Thread: Tat removal: Anyone used "Wrecking Balm"?

Hi, I have five tattoos and LOVE four of them. Unfortunately, the one I have on my forearm, although small, was done by the "apprentice" of the owner of the tattoo parlor and well, even though the owner redid it, I just never liked it.
Let's just say that what was supposed to be a Celtic eternity circle with some greens and blue colors, turned to look like snakes writhing around a little square with a red circle in center and even owner had a hard time disguising the poor work of his apprentice! Luckily, it's only the size of a half dollar but as time has gone by, the lines are blurring and I want it gone!

So, I bought a "Wrecking Balm" kit online, because I do not want the scarring associated with laser removal and I may decide to have a different tattoo done there that I do like.

Anyone used this product? When it comes, I can get a refund and it was about $234 with shipping, etc. for a six-month supply. Main drawback seems to be using it 3x a week for six months to get rid of tattoo, main bonus seems to be no scarring.

Thanks all!

I used to work for a company which does laser tattoo removal. The overall feeling about balms, etc., is that they don't work because the ink is under several layers of skin, both living and dead. And that the only way to remove one is with surgery.

I know several people who have had their tats removed with lasers. Only one has had any scarring. And she has olive toned skin and there for wasn't a perfect candidate for laser surgery. Although she will tell you the little bit of scarring is a great improvement over her tat.

Good luck and if you choose to use the Wrecking Balm, let us know your results.

{{{HUGS}}}

If you could get rid of a tattoo using a balm wouldn't you expect to lose your tattoo from moisturising, washing, etc?

Laser or have it covered. Tattoos *are* permanent.

From what I've heard of Wrecking Balm it won't do anything to your tattoo but can be very damaging to your skin.

I second zumarrad on the cover or laser bit.

Tried it and practically everything else; doesn't work. Look into laser removal; a lot of tattoo studios even have them now and the price has gone WAY down. I found a good place here in Dallas for laser removal; Dallas Tattoo Removal

I've gone twice and my tat is now almost gone. Most people would just cover it up at this point and while I do plan to have another tattoo put in that spot I want this tat GONE beforehand. Long, emotional attachment. lol.

For the same price or a bit more, you could probably get a decent tattoo artist to design a gorgeous new piece to cover the crappy tattoo. With something that small, it shouldn't be too difficult.

Originally Posted by Anahit_Karyan

For the same price or a bit more, you could probably get a decent tattoo artist to design a gorgeous new piece to cover the crappy tattoo. With something that small, it shouldn't be too difficult.

Yes! That's exactly what I will do and I canceled the "Balm" order. I already have an artist picked out and will either have the small tattoo "enhanced" or just cover it with another. Because it's my understanding that if I go the laser route, I can't tattoo over it and I wanted a design in that particular spot to cover a scar, which would have worked fine if it was well done. I will take
before and after pix when I get it done. ..g.:

Originally Posted by Nisima

... Because it's my understanding that if I go the laser route, I can't tattoo over ... ..g.:

I would talk to a tattoo artist about this, because I know several tattoo artists who have had entire sleeves removed and then gotten re-inked.

Once again, I don't know anyone who, if they are a good candidate for is, has had a real problem with scarring from their laser treatments. Except maybe in their wallets.

{{{HUGS}}}

Originally Posted by tahiradancer

I would talk to a tattoo artist about this, because I know several tattoo artists who have had entire sleeves removed and then gotten re-inked.

Once again, I don't know anyone who, if they are a good candidate for is, has had a real problem with scarring from their laser treatments. Except maybe in their wallets.

{{{HUGS}}}

I would talk to someone as well. I guess it really depends on your skin and scarring tenancies but people have indeed had tattoos placed in the same spot as laser removed ones. I'm having that done right now and the laser is not scarring at all.

Originally Posted by Nisima

Yes! That's exactly what I will do and I canceled the "Balm" order. I already have an artist picked out and will either have the small tattoo "enhanced" or just cover it with another. Because it's my understanding that if I go the laser route, I can't tattoo over it and I wanted a design in that particular spot to cover a scar, which would have worked fine if it was well done. I will take
before and after pix when I get it done. ..g.:

YAY!!!

Originally Posted by crimson vision

I would talk to someone as well. I guess it really depends on your skin and scarring tenancies but people have indeed had tattoos placed in the same spot as laser removed ones. I'm having that done right now and the laser is not scarring at all.

So if you don't mind sharing, how much are you paying to get it removed and how much does it hurt. I heard it hurts much more than a tat.

Because it's my understanding that if I go the laser route, I can't tattoo over it

My local studio has a whole wall of examples of coverups done over laser treatment, so that's not a problem. Most laser treatment doesn't wholly eradicate the old tattoo anyway, just fades it enough that they can go over it.

I can answer parts of that. On top of my having worked for a company which does laser tat removal, my sister has gotten hers removed.

Dr. Tattoff in Beverly Hills charges about $45 per square inch per treatment. So if you have a relatively small tat, overall it's not that expensive. (We'll use mine as an example. It's basically triangular and considered to be 3 square inches. 2 across the bottom with one on top.) So that is $135 per visit. Now, if I react well ie, lots of fading with each visit, I may get away with 3 visits for a total of $405. If more are needed, I am adding approx. $135 per visit.

The number of visits and the fade factor depend on the colours used and a few other factors. Black, red, dark blue and dark orange are going to fade faster than green, white, and other light colours.

The pain factor. Well, my sister tells me that it hurts like a bad sunburn. But like a bad sunburn, it doesn't last very long. The procedure itself many people liken to having rubber bands snapped against their skin. Others tell me that that is insane! So much depends on your pain threshold.

Now, here is the deal on payment. Like most other cosmetic surgery, there is a lot of bargaining going on right now. Because this is a cash and carry business, they are hurting. I was hired by Dr. Tattoff several years ago when they had plans on opening an average of 8 new stores a year for the next 10 years through out the country. With in 6 months we had a major financial crisis and the company still only has 3 stores all in Southern California.

Also, the costs of the lasers has gone down, so they are able to offer their services for less. Most tattoo removal companies are going to try to sell you a package. This is good for everyone because they will offer you a lower overall price. My only caution is to start with a low number of visits - the general wisdom is 5, I'd book 4 with the ability to add additional sessions as needed at the lower price.

Ask questions. Lots of them. How old is their equipment? How many procedures have they performed? Where did they get their training? Can you speak with clients who have used their services?

Also, go do some research. I highly recommend reading Dr. Tattoo's site. It's a little simplistic and obviously they are selling a service, but there is a lot of information which is very valuable there.

And just FYI: I didn't work for them very long. Different personality types. But I have no hard feelings and I do believe that they have an excellent product and service.

Have fun researching!

{{{HUGS}}}

Originally Posted by Linnyg

So if you don't mind sharing, how much are you paying to get it removed and how much does it hurt. I heard it hurts much more than a tat.

Sure, I don't mind at all.

Each session for the laser is $100; I'm not even sure how many square inches my tattoo is. They don't make you buy a package of sessions or anything, just charge each time you come in until you don't need them anymore. ;) It really does not hurt as much as getting the tattoo (especially if you got a tattoo in a sensitive place!). The guy I go to numbs the area with an icepack before using the laser and for him to go over the whole tattoo with the actual laser takes maybe a minute or two. It's very fast. After the fact it feels like you have a really bad sunburn but it's not overly painful at all.

I dug up some of my pics for you. Here is a picture the removal guy took right before the second laser treatment pass:



Here is what my arm looked like the day after the second session:


Your skin does bruise up a bit but it's not bad. I don't have a current pic of my arm but you can baaaarely see the tattoo anymore at all. I still plan to get one more pass with the laser before getting the new tattoo (which I get to have whenj I reach my goal weight). ;)

BTW, my tattoo was already faded a bit from the many other systems I tried. The latest was 'Tatgone Ink' where they tattoo in some material which bonds to the ink and your body rejects it & pushes it out. They have to tattoo over the original tattoo which can cause scarring. Then you have to leave the scabs on for as long as possible (2 weeks is ideal) .

That system was $200 a session and much more problematic and hardly any results. I think I went 3 times and you can see from the first pic it didn't really do much while the laser faded it A LOT in one pass.

Thanks for sharing the pics! My is pretty faded as well but more because it was a home job (with a gun tho) and I bled like a stuck pig. I also lost a lot of ink the first night cause I didn't cover it and when I woke up my nightgown stuck to it and when I took it off, I had a perfect copy of my tat on my shirt. I am definitly going to have to think about this!

Just as a side note, I actually really do like the tat I have on my back. It is Eeyore and totally explains me. The problem is, it is big and on my shoulder blade and I plan on getting a more henna inspired tat on my back this summer and I think the two just would look weird together. That and the Eeyore is incredibly faded and just does not fit in my life style anymore.

I just blogged about tats and how sometimes the choices we make when we are young no longer work for us. Of course, the reference was in connection to getting a job, but same premise.

{{{HUGS}}}

I know what you mean. When I got it, I thought that no one would ever really see it. BD was not even a glimmer in my eye at the time. Who knew right?

Could Eyore be changed? Not an coverup, exactly, but an enhancement? Additions to? I had a tribal style spider on my lower back that my artist changed when I felt like I'd outgrown her. Now I love it and get tons of compliments.

Why, oh why? (Pounds head against edge of desk?) ("Shut up Niamh, nobody wants to hear your opinion...")