Tattoos aren't exactly easy to get rid of so the decision to get one is a pretty big deal. You have to not only decide what you want, but also (and perhaps more importantly) where you want it. If you're a seasoned body artist then pain probably has little to no bearing on the location, but if you're getting your first tattoo or are not particularly hardcore then you may be swayed by this list of the 5 most painful places to get a tattoo. The single most painful of all? On the eye. And no, not around your eye, but actually on the cornea. It hurts so much most of the time anesthesia has to be involved.

The 5 most-painful places to get a tattoo are:
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When I was 17, I sneaked into a tattoo shop and had some really badly done ink put onto the back of my left shoulder. Fortunately, I don't see it every day because of its location, but still I know it's there, serving as a constant reminder of how much of an idiot I actually was in my teens. Barring repeat laser surgeries (which may not even remove the tattoo in its entirety), I'm pretty much stuck with this manifestation of youthful impetuousness.

Fast forward to present day. Had I been someone getting a tattoo now, I may have at least given myself a fighting chance to have it later removed if I was so inclined. This is because there is currently an FDA-approved ink being developed (by scientists at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard, Brown, and Duke universities) which can be completely erased with a single laser treatment.

Known as Freedom-2 (www.freedom2ink.com), this brand of ink is a combination of dyes and polymer, which means that it can't be absorbed by the body, thereby making its removal by laser much easier than traditional tattoos.

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Tattoos are an artistic expression of individuality, style, and art, and have (until now) only been appreciated by those with the gift of sight. But now, through the efforts of a student at The University of Arts Berlin, you can also make a statement that can be felt and appreciated by the blind.

By having a series of small beads or a small plate embossed with text (made of stainless steel, titanium, or plastic) implanted under the skin you can have an expressive work of art that can be appreciated through both sight and touch. It's braille for your skin!

Would you do it? I'm thinking with color maybe, without it just looks an organized group of zits.




Via Trendhunter

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Until somewhat recently getting a tattoo was like a rite of passage for those trying to affiliate themselves with certain subcultures. Lately though, getting inked has become a big part of mainstream pop culture with more and more people going under the needle. Tattoos have become so popular in fact, that there are even TV shows devoted entirely to the subject.

I imagine that in the past, when only real aficionados of the art were getting tattooed, the ease of removal probably wasn't high on the list of things to consider before heading to the local parlor. But things are different now that everyone and their grandmother are adorning their bodies with colorful names and symbols. Permanence isn't necessarily a good thing for those of us who rush out in a blaze of youthful exuberance and get inked just because it's cool.

I'm not saying that everyone gets tattoos just because they're "in" but there are definitely people like that out there who regret the enormous butterfly on their lower back, the barbed-wire armband that encircles their bicep or the pledge of eternal love to the person they're no longer dating. For these people, the fact that a new, easy-to-erase ink has been developed will be good news. While true enthusiasts will likely pass on the new ink, I imagine it could be popular with those who just want to try a tattoo on for size before committing for life.

Have you ever gotten a tattoo you regret? And for the tattoo fans out there, would you try the new, easy-to-remove ink?

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Tattoos are more popular than ever it seems, especially since technology has made them less permanent than they used to be. Whether it's from a struggle to differentiate themselves from the crowd, a new crazy way of artistic expression, or simply because they ran out of space, some people have started getting tattoos on their eyeballs. And we're not talking about permanent makeup or anything else on the outside of the eye -- we're talking ink injected right into the cornea.

Corneal tattooing is dangerous for a number of reasons, because in addition to the usual tattoo risks the cornea version can include infection, perforation, hemorrhage, scarring, and blindness. It started as a means of repairing eye damage and covering scarring, but it's becoming a more and more popular cosmetic procedure.

So would you let a tattoo artist stick a needle in your eye? Talk about regret!

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Cosmetic medical procedures are becoming more and more commonplace everyday as technology advances, but there are still serious risks associated with even the simplest of procedures. Permanent makeup, which is basically just tattoos, is one that can easily have serious and devastating side effects. Studies have shown that certain shades of the tattoo ink used for permanent makeup cause allergic reactions in a significant number of patients, with redness, swelling, and even permanent bumps in the skin called granulomas resulting. The especially scary part is that it's possible to develop an allergy to the pigment at any time -- even in a tattoo you've had for years!

I for one would never want something permanent like this on my face, with or without the chance for nasty side effects, but for those who like the idea -- is it worth the risk?

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Tattoos are a fun way for many people to express themselves and exhibit some individuality, but because they're so permanent people often regret them later in life. Thankfully technology has really improved over the years, and tattoos aren't really all that permanent anymore. But just because they can be removed doesn't mean it's an easy or fast process, so why are people doing it? Of course there's the usual reasons like they stretched out or are of an ex's name, but a surprising number of people are having their old tattoos removed to make room for new ones -- essentially clearing the canvas for a new painting.

Seems like a lot of work, pain, and expense to go through over and over and over again, but to each their own!

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Do you know the health risks associated with getting a tattoo? According to the FDA--and a recent article on MSN Health and Fitness--one in four Americans between the ages of 18 (the legal age to get a tattoo in most states) and 50 has a tattoo, but chances are not all of them are not aware of the health risks of getting inked.

This article had personal appeal to me: I have four tattoos. I made sure before I got the first one to look into any possible health or side effects before committing to one. Although tattoos are no longer "permanent" the idea of them still is, and the effects to overall health can certainly be.

Anyone remember the Pamela Anderson debacle? She got a tattoo, and by allegedly sharing a tattoo needle with Tommy Lee, she got hep C. She underwent outpatient treatment for the disease which required a lot of very powerful medication along with constant visits to the doctor. Hep C is potentially life-threatening but many otherwise healthy people live with the disease.

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The dangers of getting a tattoo using dirty needles has become common knowledge. Once news spread that HIV and hepatitis were being spread through the reuse of tattoo needles, most consumers started demanding sterile, new tattoo needles and the industry stepped up to meet the new demands. But simply making sure that the needles are safe doesn't make getting a tattoo risk-free.

The government doesn't control the tattoo industry, and there is no license required to become a tattoo artist. That's a little scary considering you're trusting this person to inject a substance into your body. And because there's no government regulations on this industry, it means the supplies are also unregulated. New research shows that the pigments being used for tattoos are often toxic, containing lead or carcinogenic chemicals. In some cases the dye being used as pigment was not intended for tattoo use at all.

If you're considering getting a tattoo, first of course make sure that sterile, new needles will be used. Then ask for proof of where the pigments came from and what they're made of. A good tattoo parlor will be educated about their supplies and have nothing to hide.

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