Regret doesn’t always arrive quietly. Sometimes it stares back from the mirror, etched into the skin as a reminder of choices made long before life took a different turn. For Australian father Ethan Bramble, once widely known online for his extreme body art, that moment came after becoming a parent. Covered in more than 200 tattoos and known for bold body modifications, Ethan’s appearance made headlines for years. But it was fatherhood—not public attention—that ultimately shifted how he saw himself.
Ethan began altering his body at a very young age, starting with stretched ears at just 11 years old. Over time, his commitment to body modification intensified, including facial tattoos, a split tongue, and even the removal of his belly button. By his own account, he spent tens of thousands of dollars transforming his appearance. While he has never denied being comfortable with self-expression through ink, he later admitted that some of his choices—especially facial tattoos—came with consequences he hadn’t fully considered at the time.
As his daughter grew older, Ethan began thinking less about personal identity and more about how the world might respond to her. He spoke openly about concerns that his appearance could attract judgment in everyday situations, such as school drop-offs or public outings. His reflections weren’t rooted in shame, but in awareness—recognizing that how others perceive him might unintentionally affect his child. That realization led him to begin laser tattoo removal, a process he described as both physically demanding and emotionally significant.
The transformation hasn’t been about erasing the past, but about creating space for the future. Ethan has explained that reducing his facial tattoos has helped ease anxiety and given him a sense of clarity moving forward. While he remains at peace with who he is, he’s also embraced the idea of change—one layer at a time. His journey is a reminder that growth doesn’t mean rejecting who you were; sometimes it means adjusting who you are for the people who matter most.