The Art of Tattoo Removal: A Journey of Regret, Renewal, and Risk
Tattoos have been a part of human culture for centuries, with the oldest known tattoos found on the remains of a Neolithic man who lived in the Italian Alps around 3,000 B.C. Many mummies from ancient Egypt also have tattoos, as do remains from cultures around the world. However, not all tattoos are permanent, and the process of removing them is a complex and often painful one.
According to a 2023 survey by the Pew Research Center, 32% of adults in the United States have tattoos, and about 22% have more than one. However, about 24% of those surveyed regret getting their tattoos. Tracy Herrmann, a 54-year-old woman from Plymouth, Michigan, is one of them. She has eight tattoos and is in the process of getting four phrases, including “One step at a time,” “Surrender,” and “Through it all,” removed from her feet and arms.
Reasons for Removal
Herrmann says the four tattoos she is getting removed are part of her past and that’s where she wants them to stay. “Now, I just want to move forward and go back to the original skin I was born with,” she said. Ryan Wright, a registered nurse and owner of Ink Blasters Precision Laser Tattoo Removal in Livonia, Michigan, says that reasons for getting a tattoo removed are as varied and personal as the reasons for getting them in the first place. “A lot of people, when they get a new tattoo that makes some of their old tattoos look bad, they get them removed or reworked,” Wright said.
Jaime Howard, the owner of Chroma Tattoo Studio Laser Tattoo Removal, says boredom plays a role in tattoo removal. “They got a tattoo on a whim and they’re like ‘hey, I’m really bored with this. I don’t want this anymore,'” Howard said. “It’s not about hating their tattoo, it’s about change for yourself.” Howard and Wright use a Q-switching, or quality switching, laser to remove tattoos, which concentrates the light energy into intense short bursts or pulses.
The Removal Process
The process of removing a tattoo is not a “one and done” procedure. It can take eight to 12 treatments or more, and each treatment can be painful. Wright describes the pain as feeling like a rubber band being snapped on your skin with hot bacon grease. Herrmann, who has undergone four sessions, agrees. “Oh gosh, it’s a 10 when you’re getting it done,” she said. “It’s pretty intense. It’s doable. I know price is sometimes an issue, but it’s worth it.”
The cost of tattoo removal varies depending on the size of the tattoo and the technology used. Howard says the minimum she charges is $100 per session, while Wright says the cost depends on the square-inch size of the tattoo. “The cost is really the technology in the laser,” Wright said. “It’s not like a time thing. Most treatments are under a minute. You’re paying for the technology and the person who knows how to use the technology. You can damage the skin if you don’t know what you’re doing.”
Risks and Complications
Using lasers to remove tattoos comes with some risks, including skin that can be left lighter than surrounding skin, temporary scarring, infection, redness, or soreness, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Consultations on the procedure’s complications should take place before laser tattoo removal. Wright says his clients have to sign a waiver that they understand possible complications. People with diabetes, autoimmune diseases, or immune deficiencies should be wary of the procedure, as well as those taking blood thinners.
Tracy Herrmann has one of her tattoos removed by Chroma Tattoo Studio Laser Tattoo Removal owner Jaime Howard on Nov. 19, 2025, in West Bloomfield, Mich. (AP Photo/Corey Williams)
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