When it comes to tattoos, things can become regrettable very quickly.
Your circumstances change. You're now sober. Or no longer with the partner who's name is now permanently on your skin. So what do you do?
The video above from News Flare shows exactly what happens when you undergo laser tattoo removal.
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During the procedure, a laser injects the skin with intense light. This penetrates the skin to break up the ink particles which makes the tattoo fade.
According to Hickman House Laser Clinic, the body's immune system will then remove these pigments over time.
"The laser energy is harmless, and only targets the pigmented skin, leaving the un-inked surrounding skin unharmed," reads the clinic's website.
In the clip above, the dark tattoo ink turns skin colour again as the laser works across the surface. It's pretty fascinating to watch and doesn't seem to take too long either.
Unsurprisingly, laser tattoo removal does hurt. It causes some physical pain and irritation to the area being treated, which can vary depending on the person.
The experience has been likened to the feeling of having a rubber band snapped on your skin, rapid succession of pricks or scratching sunburn, according to Sk:n Clinics.
"Tattoo removal treatments on areas with more fat like the arms and buttocks are generally not as painful as areas where there is less fat or close to a bone like the neck, ankle or finger," their site reads.
