Tattoo Undo

Head over to Google News and do a search right now for the word "tattoo". Then come back here and let us know how many items came up on the first page that were related to criminals. If it's like the average news day, it was most of them. That's because one of the major things that police do when asking the community to assist them in finding criminals is to list their identifying tattoos.

This gives some pause for thought. If criminals are regularly apprehended as a result of someone seeing the tattoos that they are exhibiting, wouldn't a wise course of action be to get rid of those tattoos? Laser tattoo removal could erase the identifying marks and make it much more difficult to catch the criminal. After all, there's a big difference between the description: "5'8" white male with brown hair and brown eyes" and "5'8" white male with brown hair and brown eyes; has a tattoo of Tweety Bird on his right arm".

Of course, criminals aren't exactly known for their smarts and planning. And there are many criminals whose activity is associated with a gang which requires its own membership tattoos. But it seems that some of the smarter guys in the bunch might start thinking about this idea if they're truly planning to make a life out of crime.

Question of the Day: Do you think that if all the criminals in the country removed their tattoos, it'd be harder to stop crime?

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The surest way to avoid needing to get laser tattoo removal is to make sure that you don't make the most common tattoo mistakes out there. Who better to know about those mistakes than celebrity tattoo artist Kat Von D. from L.A. Ink?

In order to assist their fans in avoiding tattoo regret, they've published the top tattoo mistakes that they see. Those mistakes are:

1. Getting a tattoo that's too small. You should consider where it's going on the body and what the size should be in relation to that spot. Luckily, you can avoid tattoo removal and get additional work done instead if you've made this error.

2. Going to a cheap tattoo place. You get what you pay for. For that matter, you shouldn't go to a cheap tattoo removal specialist either!

3. Impulsive tattoo decisions. Don't get it when you're drunk or when you're feeling spontaneous. Think about it before you get it inked.

4. The romantic tattoo. We've said it time and time again, from celebrity tattoo removal to the average Joe, the most common reason to get a tat removed is because it honors a relationship that didn't last as long as the ink.

Yes, laser tattoo removal makes it relatively easy to get rid of a tattoo that you don't want. But take the advice of the experts to avoid having to go that route.

Question of the Day: What do you think is the reason above most likely to cause you to have tattoo regret?

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There is a fun and interesting post over at Celebrity Tattoos which shwos off pictures of the fifty weirdest tattoos that people have on their bodies. Although these photos aren't really of celebrities, they are of the kind of people who get celebrity attention wherever they go because their tattoos are just so eye-catching.

For most of these people, the tattoo is a way to set themselves apart from the crowd. And they're probably going to enjoy that experience for a lifetime. But a handful of these people will probably find that the attention doesn't suit them down the line. As the attention gets old, these people could start looking into laser tattoo removal.

After all, isn't there going to come a point where at least one of these folks wants to be something more than "that guy with that weird tattoo"?! Take a look at the pictures and then come back and leave a comment here letting us know which of the fifty you think is going to be the one most likely to seek out tattoo removal someday.

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Tommy Lee, the Motley Crue drummer who is well-known for his relationships with Pamela Anderson and Heather Locklear, is a celebrity who once received a significant amount of attention for his tattoo removal. In fact, in his case, although the tattoo is gone, it still gets mentioned quite a bit. That's because Tommy Lee once used to have a tattoo of a swastika on his body.

This celebrity tattoo removal, which happened in the late 1990's, was as controversial as the tattoo itself. That's because it was revealed during a court case in which Lee was being accused of assault against a photographer. The tattoo was visible during the court case which Lee's lawyer claimed would prejudice the jury against him. It was during or shortly after that case that the tattoo was removed entirely.

In most cases, laser tattoo removal can get rid of a tattoo and make you feel as though you never had it. However, that's not always the case with celebrity tattoo removal. Even if the tattoo is gone, it's sometimes going to have lingering effects.

Question of the Day: What other famous celebrity tattoo removal cases can you think of?

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There are three major drawbacks to laser tattoo removal. One is that it can be a bit painful, although most people find that if they can tolerate the pain of getting the tattoo then they can tolerate the pain of getting it removed. One is that it is a lengthy process which usually requires multiple treatments. And one is that it doesn't come cheap.

There's not much that can be done about the pain or the process (although new tattoo inks are helping to change that) but perhaps something can be done about the price. At least, that seems to be the idea behind a new offer by one health insurance company that's working to offer coverage for certain "med spa" treatments including laser tattoo removal.

Professional Program Insurance Brokerage now offers coverage for all different types of laser treatments including laser tattoo removal. It's not right for everyone but might be right for people who have been holding off on tattoo removal because of the cost. Available in all fifty states, it's at least something to look into more closely. Learn more here.

Question of the Day: Would you get "med spa" medical insurance?

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Do you like to think of yourself as someone who has an eye for what's hot and what's not? Do you think that you can tell which tattoos should be removed and which are works of art? If so, you might be inclined to share your tattoo opinions with others in order to influence whether or not they want laser tattoo removal.

And now, there's a place that you can do that. A new website has been launched called RankMyTattoos.com. It's a place where tattoo lovers can come together to discuss designs and trends in the industry. And it's a place where your tattoo opinions might influence what others are doing to their bodies.

Just remember that when you influence someone's life, it could come back to bite you. If you're really serious about helping others remove their ugly body art, you might consider getting a job with a qualified tattoo removal specialist instead!

Question of the Day: Who do you think should decide whether someone's tattoo is hot or ugly?

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Would you be deterred from getting a tattoo if you're tattoo artist had an "emergency tattoo removal kit" on display, a kit which consisted of cheese graters and a potato peeler? That's the prop that makes light of tattoo removal in the shop of tattoo artist Eddie Snyder who was recently profiled as an artist in an online news article.

Some people would find this to be funny. Others might take to heart the fact that getting a tattoo is an important decision. Of course, tattoo removal doesn't really consist of scraping the tattoo off of the skin. And laser tattoo removal is making it easier for people to get their art removed without any problems. But it's something to think about when you go get those tattoos.

Learn more about the work of tattoo artist Eddie Snyder from The Shreveport Times.

Question of the Day: Do you wish that someone had scared you away from getting any of your tattoos?

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For awhile there was a big trend in getting permanent make-up tattooed on to the body. This has the obvious benefit of reducing the amount of time that a patient might spend on buying and applying make-up. However, it also has the obvious drawback of lacking some variety in make-up, variety which is generally desired as seasons and styles change.

This makes one wonder what the role of tattoo removal is when it comes to getting rid of permanent make-up. If you bothered to get it tattooed on, you're probably not going to be thinking about removing it. But then again, you could say that about any tattoo. Once that permanent make-up is on there, you might find that you don't really want your make-up to be quite so permanent after all.

The ability of tattoo removal doctors to remove permanent make-up is limited because of the location of the tattoo (often on the eyes). However, there are some situations in which tattoo removal could work. Speak with a tattoo removal specialist if this is something that you're considering.

Question of the Day: Would you get permanent makeup?

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Tomorrow is Valentine's Day and that means that you might be in danger of making the same mistake that sends many people heading to get tattoo removal. The most commonly removed tattoos are those that represent the love that one person feels for another. If you're thinking about getting a Valentine's tattoo to surprise your sweetheart, think again.

Tattoo removal is making it increasignly easy to get rid of body art that you don't want. However, it makes a lot more sense to make wise tattoo choices than to remedy the problem after it's made. Think carefully before putting any names or images on your body that are designed to honor someone else.

Valentine's can make us feel sentimental. That's nice for the moment but it's not always something that lasts. Avoid the need for tattoo removal by going with a less permanent gift.

Question of the Day: Would you get a love tattoo for Valentine's?

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Yesterday we warned you against getting a tattoo today for Valentine's. However, that's not really true of all tattoos. While it makes sense to avoid tattoo regret by not getting tattoos that honor relationships which might be temporary, there are some love tattoos that are okay to get on Valentine's Day.

Love tattoos that probably won't lead to the need for tattoo removal include:

- Tattoos that honor familial love. Your mom's always going to be your mom and your kids are always going to be your kids. You probably won't want to erase tattoos that you get in their honor.

- Anniversary tattoos. Many people celebrate their wedding anniversary on Valentine's Day. If you've been together ten years or more, chances are that you're staying together and a tattoo today is okay.

- Symbols with multiple meanings. Perhaps there's an image that you want to get because it relates to your relationship but it also has other meanings. This is iffy territory but it's a fairly safe tattoo bet.

Of course, if you do get a tattoo that you don't like, you can always get tattoo removal to fix the problem.

Question of the Day: What are your personal do's and don'ts for avoiding the need for tattoo removal?

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Tattoo removal hasn't always been the way that it is today. Sometimes it's interesting to take a look back in time to just how far our cosmetic procedures have come.

Here's a brief look at the history of tattoo removal:

- Egyptian and ancient times. Believe it or not, both tattoos and tattoo removal date back to this time but of course the tools used to do them were very different then than they are today.

- 1980's. The first commercial tattoo removal procedures began in the late 1980's. They used a Q-switched ruby laser.

- 1991. A more effective laser was developed and we began to see widespread interest in laser tattoo removal as a cosmetic procedure.

- Today. Laser tattoo removal is a fairly common procedure which is done in dermatologist's offices across the nation.

- Future. New tattoo inks have made tattoo removal easier and may cause it to become even more common.

Question of the Day: What do you know about the development of tattoo removal history?

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People are judged based on their appearances. It may not be a good thing. It may not be a reliable indicator of what lies within a person. But that doesn't make any difference to the way that society judges us.

People who have tattoos are judged by others based on their tattoos. Like it or not, that's the reality. Of course, different people will haev different opinions of the body art. Some will think it speaks to creative expression and others will see it as rebellion.

If you find that you're regularly getting stereotyped, you might want to think about why that is. If tattoos are the reason, tattoo removal might be a good option for reducing the problem. It's a serious decision to make but it's one to keep in mind. After all, you have a lot of stuff to do in this lifetime and stereotypes can limit your ability to do so.

Learn more about stereotypes here.

Question of the Day: Do you stereotype people with tattoos?

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There's an interesting issue happening in a small town in upstate New York right now. The city of Oneida is considering changing one of the old laws that it's had on the books for way too long. That law is that tattooing is banned as a practice in the city. The law was put into place for sanitation reasons but no longer applies considering the changes that have been made to tattooing over the years. Despite that, the law has remained on the books and that's why you'll find no tattoo parlors in Oneida as of the current time. (Learn more here.)

That begs the question - at least for those of us that are interested in tattoo removal - as to whether or not there are limitations on tattoo removal in the city. Chances are that there aren't such regulations because tattoo removal wasn't an option back in the days when the tattoo ban was put into place. Furthermore, the laser tattoo removal technology differs greatly from the technology used to create tattoos. But you never know what kind of laws might be on the books.

Question of the Day: Do you think Oneida should change its laws and allow tattooing?

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There are some people who don't believe that laser tattoo removal should be an option to people with tattoos. Anti-removal folks include tattoo artists who believe that their work should be permanent, parents who want their kids to take tattooing seriously and others who simply believe that a tattoo is a choice that you shouldn't have an option to be fickle about.

However, there are some cases which come up that make everyone think twice about the right to tattoo removal. For example, what about someone who was tattooed during the Holocaust? Shouldn't that person have a right to get their tattoo removed now if they don't want it there as a reminder of the horrors that they went through?

Learn more about the Holocaust from this recent news article (which mentions the practice of tattooing).

Question of the Day: Do you think tattoo removal should be a right?

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Rumors have been going around for some time now that Pink and her husband Carey Hart were likely to be splitting up. E! now reports that this is indeed the case. A snide comment in the article on the situation mentions that it probably wasn't a good idea to get lovey-dovey tattoos together.

Pink had said back in 2006 that she wasn't going to be tattooing her husband's name anywhere on her body despite the fact that he'd gotten Pink tattooed on him. Her reasoning then was that she doesn't do names on her body for any reason.

That may be so but both halves of this couple have "Tru Luv" tattooed on their wrists (source). When the marriage ends, this remains as a reminder that True doesn't really mean forever. It makes you start to wonder whether Pink will consider tattoo removal to rid her of this romantic past.

Question of the Day: Did you predict the Pink / Hart breakup?

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Tattoo removal may be done for cosmetic reasons. However, it is also often done as a way of making a life change. While for many this is symbolic, for others it's a necessity for moving forward. That is frequently the case for gang members who want tattoo removal after leaving the gang.

In most cases, gang-related tattoo removal programs are designed to assist adults in their rehabilitation. These are usually older adults who have spen some time in prison and who are now looking to leave their criminal activity behind. Tattoo removal is a step in that process.

However, it's not only adults who face these issues. There are teens in gangs who realize at a young age that they made a mistake. To get out of the gang life, they need to get those tattoos removed. If they don't, they're going to face problems and peer pressure from everyone in the neighborhood or school who knows what the gang tattoos mean.

Learn more about two teens who have gotten this kind of tattoo removal from Inside NoVa.

Question of the Day: Should teens be allowed to get free tattoo removal if it's to get them out of a gang?

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Hopefully you already know that tattoo removal creams aren't a good solution when you want to get your tattoo permanently removed. Most people realize that laser tattoo removal is the smarter (and more successful) option for tattoo removal. Despite this knowledge, many people want to believe that tattoo removal creams can work because they are less expensive and less painful than laser tattoo removal.

In case you were having any doubts about how much better laser tattoo removal would be than tattoo removal creams are, 6abc.com did a little experiment to provide you with a clearer picture. They had two different patients get laser tattoo removal on one half of a tattoo while using a tattoo removal cream on the other half. You can read the whole story here but what it boils down to is that the cream didn't work for either of them and the laser tattoo removal did, albeit with varying results because of the differences between their tattoos.

Question of the Day: Would you still be inclined to try tattoo removal creams?

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You can get laser tattoo removal at any time of year. In fact, chances are that your tattoo removal procedure may take longer than one season to complete because of the complexity of removing many tattoos. You might want to get started sooner or later because winter is a better time than summer to get tattoos removed.

Tattoo removal is one of several procedures after which you should avoid exposure to the sun. any procedure that affects the skin with lasers makes you temporarily more prone to damage resulting from sun exposure. Learn more here.

During the winter months, you are probably wearing long sleeves and jackets when you're out and about. This makes it much easier to keep your recent tattoo removal under wraps than it would be if it was summertime and you wanted to hit the beach. Talk with your doctor about your options as the weather starts to get warmer.

Question of the Day: What do you think is the ideal time of year to get laser tattoo removal?

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Tattoo removal is something that doesn't come cheap. That's why it's always better to avoid getting a bad tattoo than to go ahead and get something you're not sure about and then have to get it removed later. Keep in mind that the cost of tattoo removal may be up to ten times the cost of getting the tattoo done in the first place.

"A tattoo that costs $40.00 to have it put on can cost $4500.00 to have removed by laser, taking a year or more." (source)

Of course, this isn't a definitive price. The cost of your tattoo removal is going to depend ons several factors. First, you must consider the size of your tattoo. Second, you'll have to think about its coloring. And finally, you'll need to determine with the help of your tattoo removal doctor just how many treatments it's going to take to remove the tattoo.

Getting a tattoo might be getting cheaper and cheaper. And affordable tattoo removal is around the corner. But for now, you should really think about the fact that you're going to pay a lot more for the removal than you will for the tattoo.

Question of the Day: What do you think is a fair price for laser tattoo removal?

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Search around for statistics about tattoos and you will find that getting inked is a practice that remains on the rise. This can be attributed to a number of different factors. Tattoos are increasingly acceptable in mainstream culture and therefore are obtained by a more diverse range of people than in the past. Tattoos are also popular on highly attractive celebrities such as Angelina Jolie and Megan Fox, women who are idols to many people who end up wanting to emulate their look. And tattoo artists themselves are starting to gain celebrity status as shows like Miami Ink gain viewers across the nation.

Additionally, more people are getting more than one tattoo. A recent news report about the prevalence of tattoos today discussed the fact that tattoos can be highly addictive. Once you have your first one, you often start thinking about the next one.

That news report also spoke about the permanence of tattoos. It compared the act of getting tattooed to the act of getting married, calling it a "lifelong commitment". But the reality of today's relationships is that most marriages aren't for life. And the reality of tattoos today is that you can get them removed down the line if you don't like them. In an ideal situation, you will marry the person that you want to spend the rest of your life with. And in an ideal situation, you will choose body art that you want to keep permanently. But for those people who have fickle hearts, there are divorce attorneys and tattoo removal specialists to assist in remedying your errors.

Question of the Day: Which do you consider more permanent: marriage or a tattoo?