 September 2006 |
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I was a featured guest, a short time ago, on Chicago Radio's Jack Lessenberry show along with Myrna Armstrong, a professor of nursing at Texas Tech, and Dr. Jeffrey Orringer, Director of Cosmetic Dermatology at the University of Michigan Medical Center. Lessenberry's well-informed questions steered us, along with call-ins, toward a lively discussion of the current tattoo scene, its growing popularity and the surprising acceptance tattoos have enjoyed during the last decade. After covering most of the basics-how many people in the U.S. have tattoos (about one in five), who is more likely to get a tattoo, men or women (it's about even)-Armstrong told us that choosing a tattoo is serious business and we, as consumers, should always try to make an educated decision. Although she was looking at tattooing from a purely clinical viewpoint, she assured us that tattoos are an accepted part of mainstream society and definitely here to stay. Dr. Orringer pointed out that, in the last two years, a substantial number of people have come in for tattoo removal consultations. He said that about 50 percent of people who get tattoos think about having them removed (his specialty). That seems to contradict the 2003 Harris poll results that show that 17 percent regret getting their tattoo, but the point is made. The Harris poll also stated that regret was highest among tattooed Republicans (24%) and among those living in the South. The reason most cited for thinking a tattoo was a bad idea was because of a person's name in the tattoo (16 percent). Dr. Orringer went on to corroborate the sobering story (covered in SKIN&INK, November 2003) about the torturous year Jason Willis spent having his facial tattoos removed. Lasering away a tattoo is very painful, said Orringer. Many times worse than having it applied. Plus, it costs quite a bit of money, from $200 to $600 or $700 per visit. And a typical multi-colored professional tattoo can take six to twelve laser sessions to make the tattoo vanish. Well, sort of. In most cases, the tattoo will fade substantially but the skin pigment, especially on darker pigmented individuals, ends up a lighter shade than the rest of the surrounding skin or there are residual lines that cannot be completely erased. There you have it. Buyer's remorse in a big way. Only you can't take this product back to the customer service desk and get a refund. Tattoos are in to stay and, as Dr. Orringer pointed out, very difficult, costly and painful to remove. So, if you are considering having a tattoo, especially a first one, take a couple of deep breaths, walk around the block and sleep on it for several days before you go under the needle. This is especially true, if you don't know quality work from scratcher tracks. You may get all excited about having Elvis' mug inked onto your forearm only to discover that the tattooist you chose makes The King look like a chimpanzee. The answer?
Take your time and do the research. SKIN&INK is a good place
to start. Become familiar with the artists and their work. Check
out their websites and talk to customers. I've seen everything from
names spelled wrong to an intricate Madonna and Child that spread
into a big, black, blurry puddle. And that ain't pretty. Go to a
professional shop, look through the sample books and, remember,
you get what you pay for. A friend down the block may do a $500
tattoo for fifty bucks in his garage, but you're the one that has
to wear it. Forever. Bob Baxter |
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