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Tattoo regret can be costly, painful
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH ^ | 03/10/2008 | Doug Moore

Posted on 03/11/2008 3:21:00 PM PDT by newgeezer


Cosmetic surgeon, Dr. Edmond Cabbabe, uses a laser during Fadi Mouhanna's first treatment to remove a tattoo from his arm at Cabbabe's office near St. Anthony's Hospital.
Nothing says "I love you" quite like permanent ink injected into the skin.

But as tattoo artists and divorce rates show, love doesn't always last. A tattoo, on the other hand, is everlasting.

... Once the name goes into the skin, the relationship often goes south.

And when that happens, tattoo regret can set in. Laser tattoo removal, in fact, is a growing business, and doctors say it will continue to expand as tattoos continue to move into the mainstream.

Television shows such as "Miami Ink" have given greater profile to the artistry of tattoos. The star power of celebrities — from Beyonce to Britney to the Beckhams — emphasize that tattoos are no longer found just in biker bars, military barracks or prison yards.

National surveys suggest as many as 32 million American adults have at least one tattoo. And women are getting them at roughly the same rate as men.

With an increase in the number of those getting inked also comes a rise in regret — a boom for dermatologists. Removing tattoos has jumped from under 1 percent of their business to as much as 10 percent in the last decade, said Dr. Elizabeth McBurney of Slidell, La., who taught the first laser technology course for the American Academy of Dermatology 25 years ago.

Dr. Jennifer Holman, chief resident in the Dermatology Department at the University of Missouri, said the peak demand for tattoo removal hasn't arrived yet. "I think it's coming 10 years down the road."

(Excerpt) Read more at stltoday.com ...


TOPICS: Health/Medicine; Society; Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: divorce; laser; skin; tattoo; trampstamp
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Interesting article and video at the source.
1 posted on 03/11/2008 3:21:01 PM PDT by newgeezer
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To: DungeonMaster

Ping.


2 posted on 03/11/2008 3:22:27 PM PDT by newgeezer (In the good old days, Amendment XIX was just a pandering politician's stupid idea.)
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To: newgeezer

Nothing quite says “I probably have hepatitis” like a tattoo does.


3 posted on 03/11/2008 3:22:49 PM PDT by PeterFinn (I am not voting for McCain. No way, no how.)
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To: newgeezer

Lots of idiots around who tattooed their heads with all kinds of garbage.


4 posted on 03/11/2008 3:23:28 PM PDT by A CA Guy ( God Bless America, God bless and keep safe our fighting men and women.)
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To: newgeezer

yeah. life’s especially hard on fools.


5 posted on 03/11/2008 3:24:09 PM PDT by the invisib1e hand (I'm really looking forward to Imus tomorrow morning.)
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To: newgeezer

Knew a guy who’s wife got a eagle tattoo long ago......he says after 40 years it’s now a pelican.


6 posted on 03/11/2008 3:24:37 PM PDT by Squantos (Be polite. Be professional. But, have a plan to kill everyone you meet.©)
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To: newgeezer

I already have too many identifying marks.


7 posted on 03/11/2008 3:26:13 PM PDT by tet68 ( " We would not die in that man's company, that fears his fellowship to die with us...." Henry V.)
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To: newgeezer

I’ve been considering a tattoo but the one thing that always stops me is this: Is it still going to be attractive when I’m 80 and in a nursing home? So I stick to dying my hair.


8 posted on 03/11/2008 3:27:06 PM PDT by TightyRighty
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To: newgeezer
Ted Kennedy's new tattoo...

*Hillery!*
OBAMA!

9 posted on 03/11/2008 3:29:35 PM PDT by tet68 ( " We would not die in that man's company, that fears his fellowship to die with us...." Henry V.)
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To: newgeezer

Nothing says trash quite like a wing tatoo above a girls behind.


10 posted on 03/11/2008 3:33:05 PM PDT by HANG THE EXPENSE (Defeat liberalism, its the right thing to do for America.)
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To: newgeezer
It helps to have a lifetime commitment. "Mom," now, that's safe enough. "Bernice" isn't.

It helps to have the physique for it as well. The guy in Hong Kong who wuz gonna do an American eagle on my chest gave my money back and told me he didn't do miniatures.

11 posted on 03/11/2008 3:33:08 PM PDT by Billthedrill
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To: TightyRighty

Well, here’s what I figure: when I’m 80 and my tattoos are faded and stretched, my eyesight will be bad enough I can’t see them! :)


12 posted on 03/11/2008 3:33:36 PM PDT by republicanequestrian
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To: imahawk
Nothing says trash quite like a wing tatoo above a girls behind.

Ass Antlers.

13 posted on 03/11/2008 3:35:54 PM PDT by Doomonyou (Let them eat lead.)
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To: newgeezer

I remember being a teenager in the 70’s and friends of mine using a needle and giving themselves tattoos on their hands. They would wrap the needle with string or thread to act as an ink reservoir. Even at 15 I recognized it for what it was, and if I recognized it as a bad idea at 15, you know it’s dumb! :)


14 posted on 03/11/2008 3:38:52 PM PDT by MarineBrat (My wife and I took an AIDS vaccination that the Church offers.)
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To: A CA Guy

15 posted on 03/11/2008 3:41:36 PM PDT by Diverdogz
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To: Diverdogz

Scientology god?


16 posted on 03/11/2008 3:43:36 PM PDT by A CA Guy ( God Bless America, God bless and keep safe our fighting men and women.)
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To: TightyRighty

Mr. Ditter’s tattoos are about 45 years old, his blue bird of happiness looks like a sick chicken, and his rose is just wilted. When you think about getting a tattoo, try and think about something else until the moment passes. he is not a drinker but he says his tats prove he has been drunk at least twice.


17 posted on 03/11/2008 3:45:59 PM PDT by Ditter
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To: newgeezer

I really, really, really hope my kids don’t get tattoos of any sort. They’ve thought about it. I have pointed out to them that they’re going have that tattoo all their lives and what looks good on young firm flesh now will look entirely different on saggy wrinkled codgers. yuck


18 posted on 03/11/2008 3:57:36 PM PDT by Jemian (RAT Dilema: Either vote for a nut with two boobs or a boob with two nuts.)
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To: the invisib1e hand

And remember not everyone is Kat Von D.

19 posted on 03/11/2008 4:01:29 PM PDT by TightyRighty
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To: Doomonyou

ROTFLMAO


20 posted on 03/11/2008 4:03:38 PM PDT by B Knotts (Calvin Coolidge Republican)
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