New Year - Old tattoos and new piercings

Long, long ago – around New Year - I had a small tattoo inked onto my shoulder. It was very special (a tribal lion) to me and I loved it. But over the years it became a bit blurred. So I decided to get it sharpened up. Not so easy. A couple of tattooists had indicated that I needed it to be partially removed before it could be redone.

So I investigated laser removal but all the salons that mentioned laser were for hair rather than tattoo removal. I’ve since learned that tattoo removal lasers cost upwards of £100,000 which may be why they are so rare. And it can take several applications. And it isn’t always successful.

So I tried a local clinic that offered chemical tattoo removal. This was both expensive and painful (much more so than the original tattoo – and for several weeks afterwards). And ineffective. So I resigned myself to life with an unsightly blob on my back.

Then recently my teen daughter requested a belly button piercing for her birthday. Actually, she’d asked ages ago and I’d said – in that motherly tone “Not until you are 16”. They say that elephants never forget – they should try daughters.

On further investigation I found out that there are rules about piercings and these are set by local authorities. In my local authority the rule is that you must be at least 16 and have proof of age and a parent in attendance. So I took her to a number of local tattoo studios (yes, there are lots in Richmond and Twickenham) some of which did piercings. But most refused to help until she was actually 16 – despite the fact that her birthday was only a couple of weeks away and she wanted to show off her perfectly flat and toned (note the hint of envy here) tummy for her party.

And then I found Altered Images – a local Whitton studio with a sister branch in Tolworth (Kingston). They said that they would do the deed if I took the relevant paperwork and was in attendance. And no, I didn’t have to watch.

So while my daughter bravely endured the brief procedure (and she assures me it didn’t hurt!) I chatted to family-man owner Tony. And, of course, the topic of my old tattoo came up. And his solution? A cover up. Now why didn’t I think of that? So I thought about it.

I returned a couple of weeks later and selected a rather fine life-like lion where my old lion could be “lost” in the mane. Tony did his work. And no it didn’t hurt – I was more uncomfortable with the cool breeze in the studio. Three hours later and I emerged a new woman. I love my new lion and am now bearing my shoulders again with pride.

Don’t know if there’s a web site but Altered Image is on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/altered.image1?fref=ts