Tattoos are an ancient art form but that permanent ink isn't so permanent for people who end up rethinking their ink.
25-year-old Tiffany Morrison is getting tattoo number nine. This one is a sugar skull, made to look like a nurse
Tattoo artist Andy Martinez, of Randy Adam's Tattoo Studio, sees people of all ages who want all kinds of designs on all sorts of body parts.
"The biggest trend we've been doing here lately is ribs," says Martinez.
Right now people in their thirties are the most likely to have a tattoo than younger or older adults. According to a recent Harris Poll, more women have them than men.
"People want to express themselves show what they believe in show what they like," says Martinez.
When the enthusiasm of the artwork starts to fade, Mike Livermore, owner of Medermis Laser Clinic, says, "Eventually there will be that regret."
Cristina Ingles, a tattoo removal client says she, “Got this seven inch red tribal back tattoo in 1998. It seemed like a good idea at the time.”
14 years later, Ingles says she doesn’t the way it looks.
“I have something I don't like on my back, I don't want to wear backless dresses or shirts because I'm self-conscience about it,” says Ingles.
But after laser tattoo removal, she’s not stuck with it anymore.
Livermore spends a lot of his time erasing the stigmas about tattoo removal.
"It was going to be expensive, it was going to damage the skin," says Livermore. "It's now much safer than it ever was; it's much more effective than it ever was."
The laser breaks down the ink and the body flushes it away.
The number of sessions depends on the color and quality of ink. The closer it is to the heart, typically the faster it fades. And cost is based on the size of the tattoo, starting at $100 per session and customer's say it's not a totally painless fix.
Chad Russell, a laser removal client, says, "It kinda hurts, it's irritating, like they say little bitty rubber bands snapping real hard."
For Russell, it’s worth it to get rid of his ex girlfriend’s name.
"It's something I want to keep in the past, but it's on the surface,” says Russel. “It'll be a relief to get it off."
A potential regret even tattoo artists try to prevent before ever putting the ink to the skin.
"Today in this society, still people judge you. Put it where you cover it up," says Martinez.
"How's that going to look when you're 80? If I'm alive and kicking at 80!? I don't care!" says Morrison.
(Information courtesy NBC News)
