Marshall Brain

By one physician's estimate, about 50 percent of people who get tattoos later regret them. Before the mid—1980s, persons wishing to have tattoos removed were faced with painful and often scar—inducing surgery. However, the advent of laser surgery revolutionized tattoo removal. Although lasers are not always 100 percent effective, the procedure has become much simpler and less painful. In the following viewpoint from his award—winning HowStuffWorks series, author Marshall Brain delves into the modern process of tattoo removal.

SO YOU DIDN'T BELIEVE YOUR MOM WHEN SHE said you'd regret getting that tattoo-the multicolored, firebreathing dragon that starts at the small of your back, reaches up to your shoulder blades and wraps its orange flames around your biceps. Now, a mere seven years later, you have a shot at a terrific job in...