How do you feel about your tattoos? The way you answer that question likely has a lot to do with the reason you got the tattoo, how long ago you got the tattoo, and who gave you the tattoo. There are a number of individuals in Fort Worth who have had tattoos done and are very happy with the work. There are also a number of individuals who regret the tattoos that they have and are interested in learning about laser tattoo removal.
Why Do People Get Tattoos?
It’s likely that you or someone close to you has a tattoo. Tattooing has been a part of the human experience for thousands of years. They started out in ancient tribal settings. Over the course of the years, they become part of the modern culture. It’s interesting to see how people’s attitudes toward tattoos have changed. Thirty years ago, tattoos were seen as rebellious, dangerous, and a way to signify that a person belonged to a select group or a separate part of society.
In some parts of the world, people get tattoos today for the same reason their ancestors did hundreds, if not thousands, of years ago. Tattoos are social markers. They are not just fashion statements. In many cultures when a person has a tattoo, it identifies them as being part of a particular family, as being part of a particular tribe, or shows the rest of the community where that individual stands in the social hierarchy.
However, even in societies where tattoos have a cultural significance, one clearly sees a shift from the patterns and designs that were indicative of traditional tattoos years ago and the tattoos that people are getting today. Individuals in these societies are getting tattoos that have a more modern flare while at the same time holding onto the traditional significance.
In many parts of the world, individuals who belong to a subculture identify themselves by the tattoos that they wear. In some areas tattoos identify a person as belonging to a particular political group, belonging to a street gang, or even enjoying a particular type of music.
Ironically, when a particular group, such as a street gang, becomes popular, the tattoo that you use to solely identify a person as belonging to that gang or to that group starts to get used by the public at large.
When a tattoo is used to identify a person as belonging to a subculture, it is worn as a sense of pride. It is worn as a way of letting the world know that the individual who has the tattoo believes in the ideology of the group they are being identified with.
Other people get tattoos for a more personal reason. They may get a tattoo to commemorate something that is important to them. This is a little bit different than tattoos that have a cultural significance where everyone within the culture automatically understands what the tattoo means. The meaning behind the tattoo is personal to the individual who gets it.
People are attracted to the permanence of tattoos. Many will receive tattoos that have a meaning only they understand. Another person looking at the tattoo may find it aesthetically pleasing, but they don’t get the meaning behind it.
There are people who get tattoos for no significant reason. They simply like the way that the tattoo looks. They might have seen an image or a character that they identify with and choose to get that tattoo on their skin. For these individuals the tattoo has less of an emotional significance and instead is a fashion accessory. It is something that adds to the overall look or aesthetic.
When a person gets a tattoo for simply aesthetic reasons, the tattoo may be a small heart on the back of their neck or a sleeve that covers their entire arm. They feel that the tattoo completes their look. They are proud of and happy with it.
Some people love tattoos because tattoos make them look unique. They feel that tattoos allow them to express their individuality in a way that they otherwise would not be able to do. One could argue for both sides of this argument. Since so many people get tattoos, having a tattoo is not as unique or as rebellious as it was seen a few years ago. That being said, when you walk into a room of people and there is an individual with a conspicuous tattoo, your eyes are immediately drawn to them. You immediately start to think about what that individual’s story might be.
Many feel frustrated with the fact that they have little control over their outward appearance. Their genes determine how others perceive them. So some see a tattoo as a way of expressing who they are on the inside in a way that those on the outside can clearly see.
Individuals who grew up in a conservative culture or in a conservative family where getting a tattoo would be seen as rebellious may choose to get a visible tattoo as a way of showing the world, and especially those within their community, that they have broken free from that conservative background.
These are just a few of the reasons people get tattoos. Your reason for wanting a tattoo or your reason for getting a tattoo in the past might be completely different. What is true is that the reason why a person got a tattoo often has a lot to do with the reason why they may be interested in laser tattoo removal.
Why Do People Regret Their Tattoos?
Research has shown that people who get a tattoo without taking the time to think about it regret it. We are not talking about thinking on it for an hour or so. We are talking about thinking about the tattoo for weeks or months. One study showed that 75% of people who had tattoo regret did not plan beyond a few weeks in advance.
Age seems to play a factor in tattoo regret. It seems that when people get a tattoo before the age of 16, they are more likely to regret the tattoo than if they waited until they were 21 years of age or older.
Some people simply get bored of their tattoo(s). Some who had color tattoos are frustrated with how the color fades over the years. Others wish they would have done more research on the tattoo artist who they used. Poor line work only gets poorer with time.
One of the most common regrets that leads to people in Fort Worth wanting laser tattoo removal is the fact that the tattoo no longer holds the same value to them that it did when they got it. The tattoo that we got of the boyfriend or girlfriend we had when we were 19 years of age is probably not something we are going to want to keep when getting married to a different person 10 years later.
Or think about individuals who received tattoos because of gang affiliation or because of affiliation with fringe political organizations. Now, their views on life have changed. It could be that the gang or the political organization is no longer part of their lives.
How Does Laser Tattoo Removal Work?
During the tattoo removal process, the practitioner is going to guide the laser over the treated area. The laser that’s used during treatment is not like what you would see on a laser pointer where there is a continuous beam of light being produced. Instead, the laser produces rapid pulses of light energy.
As the energy hits the skin, it’s absorbed by the ink of the tattoo. The ink rapidly heats up and then cools. This causes the ink to shatter into small particles. The small particles are then attacked by your white blood cells and removed from the body. This is a gradual process. This is why you will see the ink particles slowly fading from your skin. Each laser treatment breaks down more and more of the particles until none remain.
Darker inks are going to respond better than those that have a lighter color. This does not mean that you can’t remove different color inks. It just means that you have to use different wavelengths of light at different rates. For example, if you’re treating a red tattoo, you’re going to likely use a green laser as the red is going to absorb the green light, which is going to cause more of the ink particles to heat up and shatter.
It is important to remember that laser tattoo removal is not something that’s going to happen overnight. The ink is not going to fade in the moment the treatment is done. Most people will need between five and ten treatments to get the results they want. In order to allow your body to have sufficient time to work, the treatments will need to be spaced at least six weeks apart. The entire process is something that can take many months or even a year or more to complete.
Another reason for multiple treatments is that when the tattoo is applied, ink is applied at different depths within the dermis. The laser’s light is only going to affect the uppermost level. So you will get the first treatment, the ink in the uppermost level is shattered, over the next six weeks your body removes it, and then the lower level of ink is exposed, allowing the process to be repeated again.
Laser tattoo removal is a popular treatment option for individuals who are suffering from tattoo regret. The reason why this treatment option is so popular is because of how effective it really is. It is up to many individuals who are dealing with tattoo regret to get a clean slate figuratively and literally. The technology behind tattoo removal has advanced drastically over the past few years. It is safe and effective.
Get in Touch with Us for More Information
If you regret getting a tattoo and want to do something about it, we invite you to learn more about laser tattoo removal by reaching out and making an appointment with Le Reve Skincare & Laser Center. At our convenient location in Fort Worth, our caring and dedicated team of professionals will be pleased to explain this option in greater detail and answer any questions you may have. Contact us today to set up your consultation – we look forward to speaking with you!
