Tattoo You?

The missionaries who set out to convert the natives of Africa from their heathen ways were particularly irked by
the local custom of decorating and marking the body with tattoos, nose rings and other devices of the devil. But
when priests tried to stop these practices, they were defiantly told: “This is what makes us different from the animals.”

Tattoos are as ancient as man, dating back to the 4th millennium BC. They have been used to display cultural and religious symbols, as an aid in healing and as marks of ownership. They can be works of personal expression,
or momentary lapses of judgement, but one thing all tattoos have in common is tenacity. Getting rid of one can be a royal pain in the ass.

Early methods for ink removal were positively medieval — acids, dermabrasion, even slicing away the skin with a
knife and replacing it with grafts. Fortunately, in this age of technology, our methods are far more civilized. In the
late 1980s, Harvard dermatology professor Richard Rox Anderson, M.D. developed the modern tattoo-removal
laser. Since gaining FDA approval in 1991, tattoo removal has gone from a back alley business to a well-regulated medical industry and a relatively painless procedure.

Perhaps encouraged by the advent of these improved procedures, the public’s demand for tattoos soared. Encouraged by celebrity role models and reality TV shows, a whole new generation of tattoo afficionados has been spawned. I have to admit — some of them look pretty cool. But what is cool in your 20s is not always so cool later on in life.

The reasons for buyer’s regret are many — recent break-ups, different interests, changes in career, or just a poor
quality tattoo. But sometimes, a tattoo can be a barrier to normal employment and socialization. In Santa Cruz,
Mexico, local business men, law enforcement officials and social workers founded the Dominican Tattoo Removal
Program to help former gang members and prisoners who are trying to get on with their lives. The clinic has already erased damning marks from over 1,000 paroled criminals.

In mainstream America, the clientele is very different. I spoke with Dr. Richard Rosol, owner of Tattoo Medics
on Atwells Avenue, and discovered something that surprised me: At least 63% of tattoo recipients are women.
“They tend to get tattoos for much the same reason they’d buy a bracelet — as an adornment,” he told me. “Men
usually get inked to memorialize important moments in their lives.” They also don’t as often change their minds.
Women, by far, make up the largest percentage of Dr. Rosol’s patients.

One reason for his clinic’s popularity is the attitude of the owner. Tattoo Medics is a judgement free zone, sensitive
to the emotional state of those who seek help after years of covering up and embarrassment. Dr. Rosol’s motto? “Stop hiding it and start removing it.” He thinks everyone has a right to change their minds. You’ve changed yours? No problem. Come on in.

Tattoo Medics is the first clinic in RI to offer the Picosure Laser, a state-of-the-art device that delivers ultra-short
energy pulses to shatter ink, giving better results with less recovery time. Unfortunately, this technology does
not come cheap. Those high tech machines can cost as much as a house and the insurance for them is proportionately high. As a result, the tattoo you got for 30 bucks can cost you thousands to get rid of.

So, is that indelible design worth it? Potential removal is not the only drawback. Tattoo inks are not regulated in our country and unreputable businesses can use contaminated dyes and even automotive colors, increasing the likelihood of allergic reactions, skin infection and scar tissue. Contaminated equipment can pass along tetanus and other bloodborne illnesses. In fact, people with hepatitis C are almost four times more likely to report having had a tattoo, so if you plan to go ahead, do your research. Choosing a well-recommended and reputable parlor is the smartest way to avoid complications.

Despite all the odds, an increasing number of Americans have opted for this art. A whopping $1.65 billion dollars is spent each year in tar in t year in tattoo parlors. According to research data, 40% of US adults ages 26 to 40 now have at least one tattoo. Only 17% of them will regret their decision, but of that group, fully 65% will shell out the cash to follow through. Dissatisfied customers spend more getting rid of their regrets than do all of the tattoo seekers combined.

Still want a tattoo? You are not alone. But it might be a good idea to do the math before you make a decision.