Love tattoos are impulsive as much as they are permanent, and most of the time waiting to be removed.

People mostly aged between 18 and 40 who carve names on their bodies in a fit of love, and later queue up for sittings at a clinic to have it erased.

Over the years, the removal has become easier with non-invasive techniques such as the latest Q-switched lasers (ND YAG laser Q-switched) that ensure safe and scarless treatment, said Coimbatore- based cosmetic surgeon Dr Ragu, who has attended to about 200 such cases involving men and women in the past eight years, with most of them having tattooed their chest and forearm with images and names.

“Earlier, the only option was surgery that leaves scars,” he said.

When youngsters fall out of love or when a divorce is on the cards, the tattoo incised with love becomes a symbol of regret.

“I felt marked up for life when I grew out of an adolescent love affair,” said a student, who had the name on inner part of the wrist removed through laser.

“Love tattoos are an illusion and become irrelevant most of the time,” said an engineer from Chennai, who had to shed the souvenir through a surgery.

“Sometimes if the tattoos are too deep, a surgery is essential,” said Dr Ragu.

Tattoo removal procedure depends on the extent of area, colours used and how deep or superficial the tattoos are.

While green and black inks are easy to remove, red is tough, with deeply punctured skin posing a challenge.

Tattoo removal through laser are done without anaesthesia, and requires sittings normally in the range of five to ten for tattoos, and are not painful, said Dr Ragu.

Explaining the procedure, he said the laser emits enough light to break down the ink particles and provides wavelengths that generate heat to destroy the tattoo.

“It will take 10 to 20 weeks for the tattoo to heal and fade off,” said the doctor.

He said no routine complications arise post-treatment if it’s carried out by a qualified doctor.

“Most of the patients are not aware of the laser treatment, and come prepared for a surgical removal of their tattoos. But we offer this option, which they are happy to accept.”

However, laser treatment sometimes cannot completely clean up the tattoo. So many opt for a surgery after this, when the skin is cut out, but this leaves scars, said Dr Ragu, adding, “And again they go for a plastic surgery to cover up the scar.”

Tattoos, love or not, are beautiful, bizarre and a subtle statement of the wearer’s personality.

Achieved with excruciating pain, they are flaunted and celebrated, but some say they become meaningless when they grow out of the beliefs their tattoos stood for.