The American woman said she was in a relationship marked by emotional dependence when her partner suggested changing her face.
“He chose the tattoo design. It was a Día de los Muertos catrina that covers my entire face”, she recalled.
The relationship lasted just six months. During that period, Alyssa ended up in custody, and her mugshots went viral.
“I was humiliated on social media. Everyone said really awful things about me”, she admitted.
After leaving prison, she received treatment for her drug problems and began rebuilding her life.
However, the tattoos continued to remind her of her past.
In 2019, she began a laser removal process, with sessions she described as painful that continued for years.
The change in her face was remarkable.
“I feel proud because change, healing, and learning are possible”, she said.
For Alyssa, removing the tattoos wasn’t just about changing her appearance: it also meant regaining control of her own life.