Brazil’s Most Tattooed Man Undergoes Painful Laser Removal After Religious Conversion
Leandro de Souza, once recognized as Brazil’s most tattooed man with more than 170 designs covering 95% of his body, is undergoing an extensive tattoo removal process following a religious conversion. The 36-year-old photographer from BagĂ©, in Brazil’s southernmost state, said the decision marks a personal and spiritual turning point.
De Souza gained national recognition in 2023 when he won the title of “most tattooed” at the Santa Rosa International Tattoo Expo. His ink, heavily inspired by rock bands including Nirvana and Guns N’ Roses, transformed him into a walking canvas over two decades.
After embracing evangelical Christianity two years ago, he decided to erase his tattoos, citing discomfort with his appearance. “I didnât feel good, it didnât suit me anymore. There came a time when I felt like a circus attraction,” he told O Globo.
The tattoo removal, carried out at a SĂŁo Paulo studio, has been offered free of charge. De Souza has already completed five sessions on his face, describing them as “horrible” despite anesthesia. The procedure is expected to take up to eight sessions in total.
Medical experts note that tattoo removal is far more painful and time-intensive than the tattooing process itself. De Souza compared the experience, telling G1: “If you imagine that a person goes there to remove one from their finger and already complains of pain, imagine a session on the entire face, which involves three types of laser.”
The studio overseeing the procedure framed his transformation as symbolic. “Tattoos donât define character,” the team stated. “What transforms a life are choices, effort, and the determination to move forward. In this process, tattoo removal reflects a much larger internal change that helps align the external image with the new identity being constructed.”
De Souzaâs shift is also tied to broader personal challenges. Following a divorce, he faced addiction, homelessness, and time in prison. Today, he says he is sober, employed, and committed to supporting his son and regaining guardianship of his elderly mother.
While no longer tattooing, De Souza does not condemn body art. Instead, he urges caution, especially for visible tattoos. “Think carefully before getting a face tattoo because I regret it,” he told CNN Brazil. He explained that cost and access once pushed him further than he might have chosen. “I was in the tattoo business, and back then, I didnât pay for these face tattoos. I got paid by the tattoo artist I worked with. And I regretted it.”
Between sessions, De Souza relies on ointments, ice, and exercise to support recovery. He continues to share updates on Instagram, where he documents the fading outlines of his tattoos alongside messages of faith and sobriety.
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