I have my ears pierced. Did it myself when I was in highschool.
I also have one tattoo and have had one removed. Let me tell ya, having them removed hurts a helluva alot worse than getting one. I had my ex-husband's name tattooed in a rather precarious position. Had it removed with acid. They use a tattoo gun and go over the tattoo and then rub acid into it. A week later the darn thing just falls off (along with half your skin in that region). I would have gone the laser route, but it was just too damn expensive.