How does tattoo removal work, how much does it cost and what will it look like before and after?
WHETHER it's an embarrassing ink from your teenage years or a tribute to a former lover, lots of people have tattoos they would like to get rid of.
If you're considering getting yours removed these are the options, costs and whether they really work...
How does laser tattoo removal work?
Process: Nowadays, most tattoos are removed through a series of laser treatments.
The energy from the laser breaks down the tattoo ink into tiny fragments, which are eventually absorbed into the bloodstream and safely passed out through the body.
Cost: The process is rarely funded by the NHS, and some people need 10 or more sessions to remove the ink completely.
In the UK, clinics charge between £150 and £800 per session - meaning you could have to fork out £8,000 to get a larger ink removed.
How effective is it? As the saying goes, you can't always erase the past.
Many tattoos can't be entirely removed through laser procedures, meaning people are left with patchy fragments on the skin.
Tattoos with yellow, green and purple coloured ink are much harder to remove with lasers.
The treatment is not recommended for people with dark skin, a heavy suntan or who have been fake tanning.
Risk: It's an incredibly painful procedure - yes, even worse than getting the tattoo in the first place.
Three per cent of patients will develop a permanent scar where their tattoo was.
Your skin may also become temporarily darker or paler than the surrounding area.
After the later sessions, you skin may bleed and scab over - and rashes are also common.
What will my tattoo like like after laser tattoo removal?
Dozens of celebs have had laser tattoo removal - with varying results.
Eva Longoria's neck tattoo has been removed completely but other stars, like Megan Fox and Towie's Dan Osborne, have been left will tell-tale marks.
Geordie Shore’s Holly Hagan had laser treatment to remove her tattoo of ex Kyle Christie's face live on This Morning.
These are the before-and-after results of one laser removal session.
How does tattoo removal surgery work?
Process: Some people choose to get their tattoos removed by going under the knife.
With small tattoos, you can do this by cutting around the tattoo and stitching together the skin edges.
With larger tattoos, this can be done in stages - by removing portions of the tattoo a few months at a time.
A quicker alternative for big tattoos is skin grafting. A piece of your skin will be taken from another part of your body, and used to fill a gap where the tattoo was.
However, the skin used may be of a different texture to the area where the tattoo was, meaning it can look a bit odd.
On the whole, the operations are a quicker and less painful alternative to laser treatment. But you will be left with marks or scars.
Cost: Prices for tattoo removal surgery start at around £1,000 - and can be far more.