We see many patients for tattoo removal and have often wondered what motivates people to seek removal of their tattoo. A study from Archives of Dermatology (Vol 132, Apr 1996) provides interesting insights. Individuals seeking tattoo removal generally got their tattoos impulsively as youths, for vague reasons, in the context of peer pressure, and with a sense of rebellion. The primary motivation for tattoo removal was a quest for improved self-image, decreased embarrassment, and to dissociate from the past. Patients felt that, in contrast to the past, they were now able to make more mature and independent decisions. Comments from the patients themselves are revealing: “It lifted a great weight off my shoulders”; “I can be me again”; “It provided the opportunity to undo something I did very young;” “I can wear different clothing”; “It improved my self-esteem.”
If you fit the above profile, you should realize that you are not alone and that most tattoos can be effectively treated.