if you want to read another update at the 1-year mark. ⚡ | | | | | | |
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