I got a tattoo removed and it took way longer than I ever imagined.

When people ask me what I think of their tattoo ideas, I have a hard time giving my honest opinion. That’s because I had a tattoo removed when I was 18, and it was more of an arduous process than I imagined.

Rewind to 2010. I’m 18 and recently single. For some reason I thought I’d get back at or impress my ex-boyfriend by getting an edgy tattoo. He was covered with them and I am not sure what my thought process was, but I spent less than three days thinking of which chorus to a song I wanted inked on my ribs.

Folks, so many things were cringe-worthy about this decision. The tattoo cost 200 dollars. The purple trace had a misspelling that neither me, nor my friend, nor the “artist” saw.

I was able to hide the tattoo from my parents for about two months.

Then came trying on prom dresses, one in particular with an open cutout in the rib area, and I hear my mom gasp as I come out of the dressing room. I look at her reflection behind me in the full-length mirror and am filled with guilt.

Another month goes by and I’ve found a local laser removal spot right up the street from where I live.

I was presented with two payment options. Pay upfront and have a guarantee the sessions would continue until the tattoo was gone, or paying per session.

I chose to pay upfront and I’m glad I did.

The tattoo ended up taking way longer to remove than the 5–6 sessions I was quoted.

It actually took 22. And this all over the course of two and a half years.

When you get a tattoo removed, you have to wait six weeks in between sessions. This lets your skin heal. There were some sessions when my skin would bleed on contact, or at the least bubble up.

I am sharing my story so that you can hopefully save money too if you are given those payment options. I am glad the process is over, but I do not regret getting my tattoo removed. I think certain tattoos can be absolutely beautiful art on a human canvas, but for me, I’ll stick with temporary tats.

If you want to see a before and after, check out this video I made: