Tattoo Undo

When Denise Richards got married to Charlie Sheen back in 2002, she sealed her love with more than a kiss. Inspired by Sheen's act of getting her name tattooed on his wrist, Richards returned the favor by getting Charlie's name on her ankle. (The old story can be read here.) When will these celebrities learn that the relationships rarely last as long as the ink?

Luckily there is tattoo removal to help remedy the mistakes that star-crossed lovers hastily make. Denise Richards has joined the ranks of women in Hollywood who have gotten celebrity tattoo removal after their relationships failed to work out. Okay, she's only sort of joined their ranks ... she didn't go ahead and get laser tattoo removal but instead got a tattoo cover-up of a fairy where Sheen's name used to be.

Some would suggest that she should have gone for the full removal. After all, she's always going to know that her ex's name is under there even if she doesn't have to see it in its original form anymore. But perhaps the cover-up - along with a change back to her unmarried name - will be enough to let Richards forget the past and move on with her life.

Question of the Day: Should Denise Richards have gotten laser tattoo removal or is the cover-up enough?

photo link

One of the things that you always hear about tattoo removal is that it is pricey in comparison with the cost of getting a tattoo. The basic reason for that is that a tattoo can be put on fairly quickly which reduces labor costs in comparison with laser tattoo removal which requires multiple procedures and can be very time-intensive. So it's true that in most cases, the cost of laser tattoo removal is going to be higher than the initial cost of getting the tattoo.

However, it would be hard to think that might be the case for the new tattoo that David Beckham is getting. Reportedly, he's dropping over $5000 on the new body art that he's getting done. That's a big chunk of change but it's due to the fact that the tattoo of a "bare-breasted angel who looks like his wife" is probably going to take a decent chunk of time and skill to complete successfully. (source)

Let's hope that Beckham isn't wrong about his relationship. One of the biggest mistakes that people make when it comes to tattoos is getting the names, images or symbolic representations of their partners put on their bodies. It's just all too common for the ink to linger far longer than the flames of the romance do and then you're left needing to get tattoo removal after the break-up.

Question of the Day: Do you think it would still cost more for tattoo removal in this case than it does to get the tattoo?

photo link

Tattoo removal as a method of gang life rehabilitation is increasingly common across many states. However, some organizations are taking a more interesting approach to others. That's the case with Homeboy Industries which doesn't just offer a tattoo removal clinic but also has a cafe and bakery where teens and young adults whose pasts are riddled with crime can get gainful employment and ease their way back into the mainstream world.

The youth who work at the Homegirl Cafe are often tattooed with the remnants of their gang activity. At least, they are when they start working at this community outreach center. But as time goes on, many of those individuals get laser tattoo removal as part of their forward motion into a new life. After all, Homegirl Cafe might overlook their gang tattoos but the Mom-and-Pop Cafe down the street might not be so permissive.

Put simply, it's easier to get a job when you're not marked with the ink of your former gang life. It's also easier to make a clean break from your gang activities when the people you used to hang out with see that you no longer represent their group with tattoos. That's how tattoo removal provides a very concrete way of getting on with life after being in gangs.

Learn more about Homeboy Industries here.

Question of the Day: How important is laser tattoo removal in comparison with other rehabilitative measures for former gang members?

photo link

A student newspaper from a community college in California recently ran an article that highlighted the fact that tattoos remain somewhat taboo in certain areas despite the fact that they are increasingly seen in mainstream society. The article indicates that although people don't necessarily make the old judgments that they used to make about people with taboos (that they're lives are riddled with crime), there nevertheless remain judgments about people who walk around with visible tattoos.

The author of the article writes:

"The repetitive sting of a tattooing needle is no match compared to the emotional pain of being ostracized by society."

When you think about it that way, you can easily see the appeal of laser tattoo removal. Most young people today probably don't expect to be ostracized by society for their tattoos. They're used to seeing them on celebrities and peers so they assume that others are as judgment-free about them as they are. But after getting these tattoos, they may realize that not everyone is so kind. With repeated begative attention drawn to their tattoos, these young adults may seek out laser tattoo removal in order to prevent themselves from the emotional damage inflicted by society.

Of course, whether or not someone's tattoos are going to cause them trouble in society depends on a lot of factors including the type of art depicted by the tattoo, the type of job one seeks and the social circle one spends time in. As the article's author also wisely says:

"So for all of you who have tattoos and for those of you that are hesitant to get one, think before you ink but don't let society make the decision for you."

If you decide that you don't want to deal with the post-tattoo reaction, there's always the option of tattoo removal down the line.

Question of the Day: What do you think is the most common judgment made today against people with tattoos?

photo link

Famous pop artist Andy Warhol is well-quoted as for talking about everyone's fifteen minutes of fame. In the era of YouTube, Warhol seems to be right. And in order to stand out from the crowd, you have to develop a niche area that gets you noticed.

For Melissa Burech, the niche is celebrity autograph tattoos. She has made the news more than once because of her eccentric choice in being a celebrity star hunter. She tracks down celebrities and asks them to sign her body so that she can go to the tattoo shop and get the signatures inked on.

The most recent name that she got was Miley Cyrus. Unless you're a teenage girl, you might not know who this Hannah Montana television star is. But apparently Melissa can pick her out of a crowd. The young actress signed her name to the growing list of celebrities on Melissa's body so that it could be on permanent display.

Melissa seems to love her tattoos right now. And she's well-immersed in her personal fifteen minutes as a result of them. But it's hard to believe that she's always going to want to keep these names on her body. And it's predicted that laser tattoo removal is in her future at some later date.

Question of the Day: Which celebrity signature would you get tattooed on your body if you knew it couldn't ever be removed?
photo link

We often say that the leading cause of tattoo regret is the relationship break-up. From celebrity tattoo removal to teen tattoo removal, it is highly common to see people getting ink erased that was put on the body to honor a romantic relationship that's gone south. However, there may be an even bigger cause of tattoo regret - the permanent make-up mistake.

Campus Progress recently ran an article which talks about five different cosmetic procedures you should avoid. It doesn't say that plastic surgery is bad; it just says that there are some cosmetic choices that are generally not the best to be making. One of those is permanent make-up. You may think that you want to have the same basic make-up look forever but the reality is that make-up trends change and you won't like your face looking like last decade's fads.

More importantly, this is one mistake that isn't easy to repair. While laser tattoo removal can help you get rid of a lot of the ink on your body (like the name of your spurned lover), it doesn't do such a good job of easily getting rid of permanent make-up. Depending on the make-up that you got and where you got it, it may be possible to get it removed. But if you haven't made this mistake yet, avoid extensive tattoo removal and foot the bill for the kind of make-up that goes away after a night on the town.

Question of the Day: Do you think that permanent make-up is a leading cause of tattoo regret?

photo link

Non-profit organizations across the nation have taken an interest in tattoo removal programs that are designed to help their clients get away from their old lives. Seen as a step in the rehabilitation process, tattoo removal is a way for people to make a clean break from the ways of old. This is particularly true in cases where the tattoo removal is used to erase gang-affiliation tattoos from the body.

Although these tattoo removal programs have been popping up all over the place, they have received only minimal attention for their efforts. That's due in large part to the fact that these programs are important but pale in comparison to those programs which meet more immediate needs such as medical assistance for pregnant teens or shelters for homeless youth.

However, the United Way is drawing some attention to the importance of tattoo removal programs by honoring the efforts of non-profit organizations which include tattoo removal as part of their service. Specifically, the United Way of Lake County is hosting a "Be Bold" award ceremony to recognize non-profit organizations that are helping women and children. One of the nominees has contributed a significant amount of money to a series of different local programs including tattoo removal.

Learn more here.

Question of the Day: Should teen tattoo removal programs get more recognition than they currently receive?

photo link

Tattoo artists used to be a fringe group of people. They made a decent alternative living for themselves. If they got any fame, it was among a niche group of people in the town where they worked. But that's not the case anymore. With the rise of reality TV, we have seen tattooists gain some level of fame. From Kot von D (here in Los Angeles) to Mancunian Louie Molloy (David Beckham's tattooist and star of London Ink), people who excel at the art of tattoos are able to get some modicum of real world fame.

Tattooists got popular in part because getting tattooed is an act that's on the rise amongst both the average population and the world of celebrities. Since tattoo removal is also something that is on the rise, you might predict that there could be a similar rise in the potential fame for outstanding tattoo removal doctors. While there's always that chance (you never know which reality TV show is going to air next), it's highly unlikely that tattoo removal specialists would get the kind of notoriety that tattooists are receiving.

And that's a good thing.

We have to keep in mind that tattooists are basically artists whereas those who remove tattoos are doctors. Doctors need to remain focused on the care of their patients, not on a rise to fame. We've seen the tragedy that can happen when doctors are more interested in television appearances than in patient care (just look at the tragic plastic surgery case of Donda West). So we'll leave the television shows to the artists and do skilled work behind the scenes.

Question of the Day: Would you watch a tattoo removal reality television show?

photo link

We've warned you again and again not to get the name of someone that you love tattooed on your body. That's because it's the biggest cause of tattoo regret out there. People who go in search of laser tattoo removal are most often doing so because they have a tattoo of the name or symbol of someone that they would be in their lives forever. As you probably can guess, most people find that the tattoo ink lasts far longer than the smoldering embers of romance. In fact, most tattoo artists will forfeit the profit of a customer and warn people seeking these kind of tattoos that they probably shouldn't get them.

However, not all of the names that you could put on your body are bad. Quad-City Times reports that there has been significant growth recently in the population of customers seeking to get tattoos that represent their children. For many, it's the child's name (in English or in another language). For others it's a portrait of the child that they seek. And still others get symbols of their children such as flowers in the colors of their children's birthstones.

Since your kids are going to be your kids forever, no matter what, this is one trend that isn't likely to cause a boom in laser tattoo removal services. Sure, some people will decide that they don't like having a tattoo at all and will get it removed one day but most parents who get these tattoos are happy to always have their kids with them in this way. So if you're thinking about tattooing a lover's name on your body, maybe you should hold off until there are kids in the picture and go that route instead.

Question of the Day: Would you be more interested in a tattoo of your lover's name or one of your child's portrait?

photo link

There are few truths that we can generally agree upon when it comes to Hollywood celebrities and their tattoos. For example, we know that celebrity tattoos are on the rise with stars like Angeline Jolie recognizable to some just by her tattoos. We also know that this trend has caused an incrase in mainstream tattooing because fans are inspired to do what the stars are doing. And we know that celebrity tattoo removal is also on the rise with the largest culprit being the tattoo that was obtained to recognize a Hollywood affair which then goes wrong.

What you may not have known is that all of these things that can be said about Hollywood can also be said about the movie industry halfway around the world in India. A recent report indicates that Bollywood is facing the same celebrity tattoo issues as here in the U.S. including an increase in non-symbolic tattooing amongst celebrities and the average population as well as an increase in the need for laser tattoo removal.

Learn more here.

Question of the Day: Would you expect Bollywood celebrities to see laser tattoo removal any differently than stars in the United States?

photo link

When you think about the sensation of getting a tattoo removed, you probably cringe a little bit. It's true that laser tattoo removal does sting. But it's a much better option that older methods of tattoo removal. And it's a heck of a lot better than some of the forced tattoo removal situations that have taken place over the years.

Take, for example, the case of Charles Robert Jenkins. You don't know the name but there are people in Japan who consider this former U.S. Army Seargeant to be a celebrity. Forty years ago, Jenkins defected to North Korea. Nearing seventy now, he's gained some attention recently because his autobiography is on the verge of being published.

What does this have to do with tattoo removal? Read this part of the army man's story:

One warm summer day, while teaching English in a military school, Jenkins showed up for work in short sleeves. A “US Army” tattoo was visible on his left forearm. This upset the Communist Party cadre there.

"Doctors were called in to cut off the tattoo, without benefit of anesthetics. Several cadres held Jenkins down, while a doctor used a scalpel to slice skin above and belowthe tattoo. Then, as Jenkins screamed, the doctor pulled up the intolerably tattooed skin and cut it off with scissors."

It's amazing the things that humans can survive if they have to. And it sure makes a little sting from laser tattoo removal seem not so bad at all.

Question of the Day: What do you think would be the worst case of laser tattoo removal pain?

photo link

Last year there was a man who made technology and tattoo headlines when he opted to get two separate tattoos of the Microsoft Zune mp3 player to show his support for the product. Microsoft was pleased with his efforts but most people thought that it wouldn't be long before he'd go in search of laser tattoo removal.

There are a few different reasons that it seems tattoo removal would be desirable in this instance. First of all, most people who get tattoos of products placed on their bodies usually suffer some sort of tattoo regret when the product's populatity fades away. Secondly, Zune isn't doing so well in the market in comparison to, say, the iPod and therefore is a product that people are surprised to see this much support for.

However, it appears that the Zune guy has no regrets. Not only has he made zero indications that he would be interested in tattoo removal to repair his act but he is apparently in the process of trying to legally change his name to show further support for the Zune product. At least he's getting the attention he wants!

Question of the Day: What's your vote - is Zune guy going to want tattoo removal one day?

photo link

We mentioned in the past on this site that criminals interested in staying away from the eyes of police should consider getting tattoo removal. Of course, we don't recommend any criminal activity. We're just pointing out that people frequently get caught for their bad behavior as a direct result of their proud display of identifying tattoos.

A new report on what cops look for when interviewing and dealing with potential criminals strongly suggests that tattoos are a real problem for people involved in lives of crime. There's the obvious fact that if someone accused of a crime has been reported by the victim to have a tattoo and the individual has that tattoo, they're going to be caught. There's also the fact that gang affiliation tattoos are a major warning sign to cops that there's a good chance you've been involved in some bad behavior.

But there are also more subtle things related to tattoos that cops keep an eye out for. For example, you can get caught lying about things if you're asked questions and your tattoos betray the real answers. (Your name is given as an obvious example.) And simply the fact that you have a lot of tattoos can be a warning sign to cops to keep their eye on you.

You can't get arrested for having a tattoo. But if you're engaged in behavior that can get you arrested then you might want to think about tattoo removal to assist you in not getting caught. For that matter, if you want to leave a life of crime behind, tattoo removal is one of the best ways to start getting yourself out of the grasp of your old ways.

Question of the Day: Is it surprising that cops judge people based on their tattoos?

photo link

There's a recent article available online which does a good job of summing up the top five reasons that someone typically seeks out laser tattoo removal.

Those reasons are as follows:

1. Demise of a relationship. We say it again and again; break-ups are the leading cause of laser tattoo removal whether that's on celebrities or the average Joe.

2. Who you are changes. Teens who get tattoos often find later that the symbols on their body no longer represent who they see themselves as. Tattoo removal comes to the rescue.

3. People are too judgmental. Whether it's a series of potential bosses that don't hire you because of the tattoos or a group of mommies at the playground who are ostracizing you because of your rebellious look, you may want to get tattoo removal just to fit in.

4. Bad tattoos. Sad, but true; not every artist out there is a Kat von D and not every tattoo is worthy of keeping.

5. Body changes. Maybe you started working out, built up a bunch of muscle and the shape of your tattoo changed in an unflattering way. Or perhaps the opposite body change took place and your tattoo is stretched to its limits.

Of course, you may have a more unique reason for seeking tattoo removal but chances are that you're looking because of one of these things.

Question of the Day: What's a more creative reason that someone might want laser tattoo removal?

photo link

Most people know that tattoo removal creams are not the best method of getting a tattoo removed. They are moderately expensive and tend to be ineffective in completely removing tattoos. However, they are not considered harmful to the body in any way and are available on the market for those who wish to try them.

At least, that's the case here in America. Other countries do not necessarily allow tattoo removal creams on the market. For example, Tasmania has a ban on these products.

But that ban may soon be lifted. Regulations set forth in Tasmania in the 1970's banned a series of different products (called "hazardous goods") from the market. The government there now says that this broad ban doesn't make any sense. It is considering repealing the ban in favor of setting up a better system of setting product safety standards (akin to what the FDA does here in the U.S.)

Learn more about the tattoo removal cream ban in Tasmania here.

Question of the Day: Do you think tattoo removal creams should remain on the market here in the United States?

photo link

A report from UNM Today reveals that Native American reservations are struggling from problems with their youth getting involved in criminal activity. People in the community are working together to try to find solutions to this problem. One of the options that may be considered is a tattoo removal program for those youth involved in gangs who wish to sever their criminal ties and start over.

Many different communities have started implementing this type of tattoo removal program as part of the rehabilitation for their young people who get involved in crime. Teenagers and young adults frequently find themselves in trouble with peers as well as authority figures as a result of their gang-affiliated tattoos.

If they decide to leave that life behind, tattoo removal can be useful in making sure that other people in the community also start to see them differently. Of course, this is only one option for rehabilitation programs to consider. There is never quite enough money to set up all of the programs that the community needs. This may be particularly true on the reservations which are already struggling to fund existing programs.

Question of the Day: Of how much importance are community tattoo removal programs in efforts to rehabilitate criminal youth?

photo link

Scan the headlines of your favorite newspaper for information about tattoo removal and there are two types of stories that you will find. The first are the stories about celebrity tattoo removal which we all love to read and gossip about. The second are the stories about tattoo removal programs being set up in communities as a means of rehabilitating former prisoners and gang members. The stories about celebrities and their tattoos might be more fun but it's those latter stories that show how tattoo removal can really make a difference to a person's life.

That fact has not gone unnoticed by the communities where these programs are implemented. In fact, one such community is honoring the founder of this type of program at an awards ceremony this week.

Dr. Dev A. Gnanadev is an alumnus of Cal State San Bernardino's College of Business and Public Administration. They have decided to award him as this year's winner of their Arrowhead Distinguished Executive Officer award. The award is given to people who demonstrate three qualities in their work: commitment to the community, leadership and civic service. These three things were all relevant to the work that Gnanadev did in establishing his tattoo removal program.

Question of the Day: Is it good for the medical community to receive awards recognizing their efforts (such as in the case of when they set up a tattoo removal program like this one)?

photo link

There was an interesting article published online which was related to the finance industry. It discussed the four generations that are involved in the business of forex trading. In doing so, it drew an interesting bit of attention to the issue of tattoo removal.

The article divides the generations into four groups - pre-WWII, baby boomers, Generation X and Generation Y. Each one is succintly described. Writing about Generation X, the author's description includes: "They now find themselves leaders in business and community, and supporting a rapidly growing tattoo-removal industry."

That gives the tattoo removal industry pause for thought. Are GenXers really the ones who are most likely to be getting tattoo removal? Are the people who are in their thirties today the ones that are most likely to suffer from tattoo regret but also be willing to do something about it?

We often see tattoo removal marketed at a younger generation, the Generation Y kids who got tats in their teens and are sorry for the mistake. But perhaps it's their slightly older siblings that marketing for tattoo removal should be geared towards?

Question of the Day: Which generation is most likely to be interested in tattoo removal?

photo link

People who are interested in laser tattoo removal tend to fall into three categories of people. These categories are based on the particular area of interest that they find most important to learn about. Although interest in the three areas may cross over, the average person will be primarily focused on just one of the three areas.

The most common type of person that you'll find is the person who is interested in learning more about the medical side of laser tattoo removal. This is the individual who is considering getting laser tattoo removal and wants to know all of the facts about the procedure. This individual seeks out news about how tattoo removal works, what to look for in a tattoo removal doctor and how legislation around tattoo removal is changing.

On a more lighthearted side of the issue are those people who are most interested in celebrity tattoo removal. These people may or may not be interested in their own tattoo removal options but are definitely interested in celebrity gossip. They want to know which celebrities have gotten tattoos removed in the past and they want to weigh in on which celebrities should consider getting bad tattoos removed.

And finally, there are people who are interested in the growing use of tattoo removal services in gang prevention and rehabilitation efforts. These are people who believe that tattoo removal can be a social cause and they want to see stories of where this has worked across the nation.

Of course, you can find information about all three different types of tattoo removal news here on this blog!

Question of the Day: What area of tattoo removal interests you most?

photo link

Carly Smithson has been voted off of this year's American Idol but that doesn't mean that the world has forgotten her quite yet. She's still making the headlines of gossip sites as people try to predict where it is that she's going to end up. One of the things that regularly gets talked about on these sites is Carly's numerous tattoos.

There is one tattoo in particular that's gotten a lot of attention. It's a tattoo of a woman on Carly's arm which many - including American Idol guest star mentor Andrew Lloyd Webber - have assumed was a tattoo of Amy Winehouse. Carly insists that it's not Winehouse on her arm at all, that it's a geisha that never got colored in which she's had as a tattoo since before she'd ever heard of Winehouse.

Although she's out there setting the record straight, the confusion could have the potential to impact Smithson's career. If she wants to make it as a singer, she probably doesn't want to be associated with being a Winehouse groupie. As a result, she might want to consider laser tattoo removal (or at least coloring in that tat) at some point in the near future.

Question of the Day: Does Carly's tattoo really look like a drawing of Amy Winehouse?

photo link

You can talk about tattoo removal until your blue in the face but you're never going to know what it's like until you actually get it done. To get a better idea, you might want to take a look at some videos which show tattoo removal taking place. Here are a few that might make you feel more informed:

Here's a short video showing a fast system of laser tattoo removal. It's being done on a small, single-color tattoo and should take about 4-6 sessions to be completely removed:

This is what it looks like to get a larger single-color tattoo removed:

If you're more interested in celebrity tattoo removal, you might want to watch the following short video of American Idol star Blake Lewis getting a tattoo removed from his back:

And here's a case of laser tattoo removal that looks like it was caused by a common mistake - getting someone else's name tattooed on your body is never a very good idea:

Question of the Day: Do you feel more informed about laser tattoo removal after watching videos of it being done?

photo link

We regularly see cases of tattoo removal being used as part of rehabilitation for gang-affiliated criminals. However, the people in a Fresno rehabilitation program who had expected to get tattoo removal haven't had so much luck in the last couple of years. That's because the program that they were involved with was put on hold in 2006.

The problem was that the county-run program was not utilizing equipment owned by the county. Instead, it was using the equipment of the plastic surgeons who were contracting to provide the service. The county opted to cease their tattoo removal program until they had their own equipment. That has now been achieved and the county will resume its tattoo removal program.

Many people who had been involved in the program had already started their tattoo removal treatments and have been living their lives with half-removed tattoos for the past two years. They are happy to learn that they will finally get the rest of their tattoo removal.

Learn more here.

Question of the Day: Does it make sense to halt a tattoo removal program in the middle of providing rehabilitative services?

photo link