Rethinking Ink: Embracing a Fresh Start with Tattoo Removal

It's often said that "a tattoo is for life and cannot be removed." But is this truly the case? In recent years, more people are challenging this notion and opting to remove their tattoos. Tattoo removal has become a widely discussed and increasingly popular phenomenon.

The decision to part with tattoos isn't easy. It involves grappling with complex questions, both technical and substantive. Yet, despite these challenges, many view tattoo removal as an opportunity for renewal and change. They feel they can finally break free from the past and focus on the present and future.

We spoke with three brave individuals and asked them to share their personal and fascinating journey through the tattoo removal process. They candidly shared what led them to make the decision, how they coped with the pain and challenges, and what they learned about themselves and life during this journey.

Orin Julie (from her Instagram)

Feeling Clean

Orin Julie is a well-known and intriguing figure in Israel, known for her diverse and interesting pursuits. She's recognized as a weapons model, owner of a company for marketing firearms, and a reservist officer in the Home Front Command. Recently, she's made a significant change, becoming a therapist, workshop leader, and lecturer.
Now it turns out that after years of marketing and representing a wide range of combat products and equipment, she's promoting a new trend—tattoo removal. This is no minor feat, as Julie's TikTok account has about 650,000 followers, and her Instagram account boasts 571,000 followers, drawing millions of views on social media.

"Since I posted online about the tattoo removal I've undergone, I receive thousands of responses like: 'Thanks to you, I went and removed [my tattoo]', and other heartwarming messages. I truly feel I have a mission in this—to convey the message: 'Guys, we made mistakes, but it's okay, there's a way to correct and heal everything.'"

What prompted your decision to remove them?

"It's important to understand that my tattoos were primarily created out of a large impulsivity around age 18. I felt an inner need to do it, and with every painful event in my life, I added a tattoo to feel the pain even more.

"The truth is, just two years later I started waking up and looking for places that remove tattoos. Everywhere I went, they saw the large tattoo on my leg (a cover-up tattoo with all the colors of the rainbow) and told me: 'There's no chance to remove it because it has too many complex colors.' Even at places confident in their abilities, I was told maybe half would come off. Naturally, I was worried about being left with half a tattoo, so I decided not to try.

"About two years ago, I came to 'Sernu Clinic,' and the clinic manager told me precisely: 'It's going to take quite some time, but with Hashem's help, we'll remove everything.' From that moment, it was clear to me that I would go for it with all my might. My tattoos express my history, but not who I am today. I didn't want them to be a part of me.

"By the way, this is an important message I want to share with anyone considering a tattoo: 'Think about how you will change, and realize that what you experience at 18 may not accompany you in ten years.' I can say for myself: I got tattoos at the time to feel my body and express myself. It’s likely that if someone had tried to stop me then, they wouldn't have succeeded. These were decisions made in a single moment, and nonetheless, maybe I would have thought more and tattooed less than I did.

For Julie, it was a complex operation as she removed not only the large tattoo but nine small ones as well. "I've had eight treatments, and in two or three more I'll be finished," she says. "Some tattoos have already disappeared completely, and the big one on the leg will need a few more treatments, but it has already faded significantly. It seems that it will eventually be well removed. It's amazing, because the more the tattoos leave me, the cleaner and more liberated I feel. I'm much better off like this, and it's worth every effort and pain."

Was it hard to say goodbye to tattoos you had for about ten years?

"Not at all. I was never sad to part with them, only happy."

In addition to her tattoo removal, Julie notes that in the past year she's experienced a major change in her life. "I'm currently focused on spirituality and Judaism, rather than weapons. I've made a big change in my life, and I now work as a therapist, workshop leader, and lecturer. I also have a podcast where I talk a lot about Judaism and spirituality, connecting with the Creator, and many other things that uplift the soul. I feel this is my mission—to connect people to Hashem. I completely believe that when you connect with the Creator, you start seeing miracles upon miracles because the Creator wants to give to you. He's just waiting for you to ask."

Adi Zuckerman

Right Place, Right Time

Adi Zuckerman, too, got her tattoo at a young age, she says, without thinking enough. "I did it out of an enthusiastic passion that I could, and I didn't need parental approval," she explains. "But the truth is, I never really connected with the tattoo from the start, simply because it didn't feel right for me.

"A few years later, I already started looking for a place to remove it, but I kept hearing how painful—physically and financially—it was. Prices were sky-high, and the pain was unbearable, so why even bother? I kept putting it off until one day, I happened to pass by the 'Sernu' center, saw an ad for tattoo removal, and realized the process was possible and not so terrible. I decided to do it. It seemed to be the right moment, as I could no longer stand the sight of myself with the tattoo—it was such a bother to me. So I went for it."

Yet, Adi's fear didn't completely vanish until the moment the first treatment began. "When I got the tattoo, I didn't understand what I was getting myself into, but I chose to place it on my ribs—the most painful spot and hardest to remove," Adi explains. "Luckily, the removal clinic had a special numbing cream and another device that cooled, so it didn't really hurt. I can't say the sensation was pleasant, but it was more like very tiny electric shocks. That's how it felt, much to my surprise, because, as I mentioned—I heard terrible things about it."

Adi is about to undergo her seventh treatment, which will likely be the last. "It sounds like a long process, and it is," she clarifies, "as the tattoo was built with several layers, some colored, requiring a long time to remove them. I look back and realize how, in the recklessness of a 19-year-old, I caused myself such harm. It's raised many thoughts for me on the matter, as I think many who choose to get tattoos don't even realize the damage—physically, financially, and even existentially. I've learned this lesson the hard way, and I hope others will stop sooner and not have to experience it like I did."

Or Rosner

Before and After

Before and After

No Scars

"For years I walked around with two tattoos that really bothered me," says Or Rosner. "I got them at 18, and almost immediately regretted them—they felt like something I didn't want as part of me, and it bothered me a lot. 

"In the past year, I knew I was going to remove the tattoos, and I read everything I could find about it. I understood right away that it was painful and expensive, but my biggest fear was that it would leave scars. I felt that scars would be harder to cope with than these tattoos, and there were several times I almost started the process and backed out at the last moment. I began to believe I would never remove them until recently."

What changed then?

"Maybe it sounds simple, but as usual, I searched on 'Google' and looked for information on the topic, something I've been doing for over ten years. 'Sernu Clinic' by Eyal Oded in Rosh HaAyin popped up, and since I live in Ariel, which is very close, I called and asked if I could come check it out. The moment Eyal moved another appointment to make time for me, and I came to the clinic. From then on, a special 'click' formed between us.

"The first question I asked him was: 'Will there be scars?' and he immediately assured me there would be no scar. He also told me the truth—'The process isn't pleasant; it's painful but bearable because they apply numbing cream, and the pain is nothing compared to the end result, which is tattoo removal.' He explained that because there were two tattoos, several treatments would be needed, providing all the information needed.

"Finally, I asked him, 'When can we start?' and he replied: 'Now.' I told him, 'Let's do it,' and that very day, we began the process, with me feeling completely in the most professional and skillful hands.

And how was it?

"The pain wasn't really bad, but the process was lengthy. As of today, one tattoo on my shoulder is completely gone, without any scar or mark. The feeling is amazing; you can't believe it happened. The second tattoo is larger and has multiple layers (cover-up), and we're currently working on finishing its removal.

He has a message for readers: "I'm not intending to preach, but if you want to remove a tattoo—know that it's possible, and 'Sernu Clinic' offers significant discounts for those doing it as part of their journey of returning to faith or strengthening spiritually. Sitting in the waiting room, I heard incredible stories about tattoo removals from all parts of the body, of all types and colors. Just as getting tattoos was once a strong trend, there is now a strong trend to remove them, and as you can see—it's definitely possible."