The Rise, Fall and Removal of Tattoos

Posted on : September 23, 2014  By : Wellness

Tattoos – they’ve been around for centuries, ever since prehistoric humans inked themselves for, scientists believe, healing purposes. Since then, they’ve been used for a multitude of reasons: to depict folk heroes; to mark a prisoner or slave; to distinguish a certain tribe, or to simply terrify their rivals.

These days though, they’re normally used as a status symbol, a permanent fashion accessory and talking-point. Because of that, we’re seeing a serious rise in the popularity of tattoos – from groups of friends all having ‘Napa 2014’ tattooed in ungentlemanly places, to copying the ink-work of their favourite celebrities, and even being paid by companies to tattoo logos on their bodies. Even the stars of the Lord of the Rings films had the Elvish word for ‘nine’ inked upon them to commemorate their friendship. It’s become socially acceptable, and fairly commonplace: around one-fifth of the UK population are thought to now carry tattoos, including the Prime Minister’s wife.

But with that rise, also comes the fall – the regret of having something permanent inked upon skin can genuinely upset and disturb some, embarrass others, and even threaten their careers. That’s why, along with the rise of tattoos, we’re also seeing a rise in the number of tattoo removals carried out.

In a 2008 poll, 16% of those surveyed said they suffered ‘tattoo remorse’, and now wished to remove the offending body-art. For some, it was a case of youthful naivety which didn’t translate to maturity. In other cases, it was the removal of an ex’s name – not to mention the removal of a painful memory. One interviewee of a Boston Globe report claimed she regretted her college-days inking for two reasons: it didn’t fit with the professional image she now projected, and the Chinese symbols didn’t mean what she thought they meant. That is, rather than saying ‘warrior and scholar’, it read ‘mud pie.’

In 2009, America alone saw an astonishing 61,335 tattoo removal procedures carried out. That number is only rising, across the world. If you’re suffering from ‘tattoo remorse’, here at the Apple Wellness Center we can help. We offer laser tattoo removal which breaks down the tattoo and leaves your skin ink-free. For more information, contact us on (403) 948-3342, and request your appointment today.

Posted in : Tattoo Removal