Love Tattoo: What to do when the ink lasts longer than the 'I Do'

It was an epic romance of pop culture legend. She threw a bottle at his head across a crowded MTV stage, and dates were Jean Paul Gaultier fashion shows; love songs about Teenage Dreams sold millions, film premieres in complementary colour palettes were schmoozed at, and inevitably the ultimate public declaration of them all followed: Russell Brand and Katy Perry got matching tattoos.

But then the fairy tale exploded like a Firework in one of the pop star's songs, and the Sanskrit inking on their respective upper arms outlasted the marriage vows. With the divorce finalised this week- Perry signed off on the papers with a smiley face, truly happy, it seems, to wave the funnyman goodbye- the question on everybody's lips is: will those tats be wiped from record too, just like their doomed relationship?

It's a common dilemma. So common, in fact, that the tattoo removal is tipped as becoming the next billion dollar industry- ink lovers are flocking in droves to remove cheating boyfriend's names that were endured in happier, more idealistic, times, and ex-wives initials are being stripped from arms and torsos. Tattoos, like marriages, are becoming increasingly temporary.

So how is it done?

Well, with relative ease. Laser removal sees a qualified technician using a handheld device to apply powerful pulses of energy to your unwanted design. The heat penetrates through the top layer of your skin, shattering the tattoo ink into tiny fragments- an apt metaphor for that broken heart. Your body's immune system then absorbs these fragmented pigments until the tattoo disappears- a sort of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless (Tattoo-free) Body.

Sometimes it takes more than one session to achieve best results- but it's an outpatient procedure, and risks are minimal, especially compared to other traditional methods such as dermabrasion or painful excision.

An experienced and qualified professional should be more than willing to discuss your concerns during the consultation process. Be smart: your questions need to include queries on the risks, including of infection- a good technician will always provide staunch post-treatment instructions for aftercare to minimise discomfort. Some patients can experience a little temporary swelling, bruising, or superficial flaking- the sort of thing you'll be familiar with if you've ever suffered from too much sun on holiday- but customer satisfaction is usually high.

As Brand and Perry's marriage demonstrates, success can never be guaranteed. Whether that's in films, pop songs, or with love tattoos, the only thing that can be certain is this: nothing, thankfully, has to be forever.

(Dr Patrick Bowler, co-founder of the British Association of Cosmetic Doctors and has featured on TV programs such as 10 Years Younger. His company is Court House Clinics)

By Bassmah Hassay