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I spent a year in Plastic Surgery during which I saw a wee bit of tattoo removal work.
Lasers can do a fair job of the darker inks (black/dark blue) but are poorer at the lighter colours such as yellow. The more "traditional" tattoos are easier to remover than the paler inked more modern style.They need a number if treatments, though, to work and may always leave a shadow (as can all techniques except excision).

Dermabrasion can work for shallower tattoos although it will leave more of a scar as it is a more physical technique. They can also be vaporised by a different type of laser, although I have no personal knowledge of this technique. Likewise there was something in the popular press about an injection, but I don't know any more about it than that. i think they leave scars similar to dermabrasion.

The only other method that I'm aware of is actual surgical excision and grafting - cut it out and put in a skin graft if you can't close the skin edge-to-edge.

Your GP is probably the first port of call as hopefully they can at least direct you to someone reputable if you're thinking of having tats removed.

Took a while to find this post, i've a question, on Any MC Nabs tour of duty there's a soldier from the engineers and he has a tattoo running from elbow to the middle of his finer.. i'll try screen cap it.

Jstagg wrote:Took a while to find this post, i've a question, on Any MC Nabs tour of duty there's a soldier from the engineers and he has a tattoo running from elbow to the middle of his finer.. i'll try screen cap it.

Whats the question???

Bugger, sorry left it out..


How is he able to have that tattoo? it breaches the rules on tattoos doesn't it?

i am thinking maybe he got the tatoo after joined the army or he had been in the army a while and then he got it because it would seem unfair to get chucked out just because of a tattoo

Is that allowed, i'd agree it would seem silly to kick a well trained soldier out for having a tattoo whilst in service.. surly he would be punished thou?


I can't get a screen cap sorry.

You can still be thrown out for breaching the guidelines, not seen it happen yet.
Rules on tattoos have chopped and changed over the last ten years or so.

Oh yeah, crazy I suppose it might depend on what where and how big the tattoo is, this guys was about as long thick as a 5p piece and from elbow to finger in a Celtic pattern.

the rules may have just got stricter or something and maybe when he joined they wernt too concerned about people havin tattoos aslong as it was nothing explicit or something like that i don't know myself like i am just giving ideas as to reasons for him having the tattoo and still being in the army

Ive passed selection and stuff and wondered if i got a tatoo in between now and when i go which is march the 1st would it be a problem?

Tobyj, take good care of it, keep it clean and shorten the healing process as much as possible and you'll be laughing..


DON'T get you're chosen cap badge, every person all ready serving in the army weather they've been to Iraq or not will think you're a ponce.

no no im not that dat to do that, just yet! lol
I was thinking a trible on my lower leg. thanks!

Yeah you should be all right if you get it done asap, keep it well cleaned and moisturised reduce the healing time needed and it will probably be healed by then, that includes not picking it, thou i warn you if it isn't it will cause problems through you're training by being itchy and painfull ect.

The choice is yours personally i'd go for an outline do training then get it filled.

yeahh. i might even just wait till training is over. im not too sure on it yet. its at the back of my mind though.

im not too sure on it yet

The classic line of someone who doesn't REALLY want one, but reckons it'll look good. Not to have a dig at anyone who is into their body art, but they are permanent and many do regret them later in life. I designed an original Corps one a bit different to what most have soon after I passed out, still haven't had it done three years later because I'm still not sure I'll want it at 40, 50 or even 80 years old.

It's a personal decision, but to me something like that should firstly mean something to you - as a rule tribal tats just look nice - and secondly be something you are sure you want for life.