Getting inked is a very personal decision – tattoos are often a symbol of rebellion or a permanent statement that tell a private story – don’t let it be a marker for regret or sadness.

If you are not loving that tattoo any longer or feel that what it used to represent no longer applies to your life, there are ways and means of eradicating yours without causing regrettable scarring and damage. While tattoos are hugely popular there are many individuals for whom remorse is a significant reality, making tattoo removal a necessary service that ought to be performed by highly trained professionals.

Did you know that 17% of people regret getting tattooed whilst 11% of all individuals are eradicating their tattoos or have removed them already, plus 70% of all individuals prefer to keep their tattoos concealed?

Tattoo removal:

•  Having tattoos removed using laser is the best and most effective way to get rid of an unwanted tattoo – but the age of the tattoo will determine how many sessions this will need. It is best to have tattoos removed only by a professional dermatologist or a qualified laser technician.

• It is no secret that tattoo removal gone wrong has left thousands of individuals being permanently scarred right across the globe; furthermore, unregulated laser machines are being ruthlessly used by untrained beauticians.

• Cleaning up botched tattoo removal is costing the medical industry thousands and leaving clients scarred for life – and often liability insurance is not efficient or simply non-existent, leaving little space recourse for clients.

• Doctors who remove tattoos are required to be trained, insured and need to make use of machines approved by medical societies – often beauticians don’t need the same licenses, requirements or legal cover.

In the future:

•  Technology is evolving and photo-active ink additives are starting to become available.
• These are chemicals that are broken down by laser treatment in a way that stimulates the body’s natural defences to reabsorb the associated pigments.
• There is some understandable resistance from professional tattoos artists to use additives that will make their art less “permanent”, though.
• It may in future be possible to introduce these additives to a pre-existing tattoo in order to to make the entire area respond more favourable to laser treatment.

If you do choose to use a skin clinic be sure to choose one that has a team of professionals on board that will be able to remove tattoos professionally without scarring.