Regrettable tattoos are something of a rite of passage. If you’ve never had one which you regretted even slightly, you’ve done well.

The problem with tattoos is that they are a) permanent, b) so easy to get, and c) often the result of a relationship which you’re ‘sure is never going to end’, a drunken night of ‘ah go on then’, or a phase that you can’t see yourself coming out of. Hopefully, if you have a tattoo, you don’t regret it, you love it, and it reminds you of a significant time in your life. That’s great.

Tattoos are a form of self-expression, and the best ink is one which remains close to your heart forever. But, what if you have a tattoo that you no longer want? What if you look at it and think ‘why did I do that?’, or even worse, it reminds you of a past lover you really want to forget?

In that case, you could look at tattoo removal, but it’s certainly not as easy as it sounds.

What is Tattoo Removal?

As the name suggests, tattoo removal is the process of removing a tattoo! Many places offer this service nowadays, including spas, but it is always better to go to a specialist tattoo expert who knows what they are doing. It’s not cheap, but if you’re dead set on erasing that ink from your life, it’s worth the cost.

The downside? It hurts as much as the tattoo did, if not more. You could opt for a cover up, but this would take a very good tattoo artist who can create a piece of art which will completely cover up the original piece you don’t want to be reminded of.

How Long Does it Take For The Tattoo to Disappear?

The other piece of bad news? It’s not an instant thing. The process is done with a laser, and your practitioner will give you an estimate of how long it might take. This can be months, it can be a year. You will need regular sessions for the best results.

Every time you have a laser treatment, the colour particles which are in the skin are broken down, and they are then absorbed by the body’s natural immune system processes. Obviously, the bigger the tattoo, the more sessions, and the more colourful the tattoo, probably the more sessions. The good news is that a colourful tattoo, contrary to popular opinion, can be completely treated.

Is it worth it? Only you can decide whether you can live with the tattoo you currently have or not. If you can’t, tattoo removal is your only option.