I need help making a decision

[hi725]

I have 4 and a half tattoos (one of them is mangled by a surgical scar). I HATE all of them, because I was stupid and got them all within 6 months of turning 18, which was almost 20 years ago. They were just designs that were picked off the wall and none of them have any meaning. I have considered myself anti-tattoo for a long time now, always telling other people to make sure they put a lot of thought into it before they commit to permanently markets no their bodies.

The worst one for me is a tramp stamp. Obviously, there is a stigma associated with it, hence the name. That's a huge part of it for me. I hate it to the point that I want to cry every time I catch a glimpse of it in a mirror, and any time my shirt happens to ride up a little and someone comments on it. I have two others on my back, one near the shoulder blade and the other at the base of my neck.

If I could turn back the clock I wouldn't have any of them, either clean skin, or something more thought out, but obviously that's not possible. Laser removal is not an option. I went for a few consults and no one could guarantee total removal because of the colors involved and it would be very costly, a few thousand dollars at a minimum. Not to mention, painful.

So, lately I've been tossing around the idea of having a larger, custom piece drawn up to cover the existing tattoo and continue up my back so it no longer falls into the "tramp stamp" category, and also so it possibly connects the other two smaller pieces.

I just don't know if I should do this, or just suck it up and deal with it for the rest of my life, or risk the time and money for laser removal, only to be left with remnants or scars. Like I said, I'm pretty much anti ratio now, but I'm starting to think that having something pretty in place of something I hate, might be worth it. I don't know. It's early and I'm rambling.

What would you guys do?

[ECB]

I would probably try to turn it into something else, like you described.

[circa1978]

Is it the actual tattoo that bothers you, or the fact that it has been labeled a tramp stamp? Because if you are anti-tattoo, I don't think a bigger one is going to help. I'd save up for removal and start with the small ones first.

FWIW, I have a tattoo on my lower back. I chose the location because it would not be visible and not sag over time. My H is the only one who sees it and it has meaning to me. If some douche aging frat boy - or anyone else - thinks he can gain power over me by calling me a tramp, well, fuck that.

[hi725]

No, the "tramp stamp" is just the straw that broke the camels back. It's placed slightly too high, and I just don't like it, in general. The day I got it done, when I saw it finished, I was like "meh".

[Muddled]

Living social and groupon sometimes have deals for tat removal. Obviously, do research on the place, but it could save you money.

If you really loved the cover-up, I would say go for it, but it will be big. There is no going back from that. And you are anti-tat.

[demelza]

I would keep looking into removal. I would travel to get someone that can do it right. It really sounds like you would rather go that route if possible.

[vanillacourage]

If you're anti tattoo I don't think you'll ultimately be happy with a new tattoo so big it goes from your lower back all the way up to connect with the nape of your neck. Ditto others that I'd save for laser removal.

[tripleshot]

In your shoes, I would get laser treatments to remove it. It doesn't seem like you like any tattoos and making it bigger won't make you happier. I have a butterfly on my front lower stomach area and I hate it. The lines are all thick and it was poorly done. I got it within days of turning 18 to piss off my mom. I'd get it removed in a heartbeat.

[AmeliaBedelia]

I don't think a larger tattoo would make you feel better if what you really want is for them to be gone.

[lilac05]

I'd save to get ignore removed, too. Or just work on accepting them as a part of you, a fun time in your life, and lessons learned along the way.

One of your comments about your current tats is that they have no meaning, you just liked them. You're talking about covering them with something else that you like...now. You'll likely end up hating that years down the road, too. It'll go from 4 small reminders of that time in your life to one HUGE reminder of those decisions.

[tacokick]

How big is the lower back tattoo? I've seen some lovely cover up pieces; some tattoo parlors even specialize in cover ups.

[knx9211]

Removal is painful as fuck. I got mine faded and stopped going. I'll take it back up at a later date. THAT SAID I'm super happy with the current results even if it's not finished. I'd save for removal before putting something gigantic over it.

Signed,
Another member of the "Just Turned 18 Tramp Stamp Mistake" club.

[renna]

Try to make peace with it for now as you save for removal or cover-up. Try to honor the youth of young you making those decisions. Young you was in a different place than Now you. She was a steppingstone to where you are now. There's something kind of cool in that.

You know how some people get a tattoo in honor or memory of a loved one? Can you try to shift your thinking to your tattoos honoring the younger you? Sure, you might not keep them, but they are part of your history (like a scar from a fall) and they are part of you right now. Sort of like when you're pregnant and your stomach starts to protrude and you have to accept it - this is me for now. This is my body for now. It will serve it's purpose. You may have outgrown your tattoos' purpose but for now live peaceably with them and honor the younger you. (heart)

[Eagles]

I have a stupid, stupid lower back tattoo that I got at 19 that I hate. HATE. I want it removed, and I know it's going to be expensive and painful, but honestly, I hate it that much that I want it gone. I asked a friend who started the process and he said he actually stopped after a couple of sessions because he had some scarring, and recommended that I see a dermatologist to talk about it instead of a Groupon/LS laser removal type of place.

[frkls]

i think i'd consider the cover. i had that same "meh" feeling the day i got mine. the picture i brought in was beautiful, but the artist was no bueno. my feeling is that the tattoo is already there, i may as well have something pretty. of course, mine is in a place where i have to look at it 90 gajillion times a day

[starburst604]

I'm another member of the I'm 18 and I'll do what I want club. Back when I got the stupid thing my dad freaked and offered to pay for removal. I asked him if that offer still stands 20 years later and he laughs at me. It's on my ankle so it's showing all summer. People have suggested I cover it with a nicer tat but like you I'm just not a tattoo person. I had a laser consult and didn't go through with it due to the cost. I think in your shoes I would lean toward trying removal. If you hated the results you could always try to cover with a tattoo after that! Oh and I can guarantee that if I'd gotten my tat a year or two later, it would be on my lower back instead. That's when that became really popular.

[starburst604]

May 30, 2015 11:28:21 GMT -5 jenny1980 said:

I am also a member of this special club LOL. Luckily I just have one but I am definitely leaning toward having it turned into something meaningful/more attractive. Right now it is the most generic rose (omfg, JENNY!) I picked off the wall of a super sketchy tattoo place that didn't card people.

Mine is a beta fish. Also picked off the wall at the sketchy parlor in NH, because they weren't legal in MA at the time. I had a pet beta fish, what's more meaningful than that?! If I could travel back in time and throat punch my 18 yr old self....

[Eagles]

We should do a bracket style challenge of ill-advised tattoos. The winner gets to live with ridicule.

<--- has faded kanji tattoo

[hi725]

Let me clarify. I don't hate tattoos, I hate MY tattoos. I love well done tattoos that are detailed and have some kind of meaning. I am the crotchety old lady that warns 18 year old against getting them until they have out mega amounts of thought into them. Like I did not. Voice of experience and all that shit.

I've had mine for nearly 20 years. I have been thinking about cover ups for most of that time, and I keep going back to the same kind of design. I'm pretty confident I would like it and not regret it. But, I also wish I could see blank skin on my back sometimes, you know?

Tattoo removal is really painful. It can leave scars and it's not always 100% effective. I feel like I would rather have a cover up than a faded (or possibly scarred) version of what I have now. I've also been told at consults that the blue and orange inks are the hardest to get rid of, and 2 of the 3 on my back have a large amount of those colors Hence my waffling.

[onesweetworld]

I would save all that money for removal. Think longer term. If you are now anti-tattoo save every cent to have them removed. You may just want the larger one removed in time anyway and that would then be money spent for no reason. Sorry you're sad about them