Tattoos have become a fashion accessory amongst many. If you put in the research you can find a tattooist to put a permanent piece of art on your body. Unfortunately there are also knock off low grade parlours that struggle to see the difference between the word angel and angle.
Sometimes when my friends show me their tattoos my initial reaction is “Well you can always remove it” which in hindsight probably isn’t very supportive. So what is it like to get a tattoo removed?
I’m lucky I work in an industry where tattoos aren’t taboo and tats make for great water cooler conversation. But I have been curious about removal for a while, not because I regret or need to get one to check-out early, but because I wonder what it’s like if ever decided to go down that route. You hear so much conflicting information and I wanted to know the facts.
I reached out to a few places to work with for this feature. A clinic on Harley Street, Sk:n and The Circle. Although the women in the first two clinics were lovely and accommodating, I got the impression they had never had a tattoo or really understood the tattoo industry. The Circle amalgamate everything brilliant and wonderful about the tattoo world. Wayne aka the Tattoo Whisperer talked me through the process in a frank and open manner that I hadn’t experienced before. What he doesn’t know about tattoo removal isn’t worth knowing. He goes into such detail about the science and medical aspects of the process that left this quantum mechanics loving mademoiselle mentally dizzy. He lives and breathes tattoos, he asks you questions you wished you had thought about and manages your expectations.
After the initial consultation, filling in paperwork and making sure everything is sterile, Wayne requires you have no real or fake tan as this hinders the process and may require more sessions than needed. With Wayne it is very much a one on one session. Unlike other places Wayne doesn’t use numbing gel and instead he uses a cyro machine that delivers blasts of cold air to sooth and make the process as pain-free as possible. It also minimizes any swelling and blistering that is a common side effect of removal. The actual process is incredibly quick, milliseconds. He gives me a quick zap of his Q-Switch machine so I know what to expect and the sensation is like a little elastic band flicking you, after my initial jolt, he zaps me again and it’s done. I think blinking takes longer. The aftercare is natural, let it breathe, try not to get it wet, keep it out of the sun, and if needed, add some natural aloe vera gel for 10-14 days.
It has been a few days and I have had no blistering, scaring, swelling and I can already see the ink being broken down. I’ll need another 3 sessions to completely remove but it’s incredible to find out how easy it is to remove a tattoo and if you go to people who are immersed in tattoos you know you’re in safe hands and you’re not being charged a premium because the receptionist is wearing a white coat.
The process has been an incredible one and I’ll be documenting the remaining sessions to show the complete process of tattoo removal.
Images by Christophe Suant for VogueAlchemist
Wayne currently has a waiting list and prices start from £40 per session. If you’d like to find out more information or a consultation please contact:
Wayne 0207 7343499
21 Noel Street, Soho, W1F 8GP
info@discardead.com
