Embark on a journey of renewal and empowerment with our blog this month. Discover the incredible potential of laser tattoo removal as we share various inspiring stories from some of our laser clients. It’s easy for us to talk about our results, but we understand just how important it is to also hear from our client’s perspective too. After all they’re the ones that have gone through the laser journey first hand.
Real clients; Real results; Real inspiration.
The decision to pursue laser tattoo removal is often driven by a variety of emotions, personal narratives and motivations. The reasons behind seeking out this process can include wanting to remove tattoos tied to past experiences, such as, associations with past relationships, incarceration, or affiliations with certain groups, wanting to replace old ink with a new tattoo design or others may just want a clean slate. Despite the seemingly straightforward nature of tattoo removal portrayed on social media, the reality is that it can be emotionally taxing for some, as it involves confronting memories and undergoing physical transformation. Nonetheless, laser tattoo removal offers individuals the opportunity for change and growth as they navigate their journey towards a new chapter in their lives.
Let's explore some of our clients who are happy to share their authentic experiences and success stories from their laser tattoo removal journey with all of you!
Creating a new career opportunity for Curt:
Curt before having laser tattoo removal treatments
Curt first applied for the Australian Defence Force in April 2019 and was advised that their policy was that they would not accept any visible tattoos from the collar up. Curt was heavily tattooed on his neck, head and face and began laser tattoo removal on these areas immediately knowing that this could be a 1-2 year process (or longer) for complete removal. Curt’s journey to remove these tattoos was no easy ride, in-fact it was probably one of the toughest we have seen. He would come in every 3-4 weeks where we would split his treatments into different areas, face, left side of the neck, centre of the neck, right side of the neck and scalp.
Curt post laser treatment during the healing stage
The healing was challenging at times with some treatments resulting in swelling, blistering and pin point bleeding on some of the most sensitive areas of the body. In April 2020, Curt was offered a position into the ADF and sent images of where he was at with his laser treatments. Unfortunately at this point he wasn’t fully accepted as the tattoos were still too dark, especially under the chin. Together we continued with frequent treatments to lighten and remove his tattoos even further. In July 2021 he received a formal job offer and enlistment date for August 2021. Curt’s strength and determination to achieve the results needed is truly inspiring!
”For the past 12 years I have worked in the tattoo industry and as a result of that I gathered quite a few tattoos along the way!
After getting married and having 2 children I felt the need for a bit of stability and consistency both in work hours and financially, so the thought of a defence force career popped up again and my long….long journey of tattoo removal began.
Amanda and the girls at LaserTat are amazing and have helped me and encouraged me the whole way through the process even on the days that I didn't want to deal with another session they made it as comfortable and friendly as possible and without that I may have not made it all this way.
I cannot recommend LaserTat enough to anyone wanting to remove a little old tattoo or to help completely change your life like they have in my instance.” - Curt
Expectation vs. reality for Melissa:
Melissa had hoped for a sentimental tattoo that was intended to honor her children. Unfortunately, the end result did not match the expectations or vision she had, ultimately leaving her unhappy with the tattoo. Disappointed, Melissa made the decision to have the tattoo completely removed.
“I got my tattoo to represent my two sons, the position of the hands reflected their birthdates.
The reason I chose to remove my tattoo was because I just didn't "LOVE" it. It didn't turn out the way I had planned and there were little things I wanted to change.
I feel pleased that it is no longer visible because I wasn't happy with the final result. Instead of looking down and feeling disappointed I can now start again with a blank slate.
I always felt comfortable and welcome at LaserTat, right from the initial consult through to the after care. I thought I would feel "silly" or judged for changing my mind about my tattoo, but the staff were kind, helpful and really made the experience easy. The staff were knowledgeable and always talked through the stage my removal was at, what it needed and what they were going to do next.
The laser experience was a little painful, but it's over so quickly and the staff are attentive to pausing for breaks if they are needed. I followed the aftercare instructions and didn't have any issues healing. Different parts my body (back vs wrist) reacted slightly differently in regards to tenderness, swelling and bruising but it would settle the next day. This was all outlined to me before I had the treatment so there weren't any surprises.
Any advice I can provide is that if you're not happy with your tattoo, change it. Use the numbing cream and give it plenty of time to do its magic (at least a couple of hours), as it does take the 'sting' out of it. Gone are the days when our parents would say, "Choose a tattoo carefully, because you're stuck with it for life". I'm so glad that there is a service like LaserTat that gives flexibility and freedom to the choices we make with our bodies.” – Melissa
Bringing back clean skin for Kate:
Kate embraced her tattoos in her youth, at the time appreciating the aesethic appeal. However, as she matured, she found herself uncomfortable with the tattoos on her body, causing her to be self-consious in her own skin. Kate has made the empowering choice to embrace ‘clean skin’, choosing to part ways with tattoos. This decision has allowed her to find comfort and confidence in her skin again.
“I got my tattoos when I was young and I really liked them at the time. They didn’t have a special meaning or deep connection to me, I just liked them so I got them.
I chose to remove them because as I got older they felt outdated and made me self-conscious about having them on my body. I felt I had outgrown them.
Having laser tattoo removal made me feel more like myself. As we grow we change and having clean skin is important to me now.
The girls at LaserTat were so honest and helpful. I found the process really painful and they never made me feel like I wasn’t handling the pain well or was complaining too much. They gave me information and guidance to get the best results which was leave as much time in between your removals as you can and you will see better results. I went roughly every 4 months for the removal on my back but as it started to fade I left it longer in between treatments and the results speak for themselves. My other tattoos I am getting removed I only have them lasered once a year and the results are already incredible
I felt the girls at LaserTat were genuine with their advice and service and didn’t want me to keep coming back to a schedule so they could make money every 6 weeks. It really was to help me achieve my results and i appreciate their professionalism
Advice for people removing their tattoos is go to LaserTat for the best results.
This has honestly been such a great experience and I am very grateful, thank you.” – Kate
Conquering insecurities for Sophie:
Sophie's decision to remove the tattoo on her ankle stemmed from her opinion of its poor quality, characterised by heavy shading that no longer aligned with her preferred tattoo style. Additionally, the tattoo had become a significant source of insecurity for her. When beginning her treatments we took a cautious approach, gradually introducing the 532nm wavelength to target the red/yellow ink in which Sophie had previously experienced an allergic reaction too. Although there was a likelihood of another reaction, we managed the risk carefully, and fortunately, there were no adverse reactions. While the visible results may seem minimal to some, both Sophie and our laser technicians are genuinely pleased with the progress, especially considering the potential for scarring and further reactions in the red ink of the tattoo.
“The girls at LaserTat are amazing and all so lovely! 2022 I started my laser tattoo removal at a different clinic and after one session it left me traumatised and literally scarred because I had a horrible reaction. The laser had been turned right up and no cooling aid was used during or after the laser. After a few weeks went by my tattoo wasn’t showing any signs of getting better so I reached out to the girls at LaserTat told them what had happened and what I was experiencing, they asked for photos and they advised me what to do. Sure enough I started to heal up. Once I was healed and the reaction went away, I went to my first appointment and I haven’t looked back since. I’ve experienced 0 reactions and I heal up beautifully. I’m a few sessions in now and I have been loving my results. Unfortunately it does take time and patience but it’s all going to be worth it in the end, tattoos are no longer permanent!” – Sophie
Cover-up alternatives:
When it comes to transforming tattoos, it can be beneficial to consider options outside of complete removal. Laser tattoo removal isn’t solely about the complete removal of a tattoo, many clients opt to fade their tattoos to get a cover-up they will love. Generally 2-4 treatments are recommend to fade for a cover-up, although this may vary based on the design choice and the preference of your chosen tattoo artist. Let’s hear from some of our clients who chose the cover-up route as opposed to complete removal.
Jason’s youthful ink regrets:
At the young age of 16, Jason joined his friends in getting Italian card deck Ace tattoos, not considering the consequences at the time. With a friend’s amateur attempt, the tattoo turned into a regrettable DIY job. Over time, embarrassment grew as the poorly done tattoo no longer held any relevance and worsened by strangers saying the end of the tattoo resembled a male appendage when wearing t-shirts. It was at this point that Jason realised the tattoo needed to go!
“My experience with LaserTat has always been amazing! They are always patient and made sure I was comfortable throughout my treatments, always setting realistic expectations for both treatments and results. While the laser sessions could sometimes be rough, they were always understanding and gave me breaks making it more manageable. I am beyond happy with my results that LaserTat has helped me achieve. By removing the old tattoo, it allowed me to feel confident in my skin and allowed me to have the creative freedom with a new tattoo that I now love and am not embarrassed to show. I no longer feel the need to cover up my arm from others.” – Jason
A tattoo artist’s perspective, why lasering for cover-ups can be so beneficial:
It is certainly becoming more common for Tattoo Artists to recommend their clients to undergo laser tattoo removal before commencing with a cover-up. This approach is gaining traction as it allows for better artistic freedom and enhanced results in the cover-up process. Let’s hear from 2 of Australia’s highly respected Tattoo Artists as they delve into the benefits of lasering for a cover-up and their experiences.
“My client was after some dark evil type of art to cover the lasered area. With a slight bit of green still showing it actually looks part of the piece, we will either add opaque greys over it or leave it as is and utilise the colour. Main thing is he is beyond happy with the new tatt and pleased to say goodbye to the previous!
This is a reminder to anyone who is not happy with work they have that it can be removed and replaced with better work (some work only needs a little fading, all depends on what it is)” – Raydems, Masterminds Tattoo Studio
“A lot of my cover-up work wouldn’t have been possible unless the clients had laser first. When clients don’t want a dark or saturated tattoo, having a few laser treatments allows for a cover-up with much more creative freedom and flexibility. As a Tattoo Artist, I will never go ahead with a tattoo that will compromise my quality of work and will often refer clients to have laser if the cover-up isn’t achievable without the help of fading first.” – Kelly McKinnon, Black Diamond Tattoo
The importance of professional guidance:
Before undergoing your own laser journey, it’s important to seek professional guidance. At LaserTat, our comprehensive consultations are designed to educate clients on the intricacies of having laser tattoo removal. We run through a personalised treatment plan, how laser works, the aftercare involved and establish realistic expectations, ensuring our clients are prepared for every stage of the laser process. With the use of both Q-Switch and Pico technology, we ensure efficient and effective treatments for our clients. By customising treatment plans and utilising state of the art lasers, we empower clients to confidently achieve their desired results.
It’s evident that laser tattoo removal represents more than just a physical transformation, it also embodies a journey of personal empowerment. Whether the aim is for a complete removal or opting to fade for a cover-up each step is a testament to self-confidence and self-expression. It’s important to remember that individual results may vary, but we can guarantee that we will always celebrate your results with you – big or small! We encourage those of you with tattoos you are no longer happy with to begin your own laser journey with confidence!
If you are interested in starting or continuing your own tattoo removal journey we would love to help you! You can contact us on 0421 132 734, email us at info@lasertat.com.au or book now.