Tattoos have always been an expression of you. They stand testament to a particular phase in one's life . People change over time, so do their choices . Of late, plastic surgeons are seeing people who want to get rid of their tattoos more often.
The large shift in the past decade or so is in the number of people seeking expert guidance on how to remove their tattoos. We spoke to Dr V Manjunath, Associate Consultant Plastic Surgery at HOSMAT Hospitals, who listed things you should know before you remove your tattoo.
Why People Choose to Remove Their Tattoos
"Some wish to be perceived as being more professional, having taken up a new job. Others might encounter life events such as marriage, parenthood or just looking for new beginnings following divorce. Some just do not identify with the tattoo anymore . In most cases, tattoo regret is more about personal growth than the tattoo itself," said Dr Manjunath.
A recent study supports this changing tendency. A 2024 study published in Dermatology Research and Practice indicated that 58% of inked individuals regretted at least one tattoo and 42.5% sought tattoo removal. The most frequent were shifts in personal or cultural tastes. Symptoms such as itching and pain also played a part in adding to tattoo regret.
A 2023 survey of more than 3,000 American adults published in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology also found that tattoos were more common among younger adults and that regret was more likely among those with visible tattoos, those who got tattoos under peer influence or while impaired, or those who had complications after getting inked.