Monday, May 25, 2009
One cosmetic treatment that is countercyclical
The present recession is really hurting plastic surgeons and other doctors who will make you look better for a hefty fee. No surprise there. But one dermatological procedure is flourishing:
When the Dow is low, the "tramp stamp" has to go.
Dermatologists across the city are reporting a boom in tattoo laser removals, as body-art fanatics fretting over their professional image rush to erase their inky mistakes.
"People can't afford to handicap themselves be cause of a tattoo in a tight job market," said Dr. Jeffrey Rand, founder of the Tattoo Removal Center in Midtown. "We're seeing a huge surge right now in people getting rid of their tattoos."
Mobeen Yasin, a graduate student at Mercy College, said the script tattoo of his first name creeping around his neck is a liability.
Mobeen, I feel for you because those laser treatments are going to hurt, but a neck tattoo was never a good idea. Some reasonably well-known comedian -- Ron White, perhaps -- has a whole routine about neck tattoos. Apparently you have not heard it.
Anyway, the article goes on to say that the majority of tattoo-removal customers are middle-aged women. No surprise there, since middle-aged women are also the biggest market for aesthetic surgery.
5 Comments:
By 
, at
Mon May 25, 06:06:00 AM:
Middle-age and old women with tattoos just scream "yeah, I was a skank when I was younger". IMO the tramp stamp phenomenon was a low point in decorating the female form.
Neck tats say "I'm in a gang, or did time in the joint". Definitely not going to get you to most Board Rooms, or for that matter, most responsible jobs.
By Robert Arvanitis, at
Mon May 25, 06:54:00 AM:
Just out of curiousity -- what sort of interview, for what kind of job, would ever reveal a tramp stamp?
By , at
Mon May 25, 07:23:00 AM:
Walking into a suburban NJ mall yesterday, I saw a mom with kids. The mom was sporting tats on her breasts -- she was wearing a scoop-neck tee, so the art was on display. I found myself wondering "what was she thinking?" And, "what do her kids think of this?"
When this woman hits middle age and things start to sag, it will not be pretty. Indeed, it isn't pretty now. It just says "I'm an idiot."
By 
Dawnfire82, at
Mon May 25, 05:11:00 PM:
Tattoos are far more acceptable these days than they used to be, especially in urban/metropolitan (and even more especially liberal) environs.
To deny a qualified applicant a job because they have ink on their body is retarded. The only reason I can think of to deny a tattooed applicant is if the position requires that the employee represent the company to another interest and therefore has to maintain a certain image. (same reason they'd have dress and appearance codes)
By , at
Mon May 25, 11:31:00 PM:
Some years ago my niece, then 16, asked me what I thought about her getting a tattoo. I told her to get a tattoo that would look good on her mother. When she asked why, I said to her " because in twenty years, you are going to be your mother". She said " Oooohh."
She never did get a tattoo.
