Do You Have Tattoo Regret?

Contrary to what historians tell us, we can indeed erase the past.

Specifically, those certain pieces with a tad too much color.

Just how many Americans regretted their tattoos? That number is roughly 17 percent, according to a 2008 Harris Interactive poll. Most of those surveyed got their tattoos in their late teens or early twenties, and just over half were women. A decade later, when their life had changed-whether from job prospects or a life-changing event-they’d want to be rid of it.

For those of us with an embarrassing memory we’re itching to get rid of, tattoo removal is getting easier with time. Probably the most effective tool for removal is the laser.

But don’t expect it to be done in one treatment. Typically, the more colors in the tattoo, the more treatments you’ll require. Factors including the location, size and pigments used in the tattoo are all important to consider before opting for laser tattoo removal.

Also, you’ll spend anywhere from $500 to $1,000 per treatment-so, keep that in mind when you are headed to get your man’s name emblazoned on your back side. When you decide you want it gone, it may be a bigger ordeal than you are bargaining for.