35 Times People Thought They Were Getting A Cool Tattoo, But Ended Up With A Permanent Mistake

No matter what was the cause of these unfortunate tattoo jobs for the people within this list, there is no necessity to live with them forever. With the help of laser tattoo removal, these disasters can be completely erased or at least lightened enough to be barely visible.

But it's not only when the tattoo is "bad" that people seek to remove their tattoos. Therefore, we asked Removery to share some insights into the common reasons people seek tattoo removal service.

“We see a wide range of clients who come to us to remove their tattoos. The demographic profile of our customers continues to expand, reflecting a broader interest in tattoo removal. We see people of all ages, professions, and backgrounds choosing to remove tattoos.

The top reasons we see include lost meaning, making room for new art, tattoo quality, or life and career changes.

As tattooing becomes more advanced with better equipment and technology, older tattoos sometimes do not have the same quality as what can be achieved now.

Tattoo trends have changed over the years and Removery’s goal is to support its clients to move on from the ones that may have not stood the test of time.”

Removing a tattoo can be a complex process, especially when dealing with tattoos that were poorly executed. We asked Carmen to explain the different factors that contribute to a tattoo being considered “bad” and how these factors might impact the removal procedure. She shared: “Tattoos don’t come off the same way they go on, and there’s no standard way to apply a tattoo. The tattooer's technique determines the overall quality of the tattoo as well as how easy or difficult it is to remove a tattoo. Every mistake made while tattooing becomes evident as the tattoo is removed. An uneven hand, a pause in a corner, or a heavy hand resulting in scarring are all things that can impact the tattoo removal process.”

Tattoo removal also comes with some challenges. Carmen shared the difficulties that come with removing poorly done tattoos, such as those with uneven lines, shading problems, or color issues, and how their approach differs when compared to removing tattoos with more typical designs.

“As the world’s tattoo removal experts, we tailor each treatment plan to the individual client. The best part about tattoo removal is we can customize the treatment to each client’s needs, whether that’s fixing blowout, removing just one part of a tattoo, fading a tattoo for more cover-up options, or complete removal. Regardless of the factors surrounding a particular tattoo, our commitment to ensuring the best results is the same.

Laser tattoo removal is a fusion of art and science that takes time to master. Uneven or cover-up tattoos can require multiple settings need to be used within one treatment. Ink color also impacts the tattoo removal process. As the tattoo industry has evolved, there are more tattoo ink colors available than ever before. Artists will mix different colors together, so when it comes to tattoo removal, our laser specialists utilize specific wavelengths to target each hue. That’s where some color theory comes into play, for example, if you had a purple tattoo, our laser specialist would use separate wavelengths to target both red and blue pigments within the tattoo.”

Often, people with bad tattoos might be concerned about scarring or skin discoloration during the removal process. We asked Carmen to share how they address these concerns and ensure the best possible outcome for their clients.

“The overwhelming majority of our clients achieve excellent results with fantastic skin integrity and no scarring or discoloration. The combination of our state-of-the-art technology, globally led training programs, results-oriented research, and professional teams means that Removery can achieve clinically safe, effective, and optimal results for our clients.

Removing a tattoo is now easier than ever before. Advancements in technology have made the process of removing a tattoo faster, safer, and more effective. The debut of picosecond technology in 2012 revolutionized treatment outcomes that were possible. At Removery, we consider the gold standard of picosecond laser devices to be the PicoWay by Candela, after extensive clinical testing. Using this technology, our laser specialists can treat every skin tone and nearly every ink color. To this day, laser tattoo removal remains the most effective method for removing a tattoo.

Most of the time, scarring is a result of tattoo application and not laser removal, thanks to advancements in laser tattoo removal technology. However, it is possible for a client to experience scarring when removing a tattoo when working with old technology or using improper settings. Skin discoloration, while rare, is typically caused by improper aftercare. Lasered skin is sensitive to the sun so it’s important to follow proper aftercare instructions to minimize the risk of hyper or hypopigmentation.

We also asked Carmen to provide examples of particularly challenging bad tattoo removal cases they worked on.

“The majority of tattoos can be completely removed, we have over one million successful treatments to prove it! As with any medical procedure, we have encountered cases where the tattoo application was not as conducive to successful removal. For instance, tattoos applied too deeply or with excessive ink can present challenges. The best results are achieved when both the client and our technician are committed to the process. Clients who maintain a healthy lifestyle, including drinking lots of water and avoiding smoking, often experience more successful outcomes.

Some of the most challenging tattoos to remove are cover-ups or blackout tattoos. In these cases, the fading may be slower due to the increased ink density of having two tattoos (or more) stacked on top of each other. Tribal tattoos can often be more difficult to remove because of this, but not impossible,” shared Carmen Vanderheiden Brodie, VP of Clinical Operations at Removery.

And lastly, Carmen added: “Tattoo removal is a highly individualized process, and the well-being and satisfaction of our clients comes first. Our goal is to provide a safe, effective, optimal, and judgment-free tattoo removal experience, regardless of the reasons behind the decision. We continually invest in the latest technology and training to ensure that our clients receive the best possible care to achieve the results our clients desire.

As a relatively new industry, tattoo removal as a category was behind in qualified clinical studies to prove the safest and most effective tattoo removal protocols and practices. That is where Removery comes in and we host several of the only IRB-approved clinical studies around tattoo removal, conducted by our world’s first Clinical Advisory Board, who are committed to developing the tattoo removal industry through evidence-based conclusions and studies.”