Entry for New Look Laser Tattoo Removal Semiannual Scholarship

My entry for the New Look Laser Tattoo Removal Semiannual Scholarship (http://www.newlookhouston.com/TattooRemoval.html):

Many people reconsider their tattoo choice later in life. The rate of laser tattoo removal is higher than the rate for people receiving new tattoos. A well-chosen tattoo is important, especially because removing a tattoo is much more expensive and time consuming than getting one. There are plenty of videos on YouTube where a patient in a laser tattoo removal clinic tells the audience that they received their tattoo when they were younger, but have now decided that they've outgrown the design. Many of the YouTube videos are captivating to watch (after a brief, loud snap from the laser a little patch of whiteness appears on the skin where ink has been deposited), but they also illuminate the importance of a wisely chosen design. Size, pigment type and placement should be considered before committing to a design depending on future plans, lifestyle and personal preference. Deciding on a tattoo is an excellent example of how the decisions we make in the present may affect our lives in the future. As a general rule, it is always good to think about the long-term consequences of our immediate actions, and it is no different when considering tattoo designs.