What a weekend! We are people, people. And boy did we meet PEOPLE this weekend. For those of you who don't know, we had a booth at the Steel City tattoo convention this past weekend. Tim and I both has a wonderful time. We met some incredible artists, some super wonderful folks looking to have fading or removals done and we met the couple behind... HAPPY GURU TATTOO. 

Have you ever met someone with an idea and thought, "YES! Yes! and more YES!"?  That's these guys. They have come up with an all natural aftercare product that we have fallen in love with. Each of its 12  ingredients are pronounceable and you've most likely heard of them. ( see below for full list of ingredients) The very first ingredient is cocoa butter ( not water or an alcohol), which will help keep your skin hydrated after your session and will help keep itching down while you are healing. All the while leaving your skin extremely smooth. The product is free of chemicals, petroleum, paraben and lanolin. We are pleased to announce that we will now be providing this all natural option at the time of your treatments for your aftercare needs.  I know, personally, if there is a natural option available for the products I use, I choose it every time and this is why I am so excited about this product. We are excited to have come across this aftercare product and look forward to sharing it with you. We will also be stocking this product for retail sale, as we know you will fall in love with it as much as we have. 

Friends! We are so excited!! (see how many exclamation points I used?) We will have a booth at the Steel City Tattoo convention this year. The convention runs from September 18th to the 20th. This the third year for this convention and it is put on by the incredible, Shane O'Neil Productions. We know you won't be disappointed. The convention showcases amazing talent, live entertainment and vendors (like us!) We are offering specials through September, in honor of the plethora of ideas you are going to experience. Now is the perfect time to get in and have an unwanted tattoo faded or removed for a more stunning cover-up. We know once you to the convention you will be dying for new ink. Why not be prepared?!
Come check us out. We can't wait to see you!

Check out the info below on the convention and call us or book through the site today, to take advantage of our specials! 

"At the 3rd Annual “Steel City” Tattoo Convention there will be 300 Artist tattooing all weekend. Doors open at noon on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The doors close at 10pm on Friday, 11pm on Saturday and 7pm on Sunday. The general public is invited to attend and shop for a tattoo during these hours. We will also have live entertainment and vendors to enjoy as well. Admission is $20 per day or $40 for a weekend pass." 
Convention is held at the David L. Lawrence Convention center. 
Check out the convention's Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/steelcitytattoo

 I have tattoos. I have some that  I love and will never part with. I also have unwanted ink. I have tattoos in all stages of removal and I want to share my journey with you.  

When I decided to get my first tattoo removed using laser tattoo removal, I was a nervous wreck. I had no idea what to expect or where to go. I researched and researched. I called around to medical centers and other laser tattoo removal centers looking for the right fit. What I came to find.... was that I was sort of embarrassed. I also couldn't seem to find the right fit.  The tattoo I wanted removed was on my lower hip and in a rather awkward place. I didn't feel comfortable at the med spas. While they were very friendly and clean, I felt judged. Maybe this was my own insecurities, but they didn't specialize in tattoo removal. They didn't have tattoos themselves. They saw MY unwanted ink as a careless mistake and moved on to the next hair removal appointment. For me, I longed for a more laid back shop. One where I didn't feel judged or uncomfortable. One with a private treatment room and affordable prices. One where I could hold casual conversation with the highly trained staff member lasering my skin. 

This being said.... I couldn't find it.... So, my husband created it for me. And for you. Elimination Station strives to provide a welcoming environment.  It is owned an operated by Tim and I.  We understand that at one time in your life you went to Cancun and got " Big Ed" tattooed on your shoulder. Or, like myself, have an unwanted memento from a past relationship. We understand, like me, you might be a mom of 4 and no longer want the remnants of your younger days hanging out while you play with your kids at the park. Maybe just maybe you're the guy who loved part of an incredible tattoo but not all of it. ( That's me too! Minus the guy part.) Maybe you are a fellow tattoo lover who wants a sleeve and has it all planned out,  but unwanted ink is keeping you from your masterpiece. What ever the case may be.... we understand. I probably was in your shoes at one time or another. We strive to make our shop a comfortable, welcoming environment. Where you don't need to feel uneasy. Besides, the friendly environment, we are safe. And clean. And well trained by the industry leading professionals. We wouldn't have it any other way. We are parents of 4 kids under 5. We have seen it ALL. We are flexible yet professional. We want the same for you as I wanted for myself at other centers. We understand your second chance is in our hands and we take that very seriously. We look forward to meeting you and sharing in your laser tattoo removal journey!

Lots of people have been asking..... is it possible to remove only a portion of a tattoo? The answer to this question is, YES! Not every client we see wants their entire tattoo removed. Some may be looking for a name removed from an other wise likable tattoo, or wording that just didn't turn out as planned. Others are looking to have tattoos faded down for a cleaner looking cover-up. What ever the case may be, our team is highly trained and ready to take on any task. Our industry leading laser is extremely precise and our team can pin point specific areas for removal. Elimination Station prices are based on the size of the tattoo we are removing, so removing a smaller portion of any size tattoo can be extremely affordable. We also understand that many of our clients are looking to have their old ink covered up. Fading a tattoo with one or two sessions can help eliminate hard lines that often show through a cover up. Fading a tattoo before heading off for a fresh cover up can help ensure a cleaner more vibrate job. Not to mention, making it much easier on your tattoo artist. 

When booking an appointment for only a portion of a larger tattoo or a fading please be very clear and detailed as to what you are looking to have treated. Elimination Station wants to ensure that we are removing only the areas that you want removed. 

So, you've decided to have a tattoo removed or faded. Step one. Complete. 
Now you are probably wondering.... how much is this going to cost me? The answer I can give you isn't simple but it is honest. Tattoo removal is affordable. It is also worth the time and money. Each removal center is different and so is each tattoo. Some centers charge for the initial consultation. Some centers charge a fee to get in the door and then a certain amount depending on the size per treatment. The tattoo may fade faster or slower depending on the ink used, the age of the tattoo and the location on your body and your over all health. The healthier you are, the faster your tattoo will fade. Every tattoo is different and so is every person.
 At Elimination Station, we want life to be simple. You can book a free consultation here. Or, you can email us a picture of your tattoo for a consultation over the phone, here. We will never charge you for a consultation and will always leave time for your first treatment after your consultation, if you so choose. We charge a flat fee per treatment depending on the size of your tattoo. This will be discussed with you in your consultation. We will be honest and upfront with how many sessions we feel it will take to remove your tattoo. This doesn't mean we will be spot on every time. This means we want you to have reasonable expectations for the journey ahead of you. Elimination Station offers packages for multiple sessions that can help you save money. We pride ourselves on providing safe and efficient laser tattoo removal services. Contact us today to go over your options!

                          Check out this month's specials!!

If you're anything like me, you have done a little (or a lot) of research on laser tattoo removal before making any major decisions. I know I had no idea what to expect or look for.  I did extensive research before I came to any final choices. When I was doing this research, I stumbled upon a procedure that seemed too good to be true.... and that's because it was! 


The R20 Method: What is it?
"R" stands for repeating and 20 for the time between treatments. This method is a series of 4 treatments spaced 20 minutes apart. It claims to be, "much more effective than conventional laser tattoo treatments, removing most tattoos in just one session."

Awesome! Sign me up! All the research I had done said to wait 6-8 weeks between sessions and I can sit for about 80 minutes and have my tattoo pretty much gone. Perfect. Except, it's not. 

The study of this method is a Greek study published in 2011 by American Academy of Dermatology. 

• The study was only done on black tattoos. The study supports no data for colored tattoos.  
• This method caused greater epidermal injury and increased the risk of side effects. ( blisters, scabbing, scarring and skin discoloration)
• The study was done with an uncommon laser ( Alexandrite)
• Only 12 patients were included in the study
• The study was only done on very fair colored skin types 
  

My hopes for this specific blog are to inform you. I want you to know the facts so you, like I did, can make your own informed choice about where and how you want your treatment to go. We, at Elimination Station, do not practice the R20 Method. We feel the skin and immune system are not given adequate time to heal properly and safely. 

We are excited to announce the opening of our laser tattoo fading and removal center located in Tarentum, PA. We are passionate about providing safe, efficient, and affordable care for our clients. We have been extensively trained and certified to provide you the highest quality care around. We personally understand the desire to have unwanted tattoos removed and look forward to helping you achieve a second chance with tattoo fading, ideal for ensuring beautiful cover ups, or removal altogether. 

We plan on using our blog to cover a wide variety of in-depth topics surrounding laser tattoo fading and removal. Please feel free to submit any questions you may have or topics you would like to know more about.