I've had 5 laser removal sessions costing nearly $250 on a $35 tattoo. Here's what I wish I knew beforehand.

• I've spent $250 so far on laser removal sessions for a $35 tattoo I regret.
• It's becoming popular but it's a painful procedure, so think carefully before taking the plunge.

I got my first tattoo after turning 18; a design I really wanted, drawn by a friend. However, in my haste and excitement, I didn't research tattoo artists beforehand and ended up quickly regretting the simple design and random placement right in the middle of my arm.

A few years later, after doing considerable research, I decided it was time to remove it. As laser tattoo removal is the only method proven to work, according to the FDA, I took the plunge and booked my first appointment in 2021.

Videos under the #lasertattooremoval tag on TikTok currently have 2.7 billion views as of Friday. It's a procedure rising in popularity, with more people seemingly regretting the ink they chose.

Two years, five sessions, and $250 later, I've learned a lot about the mistakes people make before, during, and after getting laser on their ink. Here are all the things I wish I'd known about the process.

Researching treatments and clinics beforehand is crucial, according to laser tattoo remover Neil Beattie

Though I switched practitioners when I moved across the country after my first couple of sessions, I've always been treated using Lynton laser machines. Neil Beattie from Evolve Laser Clinic said the ink particles absorb and are broken up by the laser's light, before the ink is safely flushed out of your body.

Beattie added that before your first session, you should have a full consultation and a patch test to make sure the treatment is right for you and you're a suitable candidate.

The FDA recommends using trained healthcare specialists, but since they're rarer in the UK where I live, I opted for clinics with fully trained operators.

If you're going for full tattoo removal (rather than just fading it), be aware that it's a lengthy process. Two years in, I still need several more sessions myself. According to the tattoo removal company Removery, it takes an average of 10 to 12 sessions for a full tattoo removal.

Each approximately 15-minute session (a short time due to the small size of the tattoo) costs me £40, or around $49, for treatment of the three-inch-long trident tattoo on my upper arm, but each clinic will have its own pricing system. As five sessions have now cost me £200, or around $243, it's a hefty price tag for what was a very cheap and spontaneous tattoo — so make sure laser removal is really worth it to you.

I found that it's always a good idea to plan your sessions around things that might interfere with the process. For example, avoid booking for right before a vacation, as direct sunlight and dips in the pool both disagree with recently lasered skin, I was told during one of my appointments.

It will hurt, but you can always take a break or use cooling pads

You might be nervous about pain during the process. Beattie said: "Most patients describe the sensation as similar to a hot pin prick or the flick of an elastic band."

My first few sessions definitely hurt more than expected — a sharp, digging pain that stung afterward. Thankfully I was offered cooling pads and could take breaks whenever I needed (every few seconds at first). My practitioner also didn't mind that I swore like a sailor.

Due to the laser itself, you'll also have to wear slightly goofy-looking goggles to block out the light and protect your eyes.

I powered through as compared to actually getting a tattoo, the sessions are much quicker; my last round was much less painful and I barely gritted my teeth.

Certain areas of your body will be more painful to have lasered, the same as with getting inked. I noticed closer to the sensitive inside of my elbow was a much sharper pain than higher up my arm.

I also found that my pain tolerance was way lower during my period, or after a cocktail night due to the alcohol still in my system. Don't be afraid to ask to reschedule if you think it may be a particularly painful session.

Help your tattoo fade afterward by taking good care of the skin

Though everyone's experience is different, my tattoo was pretty sore after the first few sessions. I had both pinprick bleeding on the ink itself and bruising on the general area around it, which lasted around a week. This is normal according to Beattie, who noted that redness, tenderness, and swelling can happen.

Viral videos of laser tattoo removal typically show ink miraculously turning white immediately — but don't be fooled as this isn't the final result.

I was disappointed at first, but now I appreciate the small changes between each session as this tattoo fades.

Most tattoos will fade in small patches, so linework will start to look dotty; areas where more ink was deposited in the skin can cling onto ink more, as mine did.

Each laser practitioner will recommend their own preferred product to treat the site afterward. Scent-free moisturizer, aloe vera, and medicated creams are all options. Taking good care of your skin helps the tattoo fade faster, and prevents any infection.

As mentioned earlier, you should avoid submerging the tattoo in water for a while afterward. Smoking may also affect how well the tattoo fades, as reported by Removery, which cited a study of 352 laser tattoo removal clients in Italy that showed smokers were 70% more likely to have longer removal processes.

I will admit that I wish it would go a little quicker, since it does still hurt and I'll need to pay for several more appointments.

However, I'm glad I chose to start my tattoo removal journey, and it hasn't put me off getting more ink either. For others considering it, I'd always advise doing your research first, and not trying to downplay how much it hurts — your clinician will have seen it all before.