Slartibartfast

Thank you John,
 
I'm certainly not thrilled either.  One the one hand I feel a bit ridiculous spending so much money, going through so much pain for such a long time on something I did to myself knowing it was permanent.  On the other hand, if it works, it certainly is not getting off easy.  
Day one after first treatment: 
Neck sore but not nearly as bad as yesterday.  I'm able to wear one of my looser fit dress shirts, tie and top button fastened.  I don't know if this is helping but I cut off the short sleeve from a T-shirt and stretched it enough to get it over my head and on my neck.  The constant contact prevents my dress shirt from rubbing or scraping.  
From a progress standpoint, I am surprised just how much faded in certain areas while others appear to have no change (other than red and swollen).  I'm sure this is due to depth and saturation of ink.  
 
I'll update when there is news.

Yes. The question is how many sessions it will take. apparently there is fine tuning that takes place also, if my artist mixed the black with blue, or with any other colors I understand that could have an impact.  
My Dr said the main factor is my immune system and how healthy it is. A healthy immune system will clear away the pieces quicker. I think I have a healthy immune system. Also, higher blood flow areas fade quicker too. So I’ve got that going for me. 

PICO or Q-Switched laser? I had a small black tattoo lasered a few years ago. It didn't respond well at all. I did six sessions over the course of a year with a Q-Switched laser which was the only type available in my area. After six sessions, it was finally light enough for up for a coverup. Good luck!  I know the neck must suck...good luck!

You’re getting only the neck area lasered, correct?
Because the chest piece is badass...

Yeah, Thanks!  Just the neck.  

Thank you John,
 
I'm certainly not thrilled either.  One the one hand I feel a bit ridiculous spending so much money, going through so much pain for such a long time on something I did to myself knowing it was permanent.  On the other hand, if it works, it certainly is not getting off easy.  
Day one after first treatment: 
Neck sore but not nearly as bad as yesterday.  I'm able to wear one of my looser fit dress shirts, tie and top button fastened.  I don't know if this is helping but I cut off the short sleeve from a T-shirt and stretched it enough to get it over my head and on my neck.  The constant contact prevents my dress shirt from rubbing or scraping.  
From a progress standpoint, I am surprised just how much faded in certain areas while others appear to have no change (other than red and swollen).  I'm sure this is due to depth and saturation of ink.  
 
I'll update when there is news.

These are a couple hours after. In addition to redness and swelling I can see areas, that were filled in with the shader, that are immediately showing lightening.  I figure the outline will take the longest and is the biggest gamble in how well this goes. 
 
I’ve looked at a lot of pictures online and am still trying to stay realistic about what can be achieved. I realize I made the choice to get this tattoo. I think the artist did a good enough job although I wish we would have spent more time on getting placement and the line even. I’m attempting to get it removed as I have never felt good about how it looks. When people see it, they generally act in a way that confirms my bad feelings about it. By either not saying anything or clearly avoiding any comment on how they think it looks. I realize other people’s opinions don’t matter if I like it but I don’t like it AND this nagging issue is confirmed by their response. Being an educator, I’m hoping I can again wear the top button, unbuttoned while at work. 
 
The tattoo is pretty new, got it in October of 2017, and being that it is so big and bold I think I’m right to be concerned about how this removal will turn out.  Unless I end up doing a coverup (which would mean top button for 25 more years), I realize this will likely be a long, painful and expensive ordeal.
 
Stay tuned

Sorry for the late reply @rocketqueen, I stopped getting email notifications from this thread a while ago and can't figure out why. I will never, as a professional, quote 100% tattoo removal. My idea of 100% is different from yours, and it's not a tangible thing to fight over. Even in my "best case" scenarios, I can still find trace amounts of pigment if I look hard enough. A casual stranger who didn't know the history, wouldn't know though.
Also bear in mind, "dedicated to treatment course" isn't always a factor in how successful any given removal will be. How the tattoo was done (scarring, over worked area, dragging or barbed needles, etc.), pigment used, pigment saturation, liner vs. shader, location on the body, immune system, age, age of tattoo and quality of life will all play roles in how much any given tattoo will be functionally able to be removed. There is no black and white answer with tattoo removal.
Not some lasers, all lasers used for tattoo removal have the possibility of white ink turning black. In fact, many colors shift during removal. Black ink will often fade to brown or sometimes if it's got a deep indigo blue, that starts to show after a few sessions. There is no MSDS for tattoo ink, without knowing the ingredients there's always a possibility of color shift. Moreover, even if we do know the ingredients, there likely hasn't been any long term studies done on the effects caused from exposure to lasers.
To directly answer the question, it doesn't disqualify someone but it does cause for a very serious conversation about realistic expectations in my office.
Please understand that my job is to create very realistic expectations about what can and cannot be accomplished. The ol, "well my friend went here and they had the best and it's now gone after X treatments" simply holds no weight. Every tattoo done on every person is unique.

DOUBLE DRAGONS!!!!  

For me personally, some reason whenever I get a tattoo I end up regretting it severely for the first couple of weeks. even if it's perfect and looks amazing. It's probably  just from the shock of having some new on my body, but generally even if I don't really like how it ended up I end up liking it and accepting it after a few weeks. So my best advice is just to wait and hopefully you'll begin to accept it and love it.

Add that to the list...
 

All comments above have helped me get a different perspective and I thank you all. I have now come to see it not as I had envisioned but as it is and this is helping quite a bit.  As with each tattoo I have gotten, I need a break in and adjustment phase. Right around the time it has healed and doesn’t look shiny, plastic, I start getting a perspective that most closely resembles how I will feel going forward.  I guess no different than most things in life, it’s better than a lot of other possibilities, not what I expected, and if I focus on the things I like about it, I will feel good about it.  
 
Thanks!

All comments above have helped me get a different perspective and I thank you all. I have now come to see it not as I had envisioned but as it is and this is helping quite a bit.  As with each tattoo I have gotten, I need a break in and adjustment phase. Right around the time it has healed and doesn’t look shiny, plastic, I start getting a perspective that most closely resembles how I will feel going forward.  I guess no different than most things in life, it’s better than a lot of other possibilities, not what I expected, and if I focus on the things I like about it, I will feel good about it.  
 
Thanks!

All comments above have helped me get a different perspective and I thank you all. I have now come to see it not as I had envisioned but as it is and this is helping quite a bit.  As with each tattoo I have gotten, I need a break in and adjustment phase. Right around the time it has healed and doesn’t look shiny, plastic, I start getting a perspective that most closely resembles how I will feel going forward.  I guess no different than most things in life, it’s better than a lot of other possibilities, not what I expected, and if I focus on the things I like about it, I will feel good about it.  
 
Thanks!

All comments above have helped me get a different perspective and I thank you all. I have now come to see it not as I had envisioned but as it is and this is helping quite a bit.  As with each tattoo I have gotten, I need a break in and adjustment phase. Right around the time it has healed and doesn’t look shiny, plastic, I start getting a perspective that most closely resembles how I will feel going forward.  I guess no different than most things in life, it’s better than a lot of other possibilities, not what I expected, and if I focus on the things I like about it, I will feel good about it.  
 
Thanks!

All comments above have helped me get a different perspective and I thank you all. I have now come to see it not as I had envisioned but as it is and this is helping quite a bit.  As with each tattoo I have gotten, I need a break in and adjustment phase. Right around the time it has healed and doesn’t look shiny, plastic, I start getting a perspective that most closely resembles how I will feel going forward.  I guess no different than most things in life, it’s better than a lot of other possibilities, not what I expected, and if I focus on the things I like about it, I will feel good about it.  
 
Thanks!

All comments above have helped me get a different perspective and I thank you all. I have now come to see it not as I had envisioned but as it is and this is helping quite a bit.  As with each tattoo I have gotten, I need a break in and adjustment phase. Right around the time it has healed and doesn’t look shiny, plastic, I start getting a perspective that most closely resembles how I will feel going forward.  I guess no different than most things in life, it’s better than a lot of other possibilities, not what I expected, and if I focus on the things I like about it, I will feel good about it.  
 
Thanks!

My two cents...I can certainly empathize with not getting exactly what you wanted. That being said, it appears from your photos that you are not a tattoo rookie. Don't overthink why they pulled the video down. It's certainly a very good tattoo. Breathe. Get out of yer head. Give it time. 🙂

Nothing wrong with the tatt, imo he did an incredible job. Yeah it's not exactly what you asked for but at least it's good work. And as you said you agreed after seeing the design, just give it some time I'm sure you'll grow to love it.

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I'm starting to regret NOT having that sweet dragon tattoo myself. After all, I only have two (three if you count sea monsters). 

Not what you wanted, but at least it's a GOOD tattoo. I agree with what the other's have posted. You can't have too many dragons.

DOUBLE DRAGONS!!!!  

DOUBLE DRAGONS!!!!  

DOUBLE DRAGONS!!!!  

Based on that reference and what you got I think you were asking the wrong artist to do that style.  Its also a bunch of thick bold B&G trad pieces around it.  All things considered I think that the person did a good job of putting something in theme for your arm, it has a simple folk kind of american traditional vibe.  Personally based on the reference if you want small details then you need to get a big tattoo not a small arm banger, your reference is detailed to be a whole thigh or chest even.