Tattoo removal in your 60s: Good idea or a waste?

The tattoo removal industry has surged over the last five years, with the American industry worth $75.5 million and growing by 440% over the last 10 years.  Tt’s something that a lot of people are doing.

But, is it worth it? And at what point is too late in life to clean the ink from under your skin?

Tattoos mean all sorts of things to all sorts of people. For some, it’s an act of love, for others it’s an act of passion and for some more, it is a drunken mistake that is painfully permanent. But, as we change, our lifestyles change and the world changes, those once wonderful decisions become a little less wise.

One of the most common reasons for tattoo removal is divorce. People who have had the name of their partner tattooed on their bodies who have then gone through divorce often want the tattoo removed too. One well-known female celebrity is going through the process right now. Melanie Griffith, Golden Globe award winning actress is currently in the process of divorcing her husband, Antonio Banderas. And with that divorce is the removal of her heart shaped tattoo with his name in it.

The other common reason for removal is the impact of a tattoo in the working world. Many people who have had neck, face, forearm or hand tattoos previously have found it affected their chances of getting job opportunities as they didn’t have the appropriate image or ‘fit’ for the business.

No matter what the reason, it is an expensive exercise having tattoos removed, with most places charging around three or four times the original tattoo cost.

So, if you’re in your 60s and go through a divorce or decide to have a 20-something mistake removed, is it actually worth it?

Michelle went through the process at 64 and believes that while it didn’t dramatically change her life, it changed the way she felt about herself. She had a tattoo of her wedding date to her first husband and after an emotionally challenging divorce she made the decision to have it removed.

Tim went through the removal process at 73 to remove a tattoo he and his friend had both got when they were in their 20s and said that the process was far from worth it. “It was painful and bloody expensive… I only did it on a whim as my wife said for her 70^th Birthday she’d love to see it gone.”

Do you have a tattoo? Would you consider getting it removed? Or perhaps you have already had a tattoo removed? Tell us about it in the comments below…