Gabriela's Regret Over Tattoo: 'Scarred for Life'
Gabriela Strelkow, 48, wanted to express pride in her Ukrainian heritage with a wrist tattoo. However, it didn't turn out as she had hoped.
– It looks like a large bruise that never disappears. My wrist is ruined.
When Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, Gabriela Strelkow felt personally affected. Her mother was born in Ukraine, and several of her relatives still live there.
To show her pride in her origins, she decided to tattoo the Ukrainian coat of arms – the trident – on her wrist.
Tattooed on a Walk-In
She went to a tattoo studio in Malmö, where she lives, looking forward to having the national symbol permanently inked on her body.
The tattoo studio she visited had good reviews online. She had scrolled through their social media and thought their artists seemed skilled.
– They showcased several beautiful works there. And the place has been around for a long time in Malmö. They seemed to have a good reputation, says Gabriela Strelkow.
She got a walk-in appointment and showed a picture of the symbol she wanted tattooed. The man who took the job picked up blue ink and started working.
Afterward, she thought there was a lot of ink around the tattoo, as if it was 'leaking ink.' But overall, she was quite satisfied with the result.
Swelling and Bruises
A few days later, however, something happened.
– It started to hurt, and the skin looked strange. It began to swell, and the skin was torn, with bruises around the tattoo.
The wounds from the procedure did not heal as they should. Gabriela Strelkow contacted the tattoo studio for help, but the owner replied that the tattoo artist she had seen had left the studio and that she should contact him directly.
– I called and sent messages, but he didn't respond.
'My Wrist is Ruined'
The problems with the tattoo tormented Gabriela Strelkow. Even when the swelling eventually subsided, she felt her wrist looked deformed, she says.
– It looks like a large bruise that never disappears. My wrist is ruined, the whole wrist is blue.
Wants to Remove the Tattoo
Gabriela Strelkow decided to try to remove the tattoo. She estimates that over three years, she has undergone seven or eight laser treatments, but the tattoo remains.
– More and more ink spills out after the treatments. I don't know if I will ever get rid of it. I'm afraid I'm scarred for life.
Gabriela Strelkow wishes she had been able to contact the tattoo artist and that they could have reached an agreement somehow.
– Ideally, I would like them to pay for the laser treatment. But if not, I would have at least wanted an apology.
Sydsvenskan, which was the first to report on the incident, spoke with the tattoo artist. He says he doesn't remember Gabriela Strelkow and no longer works as a tattoo artist, but regrets what happened.
– My intention was never to harm anyone, he tells the newspaper.