As we’ve learned from famous cool kids like Pete Davidson to Zoe Kravitz, some ink art is here for a good time, not a long—despite the whole, uh, permanent factor. Some opt for tattoo removal to nix an ex’s name, a regrettable print or bad memory. For Katie Deutschmann, a senior creator of PR and Communications based in Brooklyn, New York, she realized her pandemic tats weren’t a reflection of who she was anymore. “I decided to do tattoo removal because they didn’t feel like ‘me’. I got four flash style tattoos during the pandemic—three on my inner arms and one on my finger—and over time I realized I didn’t love their placements,” she shared. “They were very visible, and I often found myself reaching for long sleeves or trying to cover them up. When I got engaged, I knew I wanted to feel confident in whatever dress I chose without my tattoos limiting my options.”  

So what is the process of removing tattoos like? I went over the nitty gritty of Deutschmann’s experience from start to finish.