Above: Artists at a New York City tattoo shop offer free coverups for clients who want to remove their exes' names from their skin in February 2024. (NEXSTAR) – When you’re young and carefree, a tattoo of your significant other’s name — usually somewhere in the gluteal region — feels like the ultimate expression of love. Years later, however, it might be the bane of your (and your new partner’s) existence. “When you’re 18, and you’re getting a tattoo, you’re not thinking about when you’re 40 years old, or 70 years old,” Jeff Garnett, the co-founder of InkLess Tattoo Removal in New York City, tells Nexstar. “You’re just thinking maybe it’s funny, or you’re drunk on spring break.” ‘Cybersigilism’ is a newer (and divisive) tattoo trend: What is it? Garnett, who has been working in the tattoo-removal industry for 15 years, says he’s treated clients with all kinds of regrettable ink, including exes’ names, gang-related symbols and even microblading. But as many of his clients now know, such tattoos are not as permanent as they once were. The reason for this, experts say, is that the process for removing a tattoo has vastly improved over the years. “When I started, [the industry] hadn’t changed substantially,” says Carmen VanderHeiden Brodie, the co-founder of Removery, which offers tattoo-removal services at its shops in the U.S., Canada and Australia. “They [used] this machine, with nanosecond technology, and that’s what I first bought. Then, in 2013, that’s when picosecond technology came on board, and it created a much more efficient and safe way.” Both the nanosecond and picosecond technology that VanderHeiden Brodie refers to utilize lasers to bypass the outer layer of skin and target the ink beneath. The big difference is that nanosecond lasers (nanosecond being a billionth of a second) and picosecond lasers (picosecond being a trillionth of a second) operate at different speeds — and the quicker the laser is, the less potential for damage. “What that means is we can treat the tattoo with a lot more energy without harming the surrounding tissue,” Garnett says of the picosecond lasers. “You get better results, fewer sessions, and a lower risk of scarring.” Newer lasers with more broad wavelengths are also standard in the industry, allowing technicians to remove a wider range of colors with more efficiency than ever before, Garnett adds. It’s still not an instant fix, though. The typical removal process usually takes multiple sessions and can stretch for months, depending on the size, placement, colors and ink type used in the tattoos. Each treatment breaks down the ink into smaller particles that the body’s white blood cells can more easily attack and carry away. Over time and multiple laser sessions, the tattoo fades away until it’s virtually gone. Patients also often wonder if the removal process is painful. Garnett is quick to tell them it is. “I don’t sugar-coat it; it sucks,” Garnett says, calling it an “annoying” sensation akin to getting “snapped with a rubber band, over and over again.” (Removery, on its site, likens it to the same feeling.) Tattoo removal technicians might use ice or chilled air to try to numb the skin. Some patients may even opt for a topical numbing agent like lidocaine, but Garnett advises his patients against the latter (at least initially), believing it slows the fading process by restricting capillaries during treatment. “Try your first session without any numbing cream,” he suggests. “If you can handle it, it’ll save you some time and money. If you hate it, then we can look at different types of lidocaine.” There may be some discomfort afterward too, including soreness or temporary blisters, although blistering and scarring is much less likely with the newest laser technology, experts say. Aftercare involves treating the area “like a sunburn,” Garnett says, and keeping the affected skin away from heat (hot yoga, saunas) and out of direct sunlight. “You can even put sunscreen on it,” VanderHeiden Brodie added. “Something with zinc, 20% or better. [The aftercare] won’t disrupt a lifestyle.” The only remaining concern for most folks is the cost, which depends on the size of the tattoo or the number of sessions needed to remove it. Removery charges a flat fee, estimating that the average cost per removal is around $1,750, according to a spokesperson. InkLess charges per session, with each treatment ranging between $200 and $400 depending on the size (and before any discounts). VanderHeiden Brodie says it could take up to 8 or 12 sessions to remove a tattoo, though some removals can be achieved with fewer. “Very seldom — but yes, it’s possible — that some ink cannot be fully removed,” VanderHeiden Brodie tells Nexstar of tattoo inks deposited deeper into the skin, or even the muscle. “They’re difficult … but we can lighten them up a lot.” TSA reveals 10 most ‘unusual’ finds at checkpoints in 2024 That said, both of the experts (who have tattoos themselves) tell Nexstar that they don't necessarily steer anyone away from getting inked. They do suggest, though, that customers do their research and visit a tattoo artist who understands exactly the style they’re going for. Price also shouldn’t be an issue for a tattoo you’re planning to keep forever, Garnett adds. “If you went clothes shopping and you could only buy one outfit for the rest of your life, you’re going to buy something nice,” he says. In the unfortunate event that a regrettable tattoo starts to become a nuisance (like, for example, an ex-lover’s name on your lower, lower back), at least there are safe, effective solutions for removal. “If you're thinking of removing it, just do it,” VanderHeiden Brodie says. “Tattoos are not permanent anymore.”