One of the big warnings made by parents, and tattoo shops alike is that whenever you put a tattoo on your body, the nature of tattoo ink and other supplies means it will last forever.

This is, of course, not universally true. Henna tattoos and other forms of temporary tattoos are designed to only last a short space of time, being a form of body art that by definition only lasts 

a very brief time before fading and disappearing from the body.

These sorts of tattoos only last a week before they are very easily washed away through general cleaning.

However, most tattoos, which use needles to inject ink into the dermis layer, are generally believed to be permanent. Whilst they will fade and be altered by the natural effects of age, the tattoo design will generally last from when you get it for the rest of your life.

This is, for many people, the appeal of tattoos; since your body is a canvas, a tattoo is the ultimate permanent expression of something that truly matters to you and something that will matter to you for the foreseeable future.

However, a lot can happen throughout your life, and after years or decades, the tattoo that made you beam with pride in the past is something that might provoke painful or shameful memories.

Whilst a tattoo can last forever, this does not necessarily have to be the case; there are many methods for getting rid of a tattoo that will ensure that you have a clean canvas to have the tattoo you want.

One option is to cover it up, which has often happened with relatively simple tattoos that can easily be altered to become another design.

Some tattoo sleeves have gotten filled in, line art gets drawn over, and so many options are available depending on what your needs are, and a tattoo shop will help ensure you have the body art you want on your body.

Alternatively, tattoo removal treatment is a potential option, depending on the size and type of tattoo, and there are multiple options to do so.

The most common option is laser removal, which is the most affordable, has the most widespread results and lacks hospital downtime unlike other options.

A laser targets ink in the skin and uses heat pulses to destroy the tattoo ink, breaking it down through the lymphatic system.

The catch to this method is that it does take a long time; often it takes between seven and ten sessions to remove a tattoo, and it can take even more for larger tattoos. Expect to be going to sessions for up to a year to take care of your tattoo.

There are alternative removal options, which might be preferable or the only choice depending on a person’s circumstances.

Dermabrasion sands the skin down using a rotary device. Whilst associated with rather extreme skin renewal treatments, it can also help to remove tattoo ink over time, although the results tend to be unpredictable.

Finally, there is surgery, which literally cuts away the skin with the tattoo using a scalpel. It does work, but it is almost guaranteed to leave some form of scarring at the end.