When Parents Get Their Tattoos Removed...

Check out this great blog entry on a parent (in this case, a famous one) removing their tattoos so that their kids wont get 'em from the folks at Blink Tattoo Removal.  Here at TRS, we run into this reasoning all the time and in fact, sometimes parents will bring their kids in with them (if they're olde nough to handle it) so that they'll think long and hard before getting inked themselves!


"Mark Wahlberg Removes Tattoos to Set Good Example for His Kids" from Blink Tattoo Removal (link above)


"We recently had a post about parents considering laser tattoo removal for their children’s sake. Many parents feel that their tattoo is no longer a reflection of who they are today, especially after becoming parents. They want to set the best example for their kids and feel that removing their tattoo is a step in the right direction.

Family man, Mark Wahlberg, who stars in the new film Contraband, was recently on David Letterman explaining this exact scenario. Wahlberg stated; “I have a lot of tattoos and I’m having them all removed.” When the “Today” show asked the reason behind the tattoo removal, Wahlberg explained that while removing the tattoo is not always the most pleasant experience he, “doesn’t want to set a bad example for his kids.” While this Oscar nominated actor continues to make blockbuster films he is adamant that the most important role he plays in life is being a husband and father. He stated on the “Today” show,  “If I succeed as a business man but fail as a father than it has all been for nothing...”

Tattoo Concealer Makeup

Concealing a tattoo is a fairly easy but extended process so about halfway through, when the tattoo gets to what we here at TRS like to call "the bruise phase" (where it could pass for one) some people like to use a little makeup for special occasions like weddings or holidays. A "bruise phase" tattoo might look like this:

©TRS

There are many different kinds of concealer that clients here usually use, and some are even geared specifically towards covering up tattoos like Kat Von D's line at Sephora which features a "highly pigmented, transfer- and water-resistant, multitasking concealer" as its centerpiece.  The collection also includes a light-pink pencil aimed at counteracting the dark blues and blacks of some people's tattoos.

Photo via Sephora.com

Another form of cover-up for tattoos with an added bonus of powerful sun protection (which is important in avoiding scarring from the laser treatments) is the Colorscience line, a powdery, mineral-based product.  It brushes on (yup, the tap-tap-swirl method) and, according to some reviews, stays put well with the right amount of natural looking coverage.  It seems as if a liquid concealer might provide more coverage, but that's just conjecture on my part.

Photo of Colorscience Sunforgettable Mineral Powder in Fair-All Clear via Dermstore.com

Lastly, there's a product full of coverage power called For Ever Full Cover Extreme Camoflauge Cream by Make Up For Ever.  A client has used this before for a tattoo on her chest during her wedding (she had chosen a strapless, sweetheart style neckline) and she reported back that this product completely concealed what otherwise would've looked like a half-gone rose tattoo.  Seems like the heaviest-duty of the three products spotlighted here but again, in-office testing will have to be a future endeavor!

Picture via Totalbeauty.com

In any case, concealing a tattoo with makeup should be a small step in the removal process about halfway through (at treatment 5-7 depending on the color, intensity, and age of the initial tattoo) and give a sense of how the full removal will look in the future.  Questions?  Have your own experiences with covering up a tattoo with makeup?  Have at it in the comments!

It Takes How Long?!

The amount of time for a full tattoo removal can vary from a couple of months to years.  Let's take a look at some factors that contribute to that variance:

1. Professional vs. Homemade?  Most professionally done tattoos have more ink in them vs. ones done by amateurs that people get while experimenting as teens or just having anyone else other than a professional  tattoo artist ink 'em up.  The reason for this is mostly just quality of design - if you go to a professional looking for a real piece of art, they'll usually put a little more time and effort (and ink) into tattooing something that's really supposed to last vs. your friend, acquaintance, or cellmate who thinks that they just might be able to get the job done.

2. Age of Tattoo:  As a tattoo ages, tiny particles of ink are naturally circulated out by the lymphatic system.  This is what causes natural fading as the tattoo ages.  What the laser does during tattoo removal is speed up this process by breaking up the cellular walls that are within the area of the tattoo.  The particles that are circulated out because of laser treatments end up being much, much bigger than when the tattoo is naturally fading.  That said, keep in mind that if the tattoo's older, it's already on it's way in a sense!

3. You! How effectively your tattoo goes bye-bye has a lot to do with how efficient your lymphatic system is, which in turn has at least a little bit to do with how healthy you are in general.  It has definitely been our experience here at TRS that people who are more active and make it a point to drink a lot of water regularly (not to mention using squeezy stress balls and getting massages) are the people who experience the quickest, most effective removals with the least amount of side effects.  Try to look at it like an added bonus - get your ex's name off and get in shape at the same time.  Score!

Any questions?  Has this been your or someone you know's experience with laser tattoo removal?  Have at it in the comments, please!