this cool member over at bigtattooplanet (UK mostly) wrote this great thread on his laser experience, I gave you the link so you can see pics……….PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE go see a professional well researched artist before getting any ink, dont put yourself through this

http://www.bigtattooplanet.com/forums/tattoo-talk/20997-my-massive-laser-ordeal-progress-artists-comments-coverup-please

Hey all, well basically I got a tattoo, to cover up a small one round my elbow, Anyway is didn’t turn out quite to plan! my own fault I know, wasn’t in the right frame of mind.. realised a bit too late that it was going to be very black and quite uneven, so this was 2 and a half years ago, anyway its done now.

After a lot of research etc i decided I wasn’t happy with it and that I wanted to go down the laser removal route, I love tattoos its just my tastes have drastically changed, I know if I wanted it fully gone then it would take a century as it was so big and new. so realistically I’m just getting it to a point where it can be covered with a full sleeve

I am having my laser done at Woodys in High Wycombe, bit of a trek for me but the seemed to have a lot of experience with big laser removal (although I’m still to find one this big and black being removed!). Everyone there is great. I have now had 11 sessions over 2 years, its going slowly as it was virtually new and very black! I know its not there yet but getting there.. note – 50 mins of laser is a lot!! my arm is normally out of action of a fair few days after, swells massively. I have gruesome swelling & healing pics if anyone wants to see. I do have a few round shaped scars you will notice on my inside arm, i got infected after one of my treatments, but every other time I had been fine with no visible damage to the skin etc whatsoever, hopefully when its all covered these will be hardly noticable.

Just putting this post up to get some Artists thoughts about a coverup.. I know some people specialise in them, some artists dismiss it straight away but I have seen some amazing coverups on my search over the last 2.5 years! I’m thinking its gonna take another year, 5 or so more sessions before something is possible and I’m guessing a coloured Jap sleeve is going to be the easiest bet, some sort of dragon wrapped round perhaps?. Luckily I never got it finished so the linework at the top is nearly gone, and my lower arm is clear.

The pics attached show a couple of shots from near the beginning, and the rest are how it is now.

Any advice you can give me would be appreciated or artist recomendations.

Anyone who is thinking about laser feel free to ask any questions!

Thanks in advance

Jon