A woman who went viral for her series of mugshots that showcased her heavily-tattooed face has revealed her dramatic transformation after undergoing laser treatments to have the ink removed.
Alyssa Zebrasky, 31, from Ohio, first went viral in December 2018 after she was arrested for shoplifting and drug possession and her mugshots quickly became some of the most memorable out there.
In the photos, she sported numerous face tattoos including a skull design around her eyes, a spider web on her forehead and more skeleton-inspired drawings around her cheeks, nose and lips.
And while she made headlines with her tattoos, she has now unveiled her huge transformation after deciding to rid herself of her face ink.
In 2018, Alyssa Zebrasky, 31, from Ohio, went viral for her series of mugshots that showcased her heavily-tattooed face
Over four years after receiving the ink, she has revealed her dramatic transformation after undergoing laser treatments to have the ink removed
Alyssa began the grueling process of going under the laser in October 2019 so she could feel more ‘normal’ compared to those around her.
Speaking to Removery, the tattoo removal clinic she is undergoing surgery at, Alyssa said: ‘I go into a store, and people stare at me. It makes me uncomfortable.
‘I want to be looked at like a normal person. I live my life just like everybody else.’
Alyssa was told she would need around a dozen sessions, all 20 minutes each, to get rid of her tattoos.
‘When I first started going, they did my cheeks, forehead, and hands because like a tattoo your body can only heal so much at once.’
‘Now the cheeks are gone but we haven’t started around the mouth yet,’ she explained.
The 31-year-old has been open and honest about the painful process and has compared the pain to the feeling of a ‘rubber band snapping against your skin.’
Alyssa began the grueling process of going under the laser in October 2019 so she could feel more ‘normal’ compared to those around her
Her photo boasted numerous face tattoos including a skull design around her eyes, a spider web on her forehead and more skeleton-inspired drawings around her cheeks, nose and lips
Alyssa was told she would need around a dozen sessions, all 20 minutes each, to get rid of her tattoos
‘The initial pain from the laser I would relate to having a rubber band snapping against your skin, that’s what the laser feels like and then like afterwards it’s sore for 30 minutes.
‘It welts up afterwards and there’s some pain almost like if you spilt oil from the stove on your hand, that’s the closest I can compare to what it feels like on my hands,’ she added.
Becca, a technician who has been working on removing Alyssa’s tattoos, said on the business’s website that she was ‘intimidated’ by the 31-year-old’s appearance when they first began working together.
‘I’ve never seen so many tattoos on someone’s face. We didn’t know what her background was; why she went to jail,’ she said before adding that she soon discovered Alyssa was ‘funny’ and ‘sweet.’
Alyssa has began feeling more confident about herself as she undergoes the removal process and hopes that by being open about her experience she can help those in similar situations.
‘For a very long time, I felt like I wasn’t free. Like I had to live a certain way because of things that were going on in my life with addiction and self-harm.
The 31-year-old has been open and honest about the painful process and has compared the pain to the feeling of a ‘rubber band snapping against your skin’
Alyssa has began feeling more confident about herself as she undergoes the removal process and hopes that by being open about her experience she can help those in similar situations
She has been taking people along with her on her journey by sharing removal updates on her social media
‘And now, I feel like I don’t have to live like that anymore. I can just live my life — I’m finally free,’ she said.
Alyssa received the face ink over four years ago while in a toxic relationship with her now-ex partner, who was then in a gang she was attempting to join.
Her then-partner advised her to get more face ink if she wanted to be apart of the gang.
Kennedy News reported she went under the needle during two arduous sessions in June 2018, from which she emerged looking like the stuff of nightmares.
Throughout the next few years, Alyssa found herself in police custody three times in just six months.
After going to rehab, the 31-year-old was desperate to rid herself of the face ink once and for all.
She then contacted Ink-nitiatve, a charity in Texas that helps people remove tattoos without any stigma.
After going to rehab, the 31-year-old was desperate to rid herself of the face ink once and for all
Alyssa credits the support of her family and her new partner – who she says has her in the ‘healthiest relationship’ she’s ever been in
Although her body is covered in tattoos, Alyssa noted she only wanted to remove those on her face because they reminded her of her ex-boyfriend
Alyssa credits the support of her family and her new partner – who she says has her in the ‘healthiest relationship’ she’s ever been in – for giving her the strength to overcome her past and encouraging her to share her story.
‘Looking back at those pictures, I just feel disappointed in myself. But I have to remember that I hadn’t worked on myself or tried to learn how to love myself like I have now.
So then I feel proud because change is possible and healing and learning new things are possible. I like being able to look back and see my personal growth.’
Although her body is covered in tattoos, Alyssa noted she only wanted to remove those on her face because they reminded her of her ex-boyfriend – who she said persuaded her to get the spooky design.
Alyssa explained: ‘Initially I said no and then he just kept talking about it. [Now I believe it was] so nobody else would want me.’
She added that she is still recovering from the abuse from her past partner, who only visited her twice while she was in jail.
‘I have to think about that every time I look in the mirror. I started healing mentally from all the stuff I went through with him,’ Alyssa said.
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