“People judge me because of the tattoos, but I changed my life,” says Helen Villate, 22, of Hayward. “Removing the tattoos is very important to me - it means I am accomplishing my goal.”

Villate is one of hundreds of people in the East Bay who have benefited from Kaiser Permanente's Project New Start, a free service in which doctors remove gang and prison tattoos from people who have turned their lives around.

In Hayward and Fremont, thirty to fifty people arrive for tattoo removal sessions, which are held every other month on a Saturday. Program volunteers say that in recent months they have seen an increase in the number of people coming to remove their tattoos, which often require eight to twelve sessions to completely remove or fade.

“It’s nice to help these young people,” says Dr. Srinivas Ramachandra, who has volunteered for seven years and treated about 200 patients.

“Being a participant literally changes people’s lives,” adds Dr. Ramachandra. “It’s nice to hear people committing themselves and that’s what keeps us motivated to run the program.”

Jesse, 26, of Union City has had about ten removal sessions but still has some remaining tattoos. The married father of two young girls works as a truck driver and wanted to look professional to his company’s customers.

“It feels pretty good that people are not judging me – they are taking me serious,” says Jesse. He says he feels more of a responsible man when he looks at his daughters now. And he gives a lot of credit to his wife for the life transition he has made.

Like many people getting tattoos removed, Jesse admits that some of his tattoos represented a danger if seen by gang members. “The dots on my hand represented my crazy life, loca.”

“A few marks on their fingers can get them killed,” says Dr. Ramachandra, who mentions that most of the tattoos he removes are gang signs on fingers, toes, faces, and eyelids.

Participants in Project New Start are not only saving themselves from unwanted attention and harm, they are saving a lot of money - tattoo removal can cost up to $500 for each session and is not covered by insurance. Dr. Ramachandra says that to have a small tattoo less than one square inch removed by a private dermatologist costs about $300.  

“The project was launched with the support of the City of Hayward and the city continues to provide the support,” says Dr. Ramachandra. “Kaiser Permanente also deserves a lot credit for supporting us – they give us the facilities and supplies, they have been very generous.”

Helen Villate has seven tattoos on her neck, arms, and fingers. Some are related to gangs from when she was ‘banging’ -spending time with gang members.

“I didn’t want the lifestyle I was living anymore - I wanted to have a new life and the tattoos remind me of the gangs,” she says. “It makes me feel like I am really letting go of that lifestyle - it makes me feel really good.”

Villate says she doesn’t feel threatened by having the tattoos but feels that people judge her because of them. “I don’t feel threats because I changed my life and am not hanging out with those people anymore.”

Villate is pursuing a career in criminal justice and her goal is to become a probation officer for juvenile offenders. “I want to work with kids who are thinking of joining a gang and help them see that there is another way.”

“Kaiser has offered the program for more than a decade,” said coordinator Cindy Santiago, 40, who also volunteers. She said she hopes that helping people with criminal pasts or who have been tattooed while under the influence of drugs allows them to change their lives.

Santiago, who has worked for the program for twelve years, explains that the free tattoo removals are for people aged 13-25 who qualify for the program. They must live in Alameda County and need to complete fifty hours of community service.

“These people are now makings something of themselves, graduating college,” says Santiago. “It’s amazing to see the transition - all they need is a second chance and we give that to them.”

Helen Villate has clear advice for people who were in her situation. “If they are thinking of removing tattoos and starting a new life, I say go for it.”