There is great personal value in getting tattoo removal - it can be a terrific form of catharsis and a method of achieving closure regarding the various situations in life associated with those tattoos. But it's not just the act of getting tattoos removed which can be beneficial; the act of talking about tattoo removal might further help with that emotional release and may benefit others in the meantime.
There is one story online which highlights this effectively from the first person perspective of someone who has gone through extensive tattoo removal. This individual writes about the procedures in order to share those experiences with others as well as to really solidify the process of tattoo removal internally. Writing about tattoo removal educates people who are thinking about getting tattoos as well as those thinking about getting tattoo removal. At the same time, it reaffirms what the individual is going through emotionall while getting that work removed.
Question of the Day: Do you find it beneficial to talk about tattoo removal with others?
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Thursday, May 29, 2008 Tattoo Removal Gains Priority in Scotland
In the past, the hospitals of Scotland have struggled to make sure that all patients are seen within a timely manner. Those patients with surgery requests that are considered to be of low priority - which has included people seeking laser tattoo removal - have been pushed to the end of the line. This means they have had to wait a long time before being seen by a doctor for their requested tattoo removal. However, the situation is improving and those lower-priority patients are starting to get attention from professionals who are concerned about this issue.
Scotland hospitals have set up "target times" within which a patient should be seen by the doctor. Any patient referred to the hospital is supposed to be seen within eighteen weeks of the time of the referral. In the past, this target time has not applied to people seeking tattoo removal. However, it now does include those people which means that people who want to get tattoos removed now have a better chance of getting a prompt appointment than was the case in the past.
There are still some flaws in the system. Approximately one percent of patients are not seen within the target date - this may or may not include patients seeking tattoo removal. However, things are getting better and people are able to get the work done that they want or need to have done.
Question of the Day: Should a patient seeking tattoo removal have to be seen within eighteen weeks of hospital referral?
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Wednesday, May 28, 2008 Do's and Don'ts of Asking Someone About Tattoo Removal
You probably didn't consult anyone before you got your tattoo. It was something that you did to express who you are. But you're not so convinced that tattoo removal is the right way to go even though you don't think you want the tattoo anymore. As a result, you may be more inclined to seek an outside opinion on tattoo removal than you were about getting the tattoo in the first place.
It's not a bad idea to ask the people in your life for an opinion about tattoo removal but you want to follow some basic do's and don'ts about doing so:
- DO ask those people that you can trust to give you an honest answer no matter what their personal opinion on the tattoo might be.
- DON'T ask someone who is going to put you down for having the tattoo or for wanting to get it removed.
- DO consult someone who might be emotionally impacted by the tattoo removal, such as a child if the tattoo is of their name or the name of their parent.
- DON'T let someone else make the decision for you.
- DO make sure to ask questions of unbiased people who can provide you with information, such as a tattoo removal doctor.
It's not always easy to make lasting decisions even if they are things that impact only ourselves. It can help to get an outside opinion. Just make sure that you're smart about who you ask.
Question of the Day: Who would you ask for an opinion about getting laser tattoo removal?
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Tuesday, May 27, 2008 One Cause of Tattoo Removal Investigated
There are many reasons that someone might take an interest in the idea of getting laser tattoo removal. The majority of these reasons are highly personal reasons - changes in the individual's life cause the person to change his or her mind about the tattoo. However, there are some cases in which tattoo removal is desired because of external reasons such as when a tattoo artist puts a bad design on the body.
That's precisely what has been happening in one town in Minnesota. People have been reporting that one tattoo artist in particular has been guilty of putting a lot of bad tattoos out there. Problems range from tattoos that get infected to tattoos of names that are misspelled. Some of these problems are minimal and go away after a couple of days. But there have been many cases in which the individuals involved have immediately wanted tattoo removal or tattoo cover-ups in order to get rid of the problem caused by the bad tattoo artist.
The city is looking in to the case in order to stop this problem from spreading. All of the tattoo shops in this particular city are going to be under review to make sure that they are up to city codes. Hopefully that will help to prevent some of the need for tattoo removal in the area. After all, it's one thing to change your mind about your body art over time but it's another thing entirely to hate your tattoo as soon as you get it!
Question of the Day: Should the tattoo artist that gives a bad tattoo be responsible for covering the fees associated with any tattoo removal that results?
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Monday, May 26, 2008 Five Barriers To Tattoo Removal
Most people who want to get laser tattoo removal can go in to the doctor's office and get the work done. However, there are some people who face barriers to getting the tattoo removal they desire.
Here are five common reasons that people may hesitate or fail to get tattoo removal:
- Cost. Tattoo removal is expensive. There are non-profit programs to assist people in rehabilitation programs get their tattoos removed but the average person just needs to save up the cash.
- Pain or fear of pain. Tattoo removal is painful and some people don't want to go through that even though they were able to bear the pain of getting the tattoo in the first place.
- Influence of others. People may hesitate to get tattoos removed because someone else doesn't want them to. A tattoo that is special to a spouse or child is one example. A gang tattoo is another example.
- Time intensive. Many tattoos require multiple treatments for complete removal. Some people don't want to bother.
- Tattoo removal won't meet expectations. Not all tattoos can be completely removed; this depends on the color, size, detail and location of the tattoo. If a tattoo removal doctor tells a patient that the tattoo may not get completely removed, the patient may abandon the idea of tattoo removal.
These barriers don't have to stop someone from getting tattoo removal if they really want it but you might want to think about them if any could be issues for you.
Question of the Day: What would be most likely to prevent you from getting tattoo removal?
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Friday, May 23, 2008 Tattoo Removal Photos
One of the best ways to determine whether or not you want to get laser tattoo removal is to take a look at photos of the tattoo removal that other people have gotten done. This gives you a really good idea of what laser tattoo removal will look like and what the process of tattoo removal will be like. Following you'll find some photos from around the web which can help you get a picture of tattoo removal.
Here's a photo of a tattoo removal that has just completed its first session. It required numbing cream and an additional twenty-five injections to numb the area in order to complete it. That's because this is such a big tattoo:
Here's a look at a smaller tattoo that's in the process of tattoo removal:
Sometimes an allergic reaction will occur which causes some blistering due to the laser tattoo removal process. This is rare but it's something to be aware of and to ask your tattoo removal doctor about.
For those people who don't think that laser tattoo removal is right for them, here is a look at how a tattoo cover-up can come out:
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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Wednesday, May 21, 2008 Mariah Carey Says She'll Never Need Tattoo Removal
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.
Question of the Day: Do wedding tattoos jinx a couple's chances of lasting?
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Tuesday, May 20, 2008 Avoid Tattoo Regret By Thinking About Your Tattoo
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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Monday, May 19, 2008 Gang Tattoo Removal Spreads Across Nation
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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Friday, May 16, 2008 Tattoo Removal on TV
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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Thursday, May 15, 2008 Impossible to Remove: Eyeball Tattoo
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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Wednesday, May 14, 2008 The Problem With China's Tattoo Removal Lasers
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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Tuesday, May 13, 2008 Will Virtual Tattoos Decrease Need for Tattoo Removal?
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 Onlinereleased 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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Monday, May 12, 2008 Celebrity Tattoo Removal: Pamela Anderson
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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Friday, May 09, 2008 Why Susan Sarandon Probably Won't Get Tattoo Removal
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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Thursday, May 08, 2008 Tattoo Removal Pictures: The Good, The Bad and the Ugly
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.
Wednesday, May 07, 2008 Tattoo Removal Featured in Yellowbook Ad
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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Tuesday, May 06, 2008 Difficult Celebrity Tattoo Removal
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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Monday, May 05, 2008 Tattoo Removal Taking Hold Around the Globe
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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Friday, May 02, 2008 Gender Differences in Tattoo Removal
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?
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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