TATTOO REMOVAL PROGRAM vs

A LOCAL TATTOO REMOVAL PROGRAM (AT DOMINICAN HOSPITAL) HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE 1997, AND IS HELPING ABOUT 300 FORMER GANG MEMBERS A YEAR. STARTED BY DERMATOLOGIST DR. MORGAN MAGID, THE PROGRAM IS CREDITED WITH ALLOWING PEOPLE TO REGAIN THEIR DIGNITY AND SELF-ESTEEM, AS WELL AS GETTING AWAY FROM GANG LIFE. AFTER GAINING CONFIDENCE, INDIVIDUALS CAN MORE EASILY FIND AN HONEST JOB. PRESENTLY 7 DOCTORS IN OUR AREA ARE VOLUNTEERING THEIR TIME TO REMOVE THE VISIBLE TATTOOS. DERMATOLOGISTS AND PLASTIC SURGEONS GIVE THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS TO THE PROGRAM WHICH OFFERS THE REMOVALS AT A REDUCED COST. HOW MUCH THEY ACTUALLY PAY, WILL VARY ACCORDING TO A PATIENT'S ABILITY. ALSO TO GET INTO THE PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS MUST PERFORM AT LEAST 20 HOURS OF VOLUNTEER COMMUNITY SERVICE.