Laser tattoo removal has grown in popularity over the last several years. There are many reasons for this including an increased availability of services from qualified doctors and heightened awareness that tattoo removal is an option for resolving tattooo regret. Those may be the factors contributing to the trend, but what exactly is the tattoo removal trend itself indicative of?
As pointed out yesterday (in the case of celebrity tattoo removal by Sporty Spice), a common reason to get tattoos removed is because they serve as reminders of unhappy time periods in a person's life. This leads to the conclusion that perhaps people get tattoos during periods of unhappiness. Is tattoo removal a trend which indicates that tattoos are less about art and rebellion than they are about self-mutilation?
Of course, there are many people who get tattoos for positive, happy and fulfilling reasons. But it's also true that there are people who get body art because they want their exterior to match their interior. In cases where the interior emotional landscape is dark and ugly, the art frequently reflects this. As emotions change, the individual may suffer tattoo regret.
Question of the Day: Do tattoos represent a form of self-mutilation?
