July Questions and Answers

Should I remove my visible tattoos for a better chance at getting a job? (L.J. from Largo, FL)

To me, it really depends on the profession. At our clinic, people get their tattoos removed for a lot of reasons. One of the many reasons that we see is when people who are looking to change jobs or job industries. The most common jobs these folks are seeking are military, followed by law enforcement.

Unlike law enforcement and the military, many jobs don’t have strict codes requiring employees to not have visible tattoos. In these cases, where possible, I would recommend simply covering the tattoo instead of going through removal. Unless you really don’t like the tattoo anymore, the expense and time required for tattoo removal are unlikely to be worth the slightly better prospects for finding a job.

Should I try getting a cover up tattoo first or just go straight to laser removal treatments? (E.V. from St. Petersburg, FL)

At our clinic we see many different clients. Some come to us to get a tattoo lightened before seeing an artist for a cover-up, and some simply want their tattoo completely vanished. My question for anyone in this situation is why do you want the tattoo removed or covered up?

I have clients who want their tattoo gone because they don’t like the look of ink in that spot on their body. In this case, laser removal is the pretty obvious answer.

I have other clients who want the tattoo gone because it reminds them of a part of their past, such as an ex, that they want to forget. In this case, a cover-up might be sufficient but perhaps removal is the better way to erase the constant reminder from their skin.

Finally, I have clients who simply don’t like the tattoo they have chosen (or been talked into, more often). These clients frequently come to me for 2 to 4 treatments before finding an artist and design that they like and getting a new tattoo over the old one.

In any case, it is best to understand why you no longer love your tattoo. You can then take action to fix the problem via the best method possible.