Angelina Jolie Tattoos and their Meanings

Angelina Jolie is an American actress and director. She has received an Academy Award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and three Golden Globe Awards.

She has a serious love for tattoos, she's regularly featured in celebrity news magazines and websites with one of her new tattoo designs. She has at least a dozen tattoos over her body and she also has quite a lot experience with tattoo removal. Each one of her tattoos has a special meaning.

Arm Tattoos:

H on left wrist. Either for relationship with Timothy Hutton or for her brother James Haven.

13/5/1940 on right arm. Possibly Churchill's Blood, Toil, Tears & Sweat speech.

Billy Bob and Dragon on upper left arm, removed and now covered by her childern's birth coordinates.

In an interview during the time of the tattoo removal procedure she said:
"I'll never be stupid enough to have a man's name tattooed on me again."
It took 5 visits to the tattoo removal clinic to erase the dragon.

Japanese symbol for Courage. Her ex husband Johnny Lee Miller had a matching tattoo, that's why she had it removed, it didn't feel like her own.

Strength of Will in Arabic on right arm.

Back Tattoos:

Khmer Script on left shoulder.
"May your enemies run far away from you.
If you acquire riches, may they remain yours always.
Your beauty will be that of Apsara. (a celestial dancer from Khmer mythology)
Wherever you may go, many will attend, serve and protect you, surrounding you on all sides."

Tiger with khmer prayers around it, on back. (Her kids favorite.)

Tribal on lower back.

Dragon on lower back, partially covered by Tiger tattoo.

This 12-inch long, 8-inch wide Bengal tiger tattoo on her lower back is Angelina Jolie's latest. It was done in Bangkok on July 8, 2004, during a 2 hour session by tattoo artist Sompong Kanhphai who also blessed it by chanting an ancient hymn. Sompong also did her Khmer tattoo. She had the tiger tattoo done to celebrate her Cambodian citizenship.

The tiger tattoo was done in the traditional Thai tattoo style with a manual needle. The tiger's tail covers her blue window tattoo.

You can see the old dragon tattoo under the tiger's foot, the window at the end of it's tail, and the tribal under it.

Know Your Rights on upper back.
From The Clash

This tattoo on Jolie's left shoulder blade is the Japanese symbol for Death and it reminds her to live. She had it removed and now has the Khmer tattoo for her son Maddox on that place. This Japanese tattoo was her first tattoo ever.

Complications of Tattooing

Granuloma

There are many complications of tattooing. The most common adverse event is infections, due to bacteria (mainly Staphylococcus and Streptococcus), viruses (hepatitis B and C or HIV), or fungi. The second most common complication is an inflammatory response to the pigment, usually manifesting as a granulomatous reaction. In rare cases, a granuloma found within at tattoo can reveal an existing sarcoidosis. Mercury (red) and cadmium (yellow) pigments are particularly likely to induce allergic reactions, though reactions tn chromium (green), cobalt (blue), and beige pigments have also been reported. ln the case of cadmium, the trigger is often sun exposure, which appears to trigger a photo-allergic reaction. Since red tattoos often contain traces of yellow, they may also induce photo-toxic reactions.

Melanoma

Keratoacanthomas and other skin tumors, including melanoma, have also been reported after tattooing. Due to the million of tattoos annually performed and the very small number of tumors reported, a causal relationship is difficult to ascertain. However, particular care is needed when a melanoma arises within or near a tattoo, as the black tattoo pigment can mask a developing melanoma. In addition, the common finding of tattoo pigment in the lymph nodes draining a tattoo site can complicate the staging of melanoma during nodal dissection, or even mimic melanoma.

Allergic reaction to red ink

Tattoo toxicity was recently studied by Baumler et al. as a function of pigment concentration in the tissue. The group introduced red pigment PR22 at 98% purity into human or porcine skin and measured the concentration of the pigment in various locations. Based on the distribution profile of this marker ink, they concluded that dyes which are potential carcinogens may reach levels in the skin that could lead to potential health problem.

Tattoo Price and Tipping

"Good tattoos ain’t cheap, and cheap tattoos ain’t good." - UNKNOWN

The old adage may not be eloquent, but its undeniable accuracy has made it one of the most popular slogans in the tattoo industry. That isn't to say that an expensive tattoo automatically makes a good tattoo, but unless you are good friends with a really good artist, you’re not going to get a great tattoo for dirt cheap—and a great tattoo is the ultimate goal here, right?

Famous tattoo artist Kat von D

How Much Does a Tattoo Actually Cost?
Every artist charges a different rate for work, and prices vary depending on size, detail, and colors. The average range is anywhere between $50 and $250 per hour. That’s a pretty big range, because a lot of variables go into determining how much an artist can charge for time.

Shop Minimum
Most shops have an absolute minimum they have to charge for each tattoo in order to cover their overhead. Even the tiniest tattoo still requires artists to pull out all their equipment and then clean and sterilize everything afterward. That minimum fee is your insurance policy for a clean and safe tattoo and runs between $50 and $75.

Overhead
Some shops have higher overheads than others, and therefore have to charge more for their tattoos to keep up with the bills. Some state and city laws require tattoo studios to carry expensive licensing, certification, or insurance policies that neighboring shops may not be required to have.

Location
Local economy affects how much a tattoo artist can charge and still stay in business. Shops in smaller towns with a lower economy won`t be able to charge as much as big, booming city shops. Even real estate location within a town can create a price difference between one shop and another; if one is much more conveniently located or in a busier section of town, it
may charge more.

Competition
The amount of competition in a particular town can have a great impact on tattoo prices. The more competition, or the better the competition, the more a shop is forced to lower prices.

Demand
If a shop happens to be very popular or is home to a world—renowned artist, prices are bound to go up. Artists who are in high demand can set their rates as high as they want, as long as their clients are willing to pay.

So, how much is right? Some people tip just as they would at a restaurant—10 percent for good service, 15 percent for great service, and 20 percent for excellent, above-and—beyond service. But there’s really no hard and fast rule. Even if you can spare only an extra five or ten bucks, it’s going to be greatly appreciated. A lot of customers don’t tip at all, but
that doesn't mean you shouldn't either
.
If you didn't have any cash or just forgot to tip, go back the next day or even the next week if you have to. It`s never too late to say thank you.

TIP: An artist’s tip doesn't always have to come in the form of cash. A batch of homemade muffins or cookies is sometimes even more exciting than money! These guys work long hours and don't get good food very often. It's a great, unique way to show your appreciation.

Laser Tattoo Removal in Dark Skin Types

The principal of tattoo removal is destruction of unwanted pigment with minimal collateral damage. This concept is particularly challenging when treating darker skin types as the melanosomes act as competing targets with thc potential to cause epidermal damage. The 1,064-nm wavelength has the least absorption by melanoclyles and is therefore the host choice for laser tattoo removal in darker skin types. There is less risk for hypopigmentation, scarring or textural change. However, the 1,0644-nm wavelength will not treat all tattoo colors. Therefore, one must employ alternate methods for multicolored or densely colored tattoos in dark skin types.

Fractional ablation of tattoos in dark skin types will allow extraction of tattoo pigment particles with minimal risk of scarring or pigmentary change. This concept is particularly useful in dark skin types with in a patient that has demonstrated allergic reaction to the tattoo pigment. For instance, red pigment is the most common known tattoo allergen and can result in a granulomatous reaction. If targeted with a 532-nm wavelength for removal, the pigment can shatter into many smaller particles followed by uptake systemically with the potential for anaphylaxis. To avoid this issue, fractional CO₂ laser can be used for sloughing of the pigment through epidermal loss with limited systemic elimination. Non-fractional CO₂ laser has limited use in this circumstance as it has significant potential to permanently depigment or scar the skin. This was the case in the patient show below:

a) Noted depigmentation after CO2 laser treatment for tattoo removal

b) Noted depigmentation of prior treated area, accomplished with fractional CO2 laser treatment

Benefits of the Use of Q-Switched Lasers for Tattoo Removal

It is well established that the Q-switched lasers are the gold standard in lasers to remove tattoos. Four wavelenghts are now available with Q-switching: frequency-doubled Nd:YAG at 532 nm (5-10 ns), ruby at 694 nm (25-40 ns), alexandrite: at 755 11m (50-100 ns), and Nd:YAG at 1,064 nm (5-10 ns). Comparative studies of the four Q-switched lasers have been reported. Though ruby, alexandrite, and Nd:YAG at 1,064 nm are all effective in dark tattoos, the ruby and the alexandrite have been reported to be somewhat more efficient than Nd:YAG. It is generally thought that Nd:YAG at 1,064 nm may be preferable in darker skin types due to its lower absorption by melanin and its greater tissue penetration. However, a study of Q-switched ruby and Nd:YAG lasers used in treating carbon based tattoos in Fitzpatrick V-VI patients showed mild transient hyperpigmentation with both lasers and mild texture changes with the Q-switched Nd:YAG laser. The alexandrite is most effective in treating blue and green tattoos and the frequency-doubled Nd:YAG may be effective in red tattoos, though the removal of red tattoos in general is challenging due to lack of appropriately selective wavelengths that are not absorbed by endogenous chromophores.

Before (a) and after (b) 5 laser treatments with QS-YAG 1,064 nm.

	Tattoo colors	Pulse duration (ns)	Wavelength (nm)	Q-switched lasers
	Red	510	532	Nd:YAG
	Black, blue, green	25-40	694	ruby
	Black, blue, green	50-100	755	alexandrite
	Black, blue	510	1064	frequency-doubled Nd:YAG

Blue-black carbon-based amateur tattoos respond best, requiring on the order of 5 sessions of Q-switched ruby, alexandrite, or Nd:YAG at 1,064 nm. In contrast, professional tattoos containing greater pigment density could require 10-15 sessions. Traumatic tattoos, such as gravel particles can also be treated, though their response is less predictable due to the heterogeneous nature of the impacted particles. Caution must be taken with traumatic tattoos induced by gunpowder or fireworks, as the laser impact can cause microexplusions and provoke pox-like scars.

Angelina Jolie Tattoo Removal Before and After Pictures

Actress Angelina Jolie is seen here in 2001 alongside her then husband Billy Bob Thornton, whose first name she had tattooed on her arm.

Jolie and Thornton marriage did not last. After they divorced, Jolie had his name removed from her tattoo, as seen here.

By 2010, Jolie had decided to remove her entire old tattoos and get a new one. The new tattoo lists the latitudes and longitudes of the birthplaces of her children. The old dragon tattoo is still barely visible beneath the new tattoo.

Laser Tattoo Removal and other methods

No one knows when the practice of tattooing the skin began, but Egyptian mummies dating back to 1300 B.C. have shown evidence of blue tattoo marks. Tattooing is accomplished by injecting colored pigment into small deep holes made in the skin. Regardless of who injects the pigment - a tattoo artist or an untrained person the marks or designs are relatively permanent. For various personal reasons, people turn to physicians to have tattoos removed.

Fortunately, there are several methods for tattoo removal which have proven successful. In most cases, however, some scarring or color variations remain. The conspicuousness of these blemishes depends upon several factors including size, location, the individual's healing pro-cess, how the tattoo was applied, and length of time it has been on the skin. A tattoo performed by a more experienced tattoo artist, for example, may be easier to remove since the pigment is evenly injected in the same level of the skin. A tattoo that has been on the skin for a considerable length of time may be more difficult to remove than a new one.

Methods of Tattoo Removal

There are several excellent methods of tattoo removal available today. The method that the physician chooses will depend upon the size of the tattoo and its location as well as the length of time it has been on the skin. How the patient heals may also be a factor in the decision.

Excision

Another popular method of tattoo removal especially when the dyed area is small is by excision. The advantage of this method is that the entire tattoo can be removed. With larger tattoos, however, it may be necessary to excise in stages, removing the center of it initially and the sides at a later date.

Excision involves an injection of a local anesthetic to numb the area after which the tattoo is removed surgically. The edges are then brought together and sutured. With this procedure, there is minimal bleeding which is easily controlled with electrocautery. In some cases involving large tattoos, a skin graft taken from another part of the body may be necessary.

Excision

Dermabrasion

Another method of tattoo removal is called dermabrasion in which a small portion of the tattoo is sprayed with a solution that freezes the area. The tattoo is then "sanded" with a rotary abrasive instrument causing the skin to peel. Because some bleeding is likely to occur, a dressing is immediately applied to the area.

Dermabrasion

Laser

In recent times, many physicians consider laser surgery one of the best methods of tattoo removal . Today, the Q-switched Nd:Yag, Q-switched Alexandrite and the Q-switched Ruby are among the most frequently used lasers today for the removal of unwanted tattoos. They are all employed in a similar manner. If necessary, a cream to numb the skin can be applied prior to the treatment. Pulses of light from the laser are directed onto the tattoo breaking up the tattoo pigment. Over the next several weeks the body's scavenger cells remove the treated pigmented areas. More then one treatment is usually necessary to remove all of the tattoo.

Laser Tattoo Removal

Salabrasion

Salabrasion, a procedure which is centuries old, is a method still sometimes used today to remove tattoos. As with the other methods, a local anesthetic is used on and around the tattooed area after which a solution of ordinary tap water dipped in table salt is applied. An abrading apparatus such as the one used with dermabrasion, or an even simpler device such as a wooden block wrapped in gauze, is used to vigorously abrade the area. When the area becomes deep red in color, a dressing is applied.

Salabrasion

 What Results Can Be Expected?

Regardless of which method of tattoo removal is used, some scarring or color variations are likely to remain. Healing time varies depending upon the size and depth of the tattoo, the proce-dure used and the patient's healing process. It is important for the patient to discuss with the physician the various procedures, how they are performed, and the probable results. Care of the treated area must also be discussed.

Laser Tattoo Removal of Black Ink

Black, carbon based, tattoo ink is the easiest ink to remove via laser tattoo removal because black it absorbs the full spectrum of light, while green, blue, red, and other colors require more targeted laser pulses. This patient needed just a few treatments to get an excellent result.

Laser Tattoo Removal Before After Pic

The laser device fragments the ink with short pulses of intense, concentrated laser light. The method of delivery and the wavelengths used are designed to target only the tattooed pigments, without affecting the surrounding pigments and layers of skin. Different laser lights are used for different ink colors.

Henna Tattoo Removal

Unlike standard tattoos, henna tattoos are temporary. They can vary in color, being either natural (reddish-brown color ink) or the more popular black henna tattoos. While henna is temporary, it isn’t like applying one of those cute little temporary tattoos that can be removed with baby oil or nail polish remover or just scrubbing.

Henna Tattoo

Area where you used the Henna and the color of the Henna are two important factors how long the henna stain is going to last or to remove. Henna tattoos applied to the hands or the arms or the neck will usually fade in a few days, possibly a week. The Henna tattoos applied to the feet or back are going to last longer because the skin in those areas is usually thicker and not as well moisturized.

You can do a few easy things to remove these tattoos:

1. Henna designs fade as you naturally shed the outer layer of your skin. Therefore using a scrubber and a soap over the tattoo will cause the tattoo to remove quickly.

2. Soaking the skin in salt water or chlorinated water ( pool or tub ) for at 10 - 15 minutes will help in dissolving a little of the ink.

3. Sweat helps to exfoliate the skin quickly. Start exercising, the more you sweat the quicker you will remove the tattoo out.

4. Some people also apply exfoliating creams to the tattoo area. Some also use Hydrogen Peroxide. Hydrogen Peroxide can be applied to the area with a cotton ball. However, please remember that this has worked for some people and not for others.

Laser Tattoo Removal in Vascular Regions

Tattoos located in very vascular areas (like the face, neck, scalp, etc) often respond to laser tattoo removal very well. A few laser tattoo removal treatments is enough to completely remove the tattoo. If the same tattoo was located on a more distal area (foot, hand, ankle, etc) it would take more treatments to remove.

Laser Tattoo Removal Before and After Pictures

Here are some excellent examples of before and after pictures following laser tattoo removal.

Simple tattoos can be removed in only one or two sessions

Frequently Asked Questions About Laser Tattoo Removal

How are tattoos removed?
Q-switched lasers are used at Laser Tattoo Removal Clinic and are effective and safe. Earlier methods involved the use of dermabrasion, salibrasion, surgery etc, but these methods left behind scarring or lighter skin in place of the tattoo. Also commonly seen on the internet are tattoo removal creams—which do not work.

Tattoo Cover Make Up

Tattoo cover makeup is a temporary method of hiding your tattoos using special make up called tattoo concealers. There are several reasons for people to do so.They might do it when they have job interview or they might want to hide it from anyone’s sight. Most Hollywood actresses and actors have also used the special makeup to cover up their tattoos, especially when the job requires them to do so. Well, covering tattoo is not difficult at all, as long as they know what products to use and what to do to cover it.

Laser Tattoo Removal Cost

Laser tattoo removal cost is expensive. But the cost has gone down, one of the reasons that the cost of laser tattoo removal has gone down in the last few years is because there are more places are now offering this service.

Tattoo Removal Creams, do they really work?

Tattoo removal creams like Wrecking Balm, Tat B Gone, Ink Busters, etc which are widely available online. But they really work as they claim?

Laser Tattoo Removal

Laser removal is the most common method of tattoo removal these days. Laser tattoo removal employs a special type of laser called a Q-switched laser, which uses a process called selective photothermolysis.

Tattoo Removal - Reasons

There are a lot of reasons for possibly wanting a tattoo removed. These reasons for removal cover a wide range of personal, social, cultural, physical and medical aspects.