tattoo_dudeAs many a celeb can attest, itโ€™s sometimes easier to get rid of an ex than an exโ€™s name thatโ€™s been inked somewhere on their body.

And for these and other reasons, tat regret is at an all-time high.

About 1 in 5 US adults are now tattooed, and revenue for removals surged 440% over the last decade, to an estimated $75.5 million annually, according to recent reports.

And this may just be the tip of the iceberg. RealSelf noted more than half a million consumer searches on tattoo removal in 2014 alone, and a 40% increase in consumer searches in June 2014, compared with May 2014

In a new RealSelf survey of Americans that have at least one tattoo:

โ€ข 23% of respondents have considered tattoo removal, citing regret, impact on professional life, and past love as the main drivers.

โ€ข 18% feel that their tattoo has held them back from getting a job, date or other opportunityโ€ฆ

โ€ข โ€ฆbut 71% believe that society has become more accepting of tattoos in a professional setting.

RealSelf users spend an average of $850 on the tattoo removal process,ย  86% say it was “worth it,” and 98% of PicoSure consumers were very satisfied.