area HEALTH

THINK YOU'RE MARKED FOR LIFE? Find out how one clinic can remove your unfortunate tattoo. Read on about preventing the post-holiday let down, and also where you can go in our area for expert care in pain management. Then discover the lasting legacy left behind by one special little boy's choice to become an organ donor.

When something is described as being “written in ink” it implies permanence. The word tattoo is derived from the Polynesian word “tatau” which translates as “to write.” Traditionally tattoos have been viewed as being a permanent body modification. Advancements in technology and medical procedures have reversed this permanence and it is now possible to wipe the slate clean.

Placing ink or other substances into the dermis layer of skin creates a tattoo by changing the skin’s pigmentation. Tattoos have been a rite of passage in many cultures and their popularity in our culture has been steadily on the rise. Some of the many reasons a person may get a tattoo range from displaying an aspect of their life or personality through artwork, honoring a loved one or cosmetic purposes. With the rise in popularity of tattoos it is not surprising that some may have regret over their tattoo and want to get it removed, or they want to create a space on their skin for new artwork.