As more and more people seek to identify themselves with body art, new innovations are also needed in the field of tattoo removal. A new type of ink pigment, called “Freedom-2”, promises to help make tattoo removal simple, less expensive and almost pain-free.

How Does Laser Tattoo Removal Work?

Laser tattoo removal works by using pules of high-intensity energy to break up ink pigment in the skin, allowing the material to be safely absorbed by the body. Despite the widespread nature of tattoos, there is no strict regulatory process overseeing the creation and production of tattoo inks. Often times such pigments contain potentially hazardous chemicals that are also found in heavy metals and car paints. These chemical’s composition can actually be altered in unexpected ways when subjected to the laser. The process of removing the tattoo can be slow, requiring many long and often painful sessions to completely erase a tattoo.

What Makes Freedom-2 Inks Different?

Freedom-2 Inks are the first tattoo pigments designed with the intent of being easy to remove. This new technology consists of tiny inert plastic beats that contain biodegradable dyes. Pulses from a laser cause the beads to rupture, allowing the ink to escape and be absorbed into the body.  After initial trials, an iteration of the ink was developed that closely matches traditional tattoo ink aesthetically.  This new type of ink can be safely removed using a Q-switched laser in a single treatment.  Freedom-2 also plans to develop inks that will dissolve naturally over time without requiring laser treatments.

These breakthroughs are sure to revolutionize the tattoo industry, allowing millions of people to safely and painlessly remove their body art.

If you want your own tattoos done by the same artists who work with the stars, here are six of the top celebrity tattoo parlors in the world.

• Hart and Huntington – Hart and Huntington’s studios were known worldwide for their innovative designs and precise line work long before they became the stars of the popular A&E reality show Inked. Since making the jump from artists to TV stars, enthusiastic fans travel from around the world to visit the studios in Hawaii, Cabo, Orlando and Las Vegas.

• Shanghai Kate’s – Located in upstate New York, Shanghai Kate’s has been featured in Inked Magazine, NPR, and the NYC Tattoo Convention. Dedicated to preserving the legacy of the legendary artist “Sailor Jerry”, Shanghai Kate’s has seen celebrities from Howard Stern to Pearl Jam.

• High Voltage Tattoo – TLC’s breakout hit show LA Ink features the eclectic and off-beat artists of this high-profile LA tattoo studio. Kat Von D, the face of the reality show and the studio tattooed is not only a world famous tattoo artists but also holds the Guinness World Record for most tattoos given in 24 hours, totaling 400.

• Love Hate Tattoo – While Kate Von D may be working in the West now, she got her start in this South Beach studio, also known as 305 Ink, owned by Chris Nunez and Ami James. Miami Ink has done work on everyone from celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain to American Chopper star Paul Teutul, Sr.
• Rising Dragon – This world-famous NYC studio specializes in traditional Japanese, Polynesian and South Pacific Maori designs and intricate underwater seascapes. Celebrities like Ryan Reynolds, Christina Applegate and Tia Carrere.

• Mark Mahoney’s Shamrock Social – Named one of the top tattoo parlors in LA by Citysearch, the Shamrock Social Club sits on Sunset Blvd, at the heart of the City of Angels. Celebrities like Brittney Spears or Fred Durst come to get body art done by artists Mark Mahoney, Danny Romo and Andrew Farmsley.

It can be hard to choose the right design for a memorial tattoo. The design will be a permanent, living monument to someone whom we have lost and the decision should not be taken lightly. Here are just some tattoos to honor a lost friend.

Names & Dates

A simple and popular way to commemorate the dead is by listing that person’s name and the dates of their birth and death. Many chose to include an image or quote that to reflect their deceased loved ones.

Portraits

A portrait is a very personal way to honor a deceased loved one. Placing an image of their face on your body is a way to forever see that face. Portrait tattoos are quite complex, and require the patience and dedication of a seasoned tattoo artist.

Religious

Religious memorial tattoos can be an expression of grief, hope and faith. Images of crucifixes, prayer beads, hands clasped in prayer, angels and doves are popular choices.

Military Remembrance

Memorial tattoos have long been a way for soldiers to remember their fallen brothers in arms. Images will often include a name along with service rifles, dogtags, symbols of a branch of the military such as the USMC’s Eagle, Globe and Anchor or a particular regiment or unit number.

R.I.P

These three simple letters represent the hope that our loved ones will find peace and comfort after their passing. R.I.P is an enduring symbol that captures the complex emotions surround the death of someone close to us.

Whatever the final decision, it is important to select a tattoo that brings fond memories to honor the passage of a significant person in our lives. The image will be deeply personal and a way to carry that person’s memory with you for the rest of your days.

 
Despite the widespread popularity of tattoos, many people experience regret and want to have their tattoo removed. This has led to a proliferation of tattoo removal creams sold over the counter and through the Internet. These creams often promise more than they deliver and do little to erase tattoo pigments and studies are showing that these products may be hazardous due to a chemical called Hydroquinone.

What is Hydroquinone and how does it work?

Hydroquinone (hydro-quin-non) is the central ingredient in almost all over the counter skin lightening creams.  It has been used to encourage fading and removal of skin discolorations such as moles, birth marks, freckles or liver spots. It functions by altering the skin cells to allow pigments to break up and fade away, making it popular for tattoo removal. Creams containing hydroquinone are applied topically to the skin causing the tattoo to fade over a period of weeks.  Hydroquinone can be sold over the counter in concentrations up to 2% while concentrations of up to 4% are available only with a prescription.

What are some other uses for hydroquinone?

Hydroquinone is not only used for skin lightening and cosmetic products. The chemical is also used as an agent in developing black and white photographs from film as well as industrial x-ray films. It has also been known to be used in antioxidants in rubber and food as well as hair dyes, herbicides and more.  Despite this wide-spread and varied use its chemical makeup is known to have adverse effects of people when used cosmetically.

Are tattoo removal creams with Hydroquinone safe to use?

In 2006 the FDA attempted a ban of hydroquinone in cosmetics, on the grounds that the chemical had been linked to cancer in laboratory rodents. The cancer-causing properties have not yet been proven in humans.  In addition, numerous studies have revealed that hydroquinone can lead to a disfiguring skin disease called ochronosis, which causes thickening of the outer layer of skin as well as darkening and discoloration. Similar bans on hydroquinone exist in Japan, Australia and the member states of the European Union.The FDA ultimately decided to forego such a ban until more studies of hydroquinone’s suspected health risks. Those studies began in 2009 and are on-going. The FDA currently classifies hydroquinone as a safe product.

Hydroquinone is considered an “unapproved drug” and is illegal in cosmetic products in Texas.

Does Hydroquinone work?

Despite its widespread use in tattoo removal creams, hydroquinone is designed to lighten skin pigment, not break down tattoo ink.  While it is possible to fade small tattoos with removal creams, larger or more prominent tattoos will still be clearly visible.  Many companies and internet retailers sell tattoo removal creams containing hydroquinone online, however these creams have no proven ability to erase tattoos and may in fact be dangerous to use.

Dermatologists and plastic surgeons consider laser tattoo removal to be the safest and most reliable means of removing a tattoo. For more information on laser tattoo removal, contact one of Blink Tattoo Removal’s affiliates today.

Take a look at some before and after pictures to help decide if laser tattoo removal can work for you!

(Above) This phoenix won’t rise again and its previous owner is free as a bird now.

(Above) Large and complex tattoos can require additional sessions to fully remove.

(Above) Frog in your throat? Not anymore.

(Above) Don’t fear the reaper.

(Above) Laser tattoo removal require multiple sessions to totally erase a tattoo. This squirrel is still barely visible.

(Above) A falling star. Make a wish!

(Above) Laser tattoo removal is both safe and effective.

(Above) Even solid black tattoos can be safely and completely removed.

(Above) Although a more complicated process, facial tattoos can safely be removed with laser treatments.

While many companies market tattoo removal creams that promise to erase tattoos at home without any scarring or discomfort, these products rarely deliver. While some removal creams can help partially fade small tattoos, these cream typically do nothing more than lighten the skin slightly. Laser tattoo removal is the safest, most efficient and most reliable method of removing a tattoo.

• Size of the Tattoo: A larger tattoo covers more skin, which requires more intensive treatments to remove. It stands to reason that a person with a tattoo covering their entire back would require more treatments than a person trying to remove a small butterfly from their ankle.
  
  
• Color: Tattoo removal works by breaking down ink pigments in the skin, causing the tattoo to disappear. Colors that similar to skin tones such as pinks, white, browns and yellows do not fade as easily or as quickly as dark blues or black. Green is notoriously difficult to remove completely.
   
• Depth of ink: Tattoo ink is injected into the dermis, the layer of skin under the epidermis, the outermost skin level. If the ink is absorbed deeper into the dermal level, it will require more treatments to erase.
   
• Type of Ink: There is no industry standard tattoo ink and therefore some inks will break down under the laser more easily than others.
   
• Placement on the body: Facial tattoos and permanent make-up are difficult to remove with a laser and few dermatologists and plastic surgeons with have the skill and experience necessary to perform the treatments. For this reason tattoos on the face are generally considered unsuitable for laser tattoo removal.
   
• The Age of the tattoo: Older tattoos are not always as easy to remove as newer body art. As years pass, tattoo ink can move deeper into the skin, increasing the complexity to remove the image.

Break-ups and divorce are the most common causes for celebrities to seek laser tattoo removal.

Tattoos are more popular than ever. More than 45 million Americans have at least one tattoo according to a 2007 Pew Research Center study. As the drivers of popular culture, some celebrities are becoming as famous for their ink as their talents.

The widespread acceptance of body art has also lead to a boom in laser tattoo removal. 17% of Americans who have one or more tattoo experience regret. Celebrities looking to say good-bye to their ink and get a fresh start have found great success with laser tattoo removal.

Why Laser Tattoo Removal?

The most common cause for laser tattoo removal is to remove the name of a former lover or significant other. Relationships do not always last as long as tattoos and can be a lingering reminder of a bad break-up. Celebrities tend to live more volatile and high pressure lives, which can translate to relationships. For this reason, break-ups are the most common reason for tattoo removal.

Angelina Jolie – The sultry star decided to remove the name of her former husband Billy Bob Thorton, replacing it with the coordinates of the birthplaces of her children.

Megan Fox has some valuable advice for her young and impressionable fans: “Don’t ever get tattoos.”

Megan Fox – In 2011 Megan Fox began laser tattoo removal treatments to erase a picture of Marilyn Monroe from her forearm. Fox claimed that she no longer identified with the troubled Golden Age starlet as her reason for the procedures.

50 Cent – The rapper/producer/hip-hop mogul is removing many of his tattoos to focus on his acting career. “It cuts down on the amount of time I have to spend in makeup covering them up,” said 50 Cent.

Johnny Depp – Following his break-up with Winona Ryder, and in keeping with his quirky sense of humor; Depp used laser tattoo removal to alter “Winona Forever” to “Wino Forever”.

Britney Spears – The pop star has made a partial comeback thanks to her guest appearance as a laser tattoo removal receptionist in the prime time sitcom How I Met Your Mother. This is ironic as Spears herself had laser tattoo removal to erase her own ink.  Spears’ tattoos were Hebrew letters she received during her flirtation with Kabbalah.

Charlie Sheen – When Sheen renewed his relationship with Brooke Mueller, he complied with her wish to remove over a dozen tattoos from his body. This included removing the name of his ex-wife Denise Richards from his wrist.

Laser tattoo removal is safe, reliable and effective. The size, color and complexity of a tattoo can all impact the price and number of treatments needed to remove a tattoo completely.

Permanent make-up removal can present many challenges that should be considered before undergoing micropigmentation.

Laser tattoo removal works by breaking down the pigments in the skin using pulses of high energy light. The pigments are naturally absorbed into the body, causing the tattoo to fade and disappear. Pigment color and the tattoo’s location on the body can impact the ease of removal. Permanent make-up often employs colors such as browns, oranges, purples, reds, and shades of white. These pigments can be similar to the patient’s natural skin color and are difficult to remove.

Some patients of permanent lipstick removal experience a darkening of the lips, with the lips even turning black in some cases. Laser tattoo removal treatments can last for months and most patients are unwilling to endure blackened lips for the duration. Some patients have experienced permanent darkening of their lips.

Because of the complexity involved in removing permanent make-up as well as the potential for liability, many doctors are unwilling to perform the procedure. Eyeliner tattoos are particularly difficult to remove and the use of a laser so close to the eye is considered extremely unsafe by most doctors and plastic surgeons.

It is important to consult with a professional if you are interested in micro-pigmentation removal. Contact Blink Tattoo Removal to schedule an appointment or get information about pricing and if you are a candidate for permanent make-up removal.

In 2011 the Associated Press told the touching story of a how laser tattoo removal helped give a man and his family a new lease on life.

Bryon Widner was once one of the nation’s most outspoken and aggressive white supremacists. Bryon was an angry young man with a history of prison and violence against minorities. Founder of the Verlanders, a skinhead gang noted for recruiting members with violent criminal backgrounds. The tattoos that covered almost every inch of Bryon’s skin told the tale of his life as a radical white supremacist.

All that changed in 2006 when he met Julie, herself a member of the white supremacist National Alliance. The two married and made a vow to put their shared past of anger and hatred behind them.  Bryon Widner wanted more than anything to be a good husband and a good father.

As Widner looks back, he now realizes his old life was based on anger. “I wasn’t on any great mission for the white race. I was just a thug.” says Bryon.

Starting a new life together was almost impossible for Bryon, whose arms, chest and fact were covered in racist tattoos. Symbols including lightning bolt runes, bloody razors, swastikas and the letters “H-A-T-E” branded across his knuckles. Everywhere he turned, Bryon was faced with reminders of the life he wanted to leave behind. His tattoos meant it was difficult to find steady work and virtually impossible to spend time with his kids in public without drawing unwanted attention and scorn. Lacking health insurance and unable to afford laser tattoo removal surgery, Bryon became increasingly desperate.  He even began to consider using abrasive chemicals and acids to burn the tattoos from his skin, a reckless action that could have left him permanently disfigured.  Julie became concerned for her husband.

It did not take long before the Widners were branded as “race traitors” by their former white power compatriots.  Bombarded by threats and acts of vandalism, and without anyone else to ask for aid, Julie Widner finally turned to an unlikely source of aid; the Southern Poverty Law Center.

The Montgomery Alabama based nonprofit group works tirelessly to protect civil rights, tracking hate groups, white power militias and extremists nationwide. The SPLC has been very successful in targeting white power groups through aggressive litigation, winning millions for victims of civil rights violations. Ironically, when Bryon was a skinhead, the SPLC were his sworn enemies. Now they seemed his best chance at a new life.

Due to the depth and complexity of his facial tattoos, few doctors were willing to attempt to the laser tattoo removal to erase the symbols on Bryon’s body.  Through the SPLC he managed to be connected with a donor who agreed to fund the tattoo removal treatments.  After many months of waiting and hoping, Bryon was finally connected to Dr. Bruce Stack, a renowned Plastic Surgeon and one of the few doctors with the experience to perform Bryon’s treatments.

Dr. Stack told Bryon in no uncertain terms what his treatments would mean; it would be long, arduous and more painful than having the tattoos done in the first place. For Bryon, it was worth the cost.  The laser used by Dr. Stack for the tattoo removal would involve many sessions using a high-energy laser in short bursts to burn away and dissolve the ink pigment in Bryon’s skin. The laser tattoo removal would leave his face, bruised, swollen and sore sometimes taking days to heal.  Bryon was told that the tattoo removal would require around 8 treatment sessions. In fact it took 25 separate sessions over the course of 16 months, a treatment that would cost more than $35,000.

“I was real whiny during that time,” says Bryon.

“He was real brave,” says Julie.

Dr. Stack and his team were impressed by Bryon’s resolve and commitment to the treatments. His dedication to a new and better life as a loving father helped get him through the months of agonizing pain. In 2010, Bryon got his desire; a new face. With no signs of scarring or discoloration, Bryon now shows no outward signs of his old allegiances. He experiences frequent headaches and has to stay out of the sun but as Bryon says, “it’s a small price to pay for being human again.”

Life After Laser Tattoo Removal

Bryon has embraced his fresh start by earning his GED, speaking publically against skinheads and white supremacy at schools and churches and even working as a tattoo artist. Both he and his wife plan to start courses at a local community college.

Innovations in laser tattoo removal will help people like Bryon in the future, making treatments less painful and more affordable.  Pigments designed specifically to be easily removed by a laser. As these innovations take hold, tattoo removal will help many more people like Bryon find a new life.

References:

(Reformed Skinhead Endures Agony to Remove Tattoos, [http://news.yahoo.com/reformed-skinhead-endures-agony-remove-tattoos-162205881.html], 2011)

In 2011, People magazine confirmed that Curtis Jackson, better known to the world as the rapper,  50 Cent, uses laser tattoo removal as part of his transition from hip-hop to acting. Known for his dynamic and sometimes controversial lyrics, his bad-boy persona and his extensive body art, the 37-year old rapper/producer/G-Unit founder chose laser tattoo removal to say good-bye to nearly a dozen tattoos.

Already established in the hip-hop world, 50 Cent made his film debut in 2005’s Get Rich or Die Tryin’. 50 Cent has since gone on to compile an impressive list of acting credits, working alongside actors like Val Kilmer, Nicholas Cage and Sharon Stone and looks to take on more roles in the years to come.  Jackson, frustrated by being forced to spend hours in the make-up chair to conceal his tattoos has turned to laser tattoo removal as a permanent alternative.

“[laser tattoo removal] cuts down on the amount of time I have to spend in make-up covering it up”, says Jackson, who plans to erase all but the iconic tattoo on his back.

The decision to have laser tattoo removal came as a surprise to many fans, as 50 Cent has featured his tattoos extensively throughout his career, proudly displaying them on the covers of albums and magazines.  Jackson is not alone. Celebrities increasingly show-off their tattoos as the fashion gains mainstream acceptance. Many actors, like Jackson, however find that tattoos can limit their roles and force them to spend long hours in make-up.

For 50 Cent, laser tattoo removal was as much a personal decision as a professional one. “I started removing mine. I was afraid I would become a comic book” says the rapper/actor.

50 Cent made news when he expressed opposition to rappers like Gucci Mane and Yung L.A. getting facial tattoos.  Jackson in an interview with Vibe magazine stated, “Not necessarily Gucci, but to tattoo your face says that there’s not a possibility that you can actually walk into a legitimate establishment without makeup covering your face every day. That does not work. It creates a separation. It says, ‘I’m an artist.’ That’s it. That’s the statement you make when you go and tattoo your face.”

This desire to not be permanently bound and potentially limited by a tattoo is what makes laser tattoo removal such an appealing concept to so many.

Although an ancient form of self-expression, in Western society tattoos have long considered to be associated with the soldiers, sailors, bikers, and the counter-culture. This attitude has changed dramatically and tattoos have seen a massive rise in popularity and mainstream acceptance in recent years. A study published in the Journal of American Academy of Dermatology suggests that almost one in four Americans aged 18-50 are tattooed. However, as demand for tattoos has increased, so too has the demand of tattoo removal with the same study finding that nearly 17% of those that get tattoos experience regret.

Considered the gold-standard by dermatologists, laser tattoo removal is the safest, most reliable method of tattoo removal on the market. While relatively new in comparison with methods of tattoo removal such as dermabrasion, tattoo removal cream and excision, laser tattoo removal is a non-invasive treatment performed by specialized technicians in a clinical setting. Like millions of others who use the treatment, 50 Cent uses laser tattoo removal to break down the ink pigments in the skin using a focused beam of light. Repeated laser tattoo removal sessions, typically over the course of eight weeks, cause the tattoo to gradually fade as the broken down ink is absorbed by the body until the tattoo vanishes entirely. A variety of factors including the tattoo’s size, color, complexity, placement on the body as well as the skin complexion of the individual all influence the quantity of laser tattoo removal treatments needed to erase a tattoo completely.  Heavily tattooed celebrities like 50 Cent looking to remove their ink can expect many sessions before their bodies become a blank canvas. While there is some discomfort during the treatments, individuals that undergo laser tattoo removal hare typically very satisfied with the results and have an extremely low chance of any discoloration or visible scarring once the treatments have been completed.

The growing popularity of tattoos has prompted the FDA to take a more active role in regulation and oversight, encouraging standardizing the methods of tattoo application and removal and in the innovation of new ink that would break down more easily under a laser. One new technology developed by the New York based Freedom-2 LLC, involves incasing the ink in tiny synthetic-polymer beads that break apart easily when laser energy is applied. The ability to make tattoos a temporary decision is prompting many like 50 Cent to choose laser tattoo removal.  These inks are already in clinical review, and once available would make laser tattoo removal dramatically less expensive and reduce duration and frequency of treatments.

The complexity of 50 Cent’s tattoos means that his laser tattoo removal will be an ongoing process.  Jackson claims to be happy with his decision however as he looks ahead to new horizons in his career. 50 Cent’s next major role will Lives of the Saints, be alongside Meg Ryan and John Lithgow set to be released in 2012.

For more information on laser tattoo removal, contact one of Blink Tattoo Removal affiliates today.