My Experience at Removery Tattoo Removal & Fading -- Chino Hills, CA 91709…read more
I am sharing my honest experience at Removery located at 13855 City Center Dr., Ste 3021, Chino Hills, CA 91709. Unfortunately, this was an experience I would never want to repeat.
The first issue began before I even entered the office. The GPS directions were inaccurate and confusing, making the location unnecessarily difficult to find. After driving around longer than expected, I finally located the suite. Starting an appointment already frustrated from poor directions set a negative tone.
Once inside, I checked in for my scheduled appointment but was told I would need to wait because another client had arrived late. While I understand delays happen, it added to the inconvenience after the difficulty locating the office. Thankfully, that session was brief and I was taken in shortly after.
I went into the treatment room hopeful for a productive session. My tattoo removal specialist was Jessica, who introduced herself as a nurse. When I sat down, she instructed me that I only needed to ice my neck for a couple of seconds because I had applied numbing cream. This immediately concerned me. In my previous sessions, I typically ice for 3 to 5 minutes, sometimes at least 2 to 3 minutes, to properly prepare my skin for the laser.
Following her instruction, I iced the left side of my neck for approximately 5 to 10 seconds. This was far less than I am used to and did not feel sufficient.
When the laser treatment began, I expected discomfort, as tattoo removal is never painless. However, within 20 to 40 seconds on the first section of the tattoo, the pain became significantly more intense than any session I had previously experienced. Jessica continued working on that same small section on the left side of my neck for what felt like an extended period.
I normally receive treatments in Brea with a specialist named Kaylyn. My sessions there are typically efficient, precise, and much quicker. While Jessica was lasering, I calmly asked if she was almost finished with that section because it was extremely painful and taking much longer than I was accustomed to. She explained that the laser quality and the level of my session could make it more painful and that she needed to do her job thoroughly.
Even so, that one small section took approximately two minutes to complete. With Kaylyn in Brea, that same section normally takes around 30 seconds. The extended duration made the pain far more intense and difficult to tolerate.
At that point, I made the decision to stop. I respectfully told Jessica, "Thank you, but no thank you," and informed her I did not wish to continue the session. I remained calm and professional. I then walked to the front desk and requested to reschedule or transfer my treatment to the Brea location. I was told they had already contacted Brea and that I could continue treatment there.
Before leaving the building, I personally called Kaylyn to explain what had occurred. I also gave him credit for the quality and efficiency of his previous work on my neck. I explained that my experience in Chino Hills was far more painful than normal and that my neck already appeared more irritated than usual, possibly due to insufficient icing beforehand.
During that call, I shared my perspective respectfully. However, I felt that my feedback was met with defensiveness. At one point, it was suggested that I had raised my voice. That was inaccurate. I did not yell at anyone in Chino Hills or on the phone. I remained composed and expressed my concerns calmly.
I clarified that while others may perform differently, my experience that day was extremely painful and not acceptable to me as a customer. I also stated that I would be canceling my upcoming April 4 appointment at the Chino Hills location because I did not feel comfortable returning.
I then requested the manager's contact information. I was given the name Frasier and left a detailed voicemail outlining the entire situation, from the navigation issues, to the minimal icing instruction, to the prolonged and painful laser session, and finally the response I received when expressing concern.
Overall, this visit was deeply disappointing. From inaccurate directions to inadequate preparation and an unusually painful session, I left feeling physically irritated and emotionally frustrated. While others may have different experiences, mine was overwhelmingly negative.
For this visit, I would rate my experience 1 out of 5 stars. I will not be returning to the Chino Hills location.
