Tattoo Undo

Tommy Lee is a celebrity who is infamous for his tattoo removal; in the 1990's he had a swastika tattoo removed from his body. However, he's also well known for sparking the tattoo removal of another celebrity: Pamela Anderson.

When the two were a hot item, Anderson got a tattoo of the name "Tommy" on her left arm. When the couple split, she went ahead and did a quick cover-up, turning the T to an M and walking around with "Mommy" on her arm. She ultimately decided that wasn't attractive to her either and changed the design again, this time to a barbedwire ring around her arm.

The truth is that the change isn't particularly attractive either. Laser tattoo removal would have made a lot more sense than multiple cover-ups of the same tattoo. Since it was just a name and it was a single color, the tattoo removal probably would've gone smoothly and the tattoo would've been erased in just a few sessions.

Question of the Day: Should Pamela Anderson have gotten celebrity tattoo removal instead of doing a cover-up of the tattoo?

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Both men and women get tattoos these days and that means that both men and women are out there getting tattoo removal. But are there some differences in the reasons for tattoo removal between the genders?

The most common reason to get laser tattoo removal is because your body bears the symbol of a relationship that has gone awry. It appears that both men and women are equally likely to remove those types of tattoos.

Another common reason that tattoos get removed is because they no longer symbolize the way that the individual feels about life or about the self. This type of tattoo removal is much more common among women. Women who go through a wild period and get tattoos may seek out tattoo removal after settling down and having kids. Her male counterpart is more likely to keep the tattoos as a reminder of the good old days.

On the other hand, men are more likely than women to get tattoos removed for the purpose of adding new art. Although there are certainly women out there who have covered their bodies in art and still want more, it's much more common among men.

And what about the individual who removes tattoos to better fit into society? That one's a toss up. On the one hand, women are more likely than men to get tattoo removal in order to be perceived more professionally in the post-college work place. On the other hand, tattoo removal programs designed to rehabilitate criminals are more likely to remove gang tattoos on men than on women.

Question of the Day: Do you believe there are significant tattoo removal differences between the sexes?

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Most of the news that we hear about tattoo removal comes out of the American media. Although laser tattoo removal is done in many parts of the world, it's a cosmetic procedure that has primarily been done in the United States. However, it appears that the trend is beginning to make its way around the world as more and more people are reporting on global tattoo removal.

We mentioned in the past that there are apparent similarities between celebrity tattoo removal in Hollywood and that in Bollywood. Because the fans of these stars tend to mimic their behaviors, there is a similar rise in tattoo removal in both of these areas.

Additionally, we're starting to see a rise in the use of tattoo removal as a method of rehabilitation for former gang members. These are programs that have been set up throughout the United States and which are now being taken to other areas (such as Honduras) primarily through the missionary efforts of those religious people who were involved in church-based tattoo removal programs.

Question of the Day: What has caused the recent surge in tattoo removal programs around the world?

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Laser tattoo removal is typically a fairly easy process. It requires a series of laser treatments that gradually fade away the tattoo until it is completely removed. It is painful but not unbearably so for those people who were able to bear the pain of getting the tattoo in the first place. It's basically a simple procedure.

However there are some types of tattoos which are not nearly so easy to remove. Tattoos that are on certain parts of the body may be more difficult to remove. Tattoos that are large and multi-colored will be more difficult to remove. This is important to keep in mind when getting your tattoos; if you aren't sure that they're going to be permanent then you should choose the design and placement of the tattoo carefully.

Here's a look at some of the celebrities who probably aren't going to be getting tattoo removal because their tattoos are too tough to erase:

- Carly Smithson. This American Idol star could certainly get some of her tattoos removed but the one that she has tattooed inside of her mouth is probably going to have to stay there.

- Scarlett Johansson. She has a multi-colored tattoo on her arm which could be difficult to remove due to the number of different colors in it.

- Nicole Richie. She has a rosary tattoo around her ankle. Although it's small and single-colored, it may be hard to remove because of its location.

- Mary Ann Mobley. This former Miss America got permanent make-up tattooed on to her; that's one type of tattoo that is really difficult to remove.

Question of the Day: Which celebrity would you like to see get tattoo removal despite the difficulty of the procedure?

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As laser tattoo removal becomes an increasingly mainstream procedure, we're starting to see it pop up all over mainstream culture. A recent example was Britney Spears' return to stardom with a minor television role as the receptionist for a tattoo removal specialist. Another example comes from an unlikely source - a television ad for Yellowbook.

According to a report about Yellowbook's new advertising campaign, the company is trying to move forward with a "futuristic" approach to advertising which includes aggressive online advertising that makes use of social networking sites and other Web 2.0 technologies. Perhaps this is the audience that the company had in mind when they created their television commercial that involves tattoo removal.

In the commercial, a woman who is about to get married to a man named Tom is seen searching for tattoo removal services on an interactive touchscreen Yellowbook in her living room. As she turns, it is revealed that she has a tattoo of the name "Mike" across her lower back. The suggestion is that she needs Yellowbook to help her find that laser tattoo removal specialist and leave her past behind.

Question of the Day: In what other mainstream spots have you seen tattoo removal lately?

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There is a lot of information about tattoo removal on this site (and around the web) but sometimes a picture really is worth a thousand words. Here are some of the best tattoo removal photos available on the web. Some are informative, some are interesting and some are just plain weird.

Laser Tattoo Removal Procedure. Here's basically what it's going to look like if you go to get laser tattoo removal. (You'll be the one laying down getting worked on.)

Tattoo Removal Machine. This is one example of what a laser tattoo removal machine may look like.

Fading Away. Here's a close look at what a tattoo will look like between the time that you've started getting tattoo removal and the time when it's actually done.

Fading: Take Two. Here's another look at what it's going to look like to start getting laser tattoo removal. This is after a first treatment.

Burn Baby Burn. This image shows how it's going to be a little sore and painful immediately after you get tattoo removal.

Don't Do It Yourself. Here's a look at why you don't want to do your own tattoo removal.

Free Tattoo Removal. Eek, what's this picture all about? Doesn't look like it could be anything good. We'll stick to laser tattoo removal, thanks.

Actress Susan Sarandon recently got people talking about celebrity tattoos after she got two different tattoos done - the first that she's ever gotten and slightly shocking since she's over the age of sixty. Although some people aer flapping their mouths about the fact that a woman of her age shouldn't be sporting new tattoos, chances are that Sarandon is going to be keeping those tattoos and avoiding some of the celebrity tattoo removal that her younger counterparts have gotten over the years.

Her age is one major reason that Sarandon is probably not going to feel the urge to get celebrity tattoo removal. Sure, there's a chance that she got them as a spontaneous method of trying to recapture a feeling of youth. But chances are much more likely that the decision reflects the fact that Sarandon really thought about the tattoos before she got them done. When you put a lot of thought into the decision to get a tattoo, you're much less likely to have tattoo regret and go in search of tattoo removal down the line.

Additionally, Sarandon's design incorporates features that are traditionally associated with long-lasting tattoos. Sarandon has three kids and the tattoos incorporate their initials into the design. Unlike celebrities who get names of their lovers tattooed on them, people who get tattoos representative of their kids tend to keep them over time.

Question of the Day: What other reasons make it highly unlikely that Susan Sarandon will get celebrity tattoo removal?

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The celebrity tattoo removal rumor mill is churning again and what's floating to the top is the rumor that Pamela Anderson is considering getting tattoo removal. Reports say that she has realized that aging is going to do things to her body that aren't ideal and that the shape changes are ultimately going to cause her tattoos to look none-too-pretty. Instead of waiting until the shifting of her tattoos reveals her true age, Pamela Anderson is considering getting laser tattoo removal to get rid of those tattoos once and for all.

We've suggested in the past that Pamela Anderson may want to consider celebrity tattoo removal. She once had a tattoo of the name "Tommy" which represented ex Tommy Lee. She changed the tattoo to "Mommy" and then changed it again to a barbed wire ring around her arm. All of those cover-ups created more of a mess than a pleasing design and it's a mess that could benefit from tattoo removal.

It's not clear at this point whether Pamela is seeking to remove all of her tattoos are just those tattoos which are strategically placed in locations that are likely to stretch as Pam ages. What is clear is that she wants people to know that her tattoo removal is all about appearances and has nothing to do with her status as a mom.

Question of the Day: Is it true that Pamela Anderson should get celebrity tattoo removal before she ages?

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There are many different reasons that someone might decide to get laser tattoo removal but they all boil down to one core reason: tattoo regret. As a result, steps that are taken to reduce tattoo regret are steps that are ultimately likely to reduce tattoo removal. Is it possible that the growing interest in virtual tattoos could be one of those steps?

Virtual tattoos are, as their name suggests, tattoos that you get only in the online world. They can be a great way to test out a tattoo or to enhance the design of the avatar you use for your online persona. (They're also a great marketing tool; Pirates of the Caribbean Online released some last weekend for Mother's Day.)

Unfortunately, it's not too likely that these are going to reduce tattoo regret in the real world. People love to play around with personalities online but that doesn't mean that these games impact their behavior in real life. Someone who is going to get a regrettable tattoo is going to do so impulsively; they're not going to think it through by taking a test run online. So, for now, tattoo removal is bound to be something that we need.

Question of the Day: What steps can society take to reduce tattoo regret and limit the need for laser tattoo removal?

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One of the tattoo removal specialists in our network, Tattoo MD in California, has brought an important issue to light in a recent blog post on their website. That is the issue of where the products for laser tattoo removal are made.

The specialist notes that the business has been approached by manufacturers in China who are offering a significantly lower cost on laser tattoo removal equipment than is available here in the United States. There are several issues of concern with this which have prompted the specialist to choose to pay the higher price for higher quality equipment.

One of the major problems with tattoo removal lasers from other countries is that they may not be approved by the FDA. Since all of the tattoo removal equipment used by legitimate American doctors must be FDA-approved, this negates the use of these pieces of equipment. Additional concerns include the potential that the laser is of lower quality than what is available here and issues about who to contact for repairs of equipment.

Question of the Day: Do you believe that doctors should avoid the use of tattoo removal lasers manufactured in other countries?

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A man nicknamed Pauly Unstoppable has gotten one of those tattoos that is never going to be able to benefit from laser tattoo removal. He's become the first man to ever get his eyeball tattooed. It's just one of the many, many, many modications that he's gotten done to his body over the years.

Since Pauly Unstoppable is such a fan of body art, it's not too likely that he'd be seeking out tattoo removal anyway. If he does, he's got more than eighteen tattoos to consider removing. He's also got scarification, implants, piercings and more so it's not like he can't make some changes if he decides that he doesn't like the way that he looks.

The tattoo required forty injections to be completed. You can watch a video of one of those injections below:

Question of the Day: Do you think that this guy is ever going to suffer from tattoo regret?

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Fans of the television show Prison Break know that the tattoo of main character Michael Scofield is an integral part of the show. It's a complex blueprint of the prison in code which is designed to assist the character in his overarching plan to break out of the prison. However, changes in the plot over time have led to a change on the show; Scofield is going to be getting tattoo removal in the fourth season of the show when it airs.

That news comes from the red carpet report on what's going on with Prison Break. In the interview about it, the actor who plays Scofield said that the whole situation is a little bit bittersweet. On the one hand, that tattoo takes about five hours to put on the actor whenever it's time to film the show. On the other hand, it's such an important part of his character that he's kind of sad to see it go. Isn't the always the case with tattoo removal?!

Question of the Day: What other television shows have featured tattoo removal?

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Tattoo removal programs designed to rehabilitate gang members have been around for the past couple of years. However, they haven't been prevalent until now. In the past, lack of funding and a lack of proof that tattoo removal is a succesful rehabilitation service combined to keep the number of these programs low. But now people are starting to realize that removing gang tattoos can help release these people from the grip of the past and they're willing to foot the bill to make these programs work.

In just a few days, there were reports from three different states across the nation about tattoo removal programs that were being used for this purpose:

- In California, there was discussion of how to curb crime in Long Beach. The article noted that nearly $30 million is spent annually by the city on rehabilitative programs including tattoo removal programs.

-In Maryland, one county is seeking funding from the federal government to set up a center for at-risk teens which would provide a variety of different mental health and rehabilitation services including tattoo removal.

-In Idaho, a former gang member who knows the problem inside and out has started a youth ministry with services that include tattoo removal.

And these are just a smattering of the nationwide programs that are starting to adopt tattoo removal as a serious part of rehabilitation for gangs.

Question of the Day: Where else have you see gang tattoo removal?

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There was an article published recently by a tattoo design company which makes some great suggestions about how to make sure that you choose a meaningful tattoo. This is important because the more thought that you put in to getting your tattoo, the less likely it is that you''re going to have tattoo regret. It''s great that there''s laser tattoo removal to help you erase your tattoo mistakes but it''s far better to prevent the need for tattoo removal in the first place.

The key to avoiding tattoo regret is to think about the tattoo for awhile before getting it, never get a tattoo spontaneously. You should try to find a tattoo that is meaningful to you - and one that will continue to be meaningful over time. This means that new relationships, current fads and something you just got interested in are not good sources of inspiration for a tattoo. Relationships that are permanent (children and parents for example), things that will always be true about you (like your birth sign) and lifelong passions are good examples of tattoos that won''t lead you to consider tattoo removal in most cases.

Question of the Day: Does the prevalence of tattoo removal today make you think that it doesn''t matter so much if you get a tattoo that you don''t like?

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Anyone who follows this blog regularly knows that the biggest cause of tattoo regret (and therefore for tattoo removal) is the tattoo which represents a relationship that later ends. Mariah Carey has joined the ranks of people who have made this mistake by getting wedding tattoos with her new hubby Nick Cannon. However, she insists that they're going to beat the odds and want these tattoos to last forever.

The couple was secretive about their marriage because they didn't want the press swarming all over the event. However, they got wedding tattoos a few weeks before the actual wedding so their close friends had some idea of what was going on. They have finally spoken about the wedding and are even discussing the fact that they're planning to begin working on a family.

Hopefully everything will work out for this couple. If not, they're going to be another set on the list of names for people who have needed tattoo removal after a divorce.

Learn about the relationship and wedding here.

Question of the Day: Do wedding tattoos jinx a couple's chances of lasting?

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The FDA has just given its approval to a medical laser company called Lutronic for a new multiple laser wavelength system called Spectra VRM III. The new laser machine is appropriate for many different types of treatments but is most interesting because it can be used for tattoo removal and may be more effective than other tattoo removal lasers currently on the market.

Historically, there have been some tattoo colors which are difficult to remove. No matter how many laser tattoo removal treatments you get, those specific colors won't go away. This new laser may be able to effectively remove those colors which is a big step forward for tattoo removal.

"The key to this unique laser is its extremely high peak powers that allow the pulse width to be fixed at the shortest pulse width. This feature is unique and is not available today anywhere else in the industry." (source)

This new technology is going to be of interest to all types of people interested in cosmetic procedures. However, the area that it may have the most impact could be in tattoo removal.

Question of the Day: Would you get laser tattoo removal if you knew that all of the colors in your tattoo could now be removed?

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