Hello dear reader, I’m writing to you in the midst of a tattoo removal journey alongside MidWest Laser Centre in Saskatoon. It’s a journey unlike what I would have expected, so I hope my honest blog post is helpful whether you’re thinking of removing a tattoo or you’re advising a younger person in your life who’s thinking about getting one. As I write, I’ll be thinking about what I would have wanted to know before getting this tattoo.

This post is in partnership with MidWest but all experiences and opinions are mine.

Why I decided to remove my tattoo

I have several tattoos! My first was a butterfly on my hip I got at just 13 years old when it was still legal with parental permission, then I got more butterflies on my back, a dove on my arm, a sheaf of wheat on the other, and I may still get more! In fact, the tattoo I’m having removed is still meaningful to me. This isn’t an old boyfriend’s name or an embarrassing moment in pop culture.

“In the deepest of waters, I re-surface, to serve a purpose.” It’s a lyric written by my friend and former bandmate in Junior Pantherz, Terry Mattson. For me, the tattoo signaled coming out of a party phase I fell too deep into, and choosing instead to focus on creating music. I chose a reputable artist & the script looked great. Until one day my husband said, “Your tattoo is pretty much illegible, hey?" I was like, WHAT? Well, he took a picture and I couldn’t believe how blown out it was. Right away, I went for a consultation at the original tattoo parlor, thinking they could touch it up or add a white outline. “No,” they said. “You’ll either have to do laser removal to lighten it before a touch up, or do a full coverup.” Woah. From there, I stopped wearing spaghetti straps and strapless dresses unless my hair covered the ink completely. I was so self conscious of those fuzzy words.

I’m now 3 treatments into the laser removal process. Seeing it fade has been exciting but there’s still more to go.

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How the process works (as the MidWest team described it)

Dr. Stewart alongside Chantal and Kerri at MidWest Laser Centre walked me through it this way: The laser sends short pulses of light which are absorbed by the ink sitting in your skin, shattering it into smaller pieces. Then, your body’s lymphatic system acts like little Pac-Mans, eating away those more digestible fragments and flushing them out. It’s actually your body that will be doing the work.

Here’s what I learned:

Tattoo removal is not one long session. It’s a series of very short ones. My sessions are under a minute of actual lasering each time. The numbing cream takes time to set, then the laser goes.
It hurts. Even with the numbing cream. The team at MidWest described it as “hot grease spattering you from a frying pan” and yep, that’s the feeling alright. I squeeze a stress ball while the laser tech gives me encouraging updates like, “we’re already done two words!” We begin and end with a cold pack.
Unlike a tattoo, my skin feels & looks unchanged within the same day of my laser treatments.
The number of sessions varies. Your body’s ability to get rid of the ink depends on the type of ink, the amount of ink, how deeply it’s embedded in the skin, how long you go between treatments, and simply how your body’s lymphatic system operates.
Colours are complicated. Black ink is most often the easiest to remove (good news for me), while browns like eyebrow tattoos or bright colours may turn red, fade unpredictably, or take many sessions. Greens and blues may not fade so checking with a technician is required before starting.
You wait weeks between sessions (minimum 8 weeks between, sometimes longer) so your lymphatic system has time to clear the fragments.
It hurts a little less each session because there’s less ink for the laser to heat.
Aftercare is mostly keeping your tattoo out of the sun.

What I wish I’d known before getting the tattoo

When I initially got the script tattooed, I didn’t know that ink could blur so much, or that fonts can become “fuzzy.” If I knew then what I know now, I would have picked a simpler font or style.
Use SPF30+ on your tattoo any time it’s uncovered. (I thought I kept mine safe from UV, not sure if I could have done better to be honest.)
Removal hurts, and for reference, I don’t find tattoos painful at all. Numbing cream does not eliminate pain of removal like it did with the ablative facial laser treatment I had at Midwest. Ink sits deeply in the dermis, and that’s where this laser has to penetrate.
Short sessions for removal are a plus, but the commitment is long. It’s not one session and it’s gone. I thought of Pete Davidson’s tattoo removal… he must have had multiple laser sessions before he made that announcement.

Advice for anyone thinking of getting ink

Since a goal for me is to reach someone who may be considering getting some first permanent ink, I’d recommend asking your tattoo artist how they think your tattoo will wear over time and think about what might make it hold up better. Placement, font, colours, subject… really consider. Ten or fifteen years goes SO MUCH FASTER than you imagine.

This journey began in March and this photo was just taken (November)

Wrappin’ this blog up…

Whether you’re removing a tattoo you once loved (like I am) or you’re thinking of getting one, knowledge is power. Know the process, know the trade-offs, and make sure you’re comfortable with them. I’m so glad to have connected with the knowledgeable and lovely MidWest team who gave me realistic expectations up front. Three treatments in, my tattoo is fading away nicely & at this point, I’ve decided to remove it completely rather than lightening. If you have more questions about my experience, I’m happy to answer. And if you’re thinking about laser removal or any other laser service, reach out to MidWest - there’s a reason they’ve accrued loyal clients for decades. Please tell them I sent you!

Maygen