Although tattooing was likely common in prehistoric times, it's a difficult subject to study due to the scarcity of surviving examples.

In 2021, a company called Ephemeral Tattoo launched a tattoo ink "made to fade" — that the body would dissolve. Three years later, some clients say -- they haven't faded well.

Anesthesia tattoos aren't cheap. For instance, a back tattoo while under general anesthesia, Lacoste says, tends to cost between $30,000 to $35,000, depending on the design.