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?
