Tattoo removal pain is comparable to the pain of a bad sunburn, and the laser pulses feel like a rubber band snapping against your skin. Cringe-worthy, yes, but tolerable.

Tattoo pain will vary depending on your age, sex, and pain threshold. The most painful spots to get a tattoo are your ribs, spine, fingers, and shins.

Pain-free tattoos? The company Micro Biomedical, backed by a study at the Georgia Institute of Technology, says it's developed painless and bloodless tattoos that can be self-administered.

Tattoo placement affects much more than just initial appearance. Aging, pain tolerance, lifestyle, and long-term changes in the skin all influence how a tattoo will look over time.

1. Good news for all you tattoo enthusiasts with poor judgment: There will soon be an inexpensive cream that will remove your regrettable ink without any pain. Alec Falkenham, a 27-year-old ...