Removing a Tattoo

Written by Charlotte Wood (last updated September 17, 2021)

Many people in high school, as soon as they turned eighteen, ran to the tattoo parlor and paid for tattoos that varied in images ranging from Chinese symbols to firefighter crests to the mathematical symbol pi. They would come into first period the next day with a bandage on their arm and tell everyone else how cool it looked.

Of course they thought it looked cool then, with the still-shiny ink embedded into their smooth, tight skin, but give it a couple decades, when they're over the hump of maturing and they'll want to sing a different song. That Chinese symbol that once read "freedom" could read something like "slug" once you factor in a degree of fading, wrinkles, and general aging. When they get to that point where it doesn't look cool but rather passe, the idea of tattoo removal might look pretty appealing. The facts behind tattoo removal however, are not so exciting.

Because tattoos are intended to be permanent, removing them is extremely difficult. There are several methods of tattoo removal, all of which are painful and expensive. Methods include excision (actually cutting out the tattooed skin), dermabrasion, laser, and salabrasion, all of which involve either cutting, burning, or sanding. Ouch! Some tattoos are even so large as to necessitate multiple removal sessions, incurring even more cost and pain and potentially a skin graft from somewhere else on your body.

The physical pain, however, will probably come secondary to the financial pain. Fees for tattoo removal can soar up into the thousands of dollars. Health insurance probably won't cover the cost either because of its categorization as cosmetic surgery. Start saving your lunch money! Even with all its pain and cost, most tattoo removal clinics can't guarantee complete removal. Your skin may be left with some discoloration and scarring.

The best way to avoid the necessity of removing a tattoo is not to get one in the first place. Fifty percent of people who get tattoos in their youth regret it later on and especially visible tattoos can prove to be obstacles in the professional world. Factor in the likelihood that the nature of your tattoo (whether it be gang related, love related, or what have you) may not be as permanent as you once thought. Oops!

If you're considering having a tattoo, the removal process and expense will probably cause second thoughts and if you already have one and want to remove it, the best of luck to you. While they make look "cool" initially, after wrinkles and aging and life in general, is it really worth it?

Author Bio

Charlotte Wood

MORE FROM CHARLOTTE

Applying Mascara

Mascara follows the basic rules of makeup and can still have the effect you desire. It emphasizes your eyes while still ...

Discover More

Removing Wrinkles

No one wants wrinkles, despite wrinkles' reputation for indicating wisdom and experience. If you have wrinkles you'd like ...

Discover More

Selecting a Home Tanning Bed

There are several different ways to tan and using a tanning bed is one of those ways. Some people would rather tan in ...

Discover More
More Beauty Tips

Different Types of Facials for Dry Skin

Facials can help your skin look its best. Read more to find out about what types of facials are best for dry skin.

Discover More

Choosing the Best Acne Medicine

Acne can be hard to deal with—not only physically but psychologically as well as emotionally. Medicines and ...

Discover More

Dealing with Sensitive Skin

Sensitive skin can often lead to breakouts, complexion frustrations, and woes. However, sensitive skin doesn't have to be ...

Discover More
Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is five more than 3?

There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)