De-Inked: Tattoo removal program launches new lives

“This stuff [tattoos] in the game can potentially be a death sentence,” he said.

But that all changed for Abalos when he discovered a unique program that aims to help reformed gang members as well as survivors of domestic abuse and human trafficking — who are sometimes branded by perpetrators — move on from their troubled past and better their chances with employers.

Organized by the Redwood City Police Department, the San Mateo Sheriff’s Office and others, the Tattoo Removal Program since 1996 has offered free laser tattoo removal to 2,200 people looking to turn their lives around; participants must be in school or working, pass background checks and contribute 20 hours of community service to qualify.

The program relies on doctors and nurses who have volunteered more than 1,000 hours over the years, and some have been with the program since its inception. But others have since retired or moved out of the area so the program is now looking for local medical professionals with tattoo removal experience to volunteer a minimum of six hours per year.

The program has administered 44,000 treatments to date.

“It’s very difficult to escape gang life, it becomes your identity and changing an identity is extremely difficult. We help them with the last thing they need to erase their past,” said Manuel Velarde, juvenile specialist with the Redwood City Police Department and co-founder of the program. “These individuals go back to the community and bring a message that law enforcement is there to help so it’s a good example of community policing.”

Velarde added that tattoo removal can cost as much as $500 for a small one. A fundraiser five years ago brought in $180,000, enough to buy the state-of-the-art Cynosure Medlite C6 laser machine used today.

“When people get their tattoos removed they’re very thankful, it’s like a celebration and their family shows up,” he said.

For Abalos, it was certainly an emotional experience.

“After my first treatment, I went home and cried because wow, a new me,” he said.

Abalos inked his first homemade tattoo at the age of 9, and others in jail by lighting a flame under an empty bag of chips, and then scraping the ensuing soot, which is combined with shampoo to create the ink.

Velarde said homemade tattoos like those are especially hard to remove and require about 10 to 12 treatments, while professional tattoos can disappear after seven to eight treatments, each of which take only minutes to complete but must be spaced out over periods of about eight weeks for the skin to heal.

Heather Saturaino, who grew up in San Bruno, is in the process of removing eight gang-related tattoos, including three dots on her face. She said she always wore long sleeves to cover her tattoos, which became increasingly burdensome when she decided to open a day care center.

“I was embarrassed and nervous parents would judge me, and I didn’t want the attention that came with my tattoos — the wrong kind of people would compliment them,” she said. “I wanted to be a better role model to my children. It’s not who I am anymore and I felt like they were defining me and it was such a relief when the first one disappeared.”

Saturaino is raising her four children as she grows her day care business and added she hopes to finally be able to wear a wedding dress without feeling “gross” about her tattoos.

Abalos, meanwhile, has been working in affordable housing for MidPen Housing for three years and hopes his story can offer perspective for young people.

“Hopefully, I’ll get the opportunity to talk to some kids at juvenile hall as I know what it’s like to spend time there and I’ll be grateful if I can touch just one kid’s life and explain how gangs are not good for you and tattoos in general can have a big impact,” he said. “You don’t see that when you’re young, but it can have long-term effects that follow you.”

zachary@smdailyjournal.com

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