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New regulations rule out nearly all free removals for troops

Whether it’s a Tijuana special or a daily reminder of a love long lost, tattoos often go awry. Such is the nature of having something permanently etched into your skin.

There was a time when that artwork gone wrong could be eliminated, free of charge, at larger military hospitals. But with changes in the Defense Department regulations for cosmetic surgery that took effect last year, free tattoo removal for troops is mostly a thing of the past.

No, that doesn’t mean you’re stuck with “Jenny 4 Ever.”

Elective tattoo removal is still available in the military health system, but the odds are strong you’ll have to pay for it.

At Naval Medical Center San Diego, for instance, troops who want to have a tattoo removed now start with their primary care provider, officials there said. This will generally lead to a referral to the Dermatology Laser Clinic, where the patient is evaluated and the work is sized up.

If there’s no room in the schedule, the patient goes on a 28-day waiting list, hospital officials said. No room for tattoo removal this month? The service member is instead referred to a civilian clinic and must absorb 100 percent of the removal cost.

Those lucky enough to make the waiting list get a bill up front, which must be paid in full before work begins, hospital officials said. The price varies — depending on the size of the tattoo, number of ink colors to be removed and so on — but is still generally considered competitive with, or even cheaper than, work done in a civilian clinic.

A few zaps with a laser, then a few more, then a few more, stretched out across multiple visits, and the offending ink is usually gone.

Civilian prices can vary, too, but figure on $35 per square inch or more, depending on size and colors. That’s per session, remember, so plan on dropping a serious chunk of change to remove the tattoo completely. Many of the civilian specialists we found offer discounts to military personnel, however, so be sure and take your ID to the appointment.

And keep in mind, these rules often don’t apply to command-directed tattoo removals and medically necessary reconstructive surgery, Defense Department health officials said.

That includes “traumatic tattoos” — patches of coloration on the skin caused by roadside bomb explosions or other on-the-job hazards — that would likely be fully covered under the military medical system and qualify for free removal.

While policies regarding what’s “prejudicial to good order and discipline” vary among the services, consider the acronym “RISE” as your rule of thumb. If it’s racist, indecent, sexist or extremist, don’t get it inked — or your commander may make a date for you with a laser.