Other life changes that lead to body art regrets include divorces and breakups. Relationship tattoos, tattoos of a loved one’s name, have surged in popularity over the past decade. However, people who get relationship tattoos and then break up with their loved ones typically want to ride themselves of such tattoos.

This has been true of several celebrities. For example, socialite Paris Hilton’s former boyfriend, pop singer Nick Carter, put her name on his wrist in July 2004. About three weeks later, they broke up. In January 2005 Carter got a skull-and-crossbones tattoo to cover up the “Paris” tattoo.

Actor Johnny Depp’s right upper arm used to display a tattoo of “Winona Forever” in honor of his relationship with actress Winona Ryder. However, their love did not last. In 1993 this tattoo was laser-edited into “Wino Forever” following the couple’s breakup.

Like celebrities, many ordinary people with relationship tattoos come to regret their decisions. A 2003 Harris Poll found that the most common reason a person regrets a tattoo is that a person’s name is in the tattoo. As a result, dermatologists and plastic surgeons are receiving more tattoo removal work. “The number of tattoos people are getting removed is increasing,” says Jefferey Rockmore, a plastic surgeon with the Plastic Surgery Group in Albany. “Years ago, there was a big wave in tattoos and those relationships ended so people want to get rid of the evidence.”