Leandro De Souza, a 35-year-old father from Brazil, is undergoing laser tattoo removal after nearly two decades of accumulating over 170 tattoos. His first ink came at age 13, inspired by music idols, but a difficult divorce later pushed him into a decade of partying, drug use, and excessive tattooing. After a transformative visit to a shelter and discovering Evangelical faith, De Souza chose to change his life—quitting drugs and alcohol and starting the painful, lengthy tattoo removal process.

Now sober, De Souza shares his story to inspire others, including speaking with families of inmates. Tattoo removal, while effective, can leave scars and irritation, and methods range from lasers to surgery. Some, like De Souza, pursue removal for personal growth, while others might opt for cover-up tattoos instead.

Would you consider tattoo removal or a cover-up if your views or lifestyle changed?