shinobi

BTW, seriously not looking for sympathy here. Just wanted to share what went down. Maybe others have had a similar experience. I'm actually going to a different shop in a couple hours to meet an artist and get to work on a new piece. I do, however, need some encouragement from those of you going through the removal process so I'll be active in that forum as well.

I'm really diggin' this design (attached), especially in this spot. Hard to describe. Not exactly the inner bicep or the outer bicep so I'll just call it the "front bicep." Basically it would be visible best when facing me. I've seen this placement on a few people. What do you guys think about the piece and the placement? Pros and cons?

So I moved out to Cali about 6 months ago. Never got a tattoo before, not because I didn't want one but because I thought I would never something perfect enough. Well, it didn't take long for me to get bit with the bug seeing all the great work on people out here. I immediately started doing some research on different artists/styles. I grew up in an Asian family around lots of images of Koi, Samurai, Dragons, etc. so naturally the Japanese/Irezumi style was attractive to me. I especially felt that the symbolism of the Koi suited me and what I represent. After narrowing it down to an artist, and with an idea of what I wanted I booked an appointment back in October and within a few weeks got inked. The whole experience was terrible! I felt I was pretty clear with the artist about what I wanted but I also wanted to give him some creative freedom as I feel you should with experience artists who put out great work (at least in their portfolios). I suppose him not wanting to do an actual sketch should have been a red flag. He just wanted to draw it on me first. Anyway, what he drew on me was just an outline, which I had no problem with, but the end product was a Koi with scales that are too small, not running in the direction of the spine, the fins look bad, it's just a mess. It wasn't 2 days and I was already looking into removal. In fact, I've already had one session (after waiting one month). I guess fortunately for me it's just an outline so that's less to get removed but I'm still pretty distraught about what's on my arm and pretty embarrassed by it. I'm encouraged to read that people are able to get cover ups after doing some laser sessions so hopefully I'm not stuck with it for life. It just sucks because I got a good eye for good work and feel I have good taste in tattoos, but you would think I'm some idiot who hired a scratcher if you saw it. I don't regret getting a tattoo, in fact I still have some work I want to get done. I am, however, more nervous than ever that it could happen again. I still don't know what I could have done differently. I guess the second I thought this guy was a bit of an asshole I should have ran.

Not to change the subject too much - but what about stigmas attached to certain types of tattoos? For example, the spider web. I know I've considered getting one but it seems like a lot of the uneducated public still thinks they are prison tattoos. Either way I still dig 'em.

Caldera, Big Swell, and Bahl Hornin' are my favorite IPA's. Not big on wheat beer but Watermellon Wheat by 21st Amendment is legit!

Yeah South Coast in Newport. They offered a package of 10 for 2500 w/ unlimited treatments after 10 if 10 doesn't finish it. I figured I'd pay per session because I want to do a cover up and not sure how many that could take. I've heard anywhere from 3-5 sessions, maybe longer since mine is new. Hey that leads me to another question for Mike, what's your experience with new tattoos? Easier or harder to remove? I would imagine harder as the sun has done a lot of the work for you with older ones.

I'm getting mine removed because it was bad work. I went with the med spa because they seem to have the best reviews and the price is affordable. Are there any red flags I should be looking for that say RUN? The place is clean, they offer numbing cream, use the Q-switched laser, etc. I'm currently paying $200 per session to remove a half sleeve outline done in black. It was initially around $250 but I talked them down. Is that price about right?

Yup. I want a sleeve like that. Here's a dope battle royale chest piece from one of my local artists:

I got my first session done by these guys. They seem legit. I agree his work was too nice to laser but who knows, he might be tired of dragons. It should also be noted that that white dust goes away within minutes. They were up front about that during my consult.

Damn, you're not kidding about Tomas. I've gotta meet this guy. I'm stopping by Sid's tomorrow. I want to get a cobra w/ some traditional roses done on my front bicep, kinda like this:

I'm near Laguna in OC. I've checked out Eighth Element in Fountain Valley, there's Sid's in Santa Ana (which I haven't been to), Life After Death in Costa Mesa, and Fine Tattoo Work in Orange. I'm real fond of Sid's work from what I can tell online as well as Chip Douglas' at FTW. Definitely a lot of artists and styles to chose from here. - - - Updated - - - btw I'm open to suggestions if you have em. I'm like the traditional/neo-traditional and japanese styles as well as some of the Christian based work I've seen from the likes of Sid and Chris Perrin.

12 treatments sounds high. Maybe for complete removal. I've heard around 5 or 6 before a cover up. I too was disapointed by my first tat and started the removal process a month after. I'm now into my 6th week of healing from my first laser session and have seen pretty good results. As for the pain, I did pop a Vicodin, drink a beer, and take the numbing cream as well as iced it but still felt some discomfort. Certainly not as painful as getting the tattoo but I'll have to get lasered sober next time to tell you for sure. My treatments are $200 ea. btw.

Hi, Shinobi from SoCal here. I've been looking for a tattoo forum to join for a while now and this one looks legit. Hoping to get some good advice and creative input on some tattoo ideas I have.