Tattoos are riding a new wave of popularity, thanks to shows like "L.A. Ink" and "Inked."

16% of Americans over the age of 18 have at least one tattoo.

For every tattoo, there's usually a story and a meaning behind it.

Some can be fun and light and some can mark a profound statement on its wearer's life.

The "Koi fish" has special meaning for Nathan Wilburn.

"The "Koi" symbolizes the eternal struggle in your life. They continuously swim upstream," explains Wilburn.

...and a "lotus flower" reveals Wilburn's recent loss.

"These flowers symbolize coming through a hard time and I recently lost my mother, so its going to be a continuous reminder of my mother," Wilburn continues.

Wilburn says his body art isn't for "show".

"I know some people get them to show or let people see their art, but to me they're a little more personal than that," says Wilburn.

Tattoo artist Wes Carter says many people get "inked" for very personal reasons.

"A lot of people memorialize a family member... children. They'll get tattoos for their children or just cool artwork," says Carter.

Young people aren't the only ones marking their bodies.

"A Western professor, he was in his 70's. He got an eagle globe and anchor, the Marine Corps emblem," recalls Carter.

Women are also getting "tatted up".

"I wanna get my Barker family crest on my ribs. Just to remember my name. I'll get married someday and lose my name, so it'd be nice to have the crest," says WKU student Candace Barker.

While tattoos were originally meant to be a life-long commitment,not everyone remains "inked" forever.

"The majority is probably women who have names of their exes: ex-boyfriends, ex-husbands, that they're wanting removed," says licensed tattoo removal expert Stacy Wall of Atalla Skin Restoration.

One person who had a "change of heart" is "Steve".

He's getting rid of his "guitar" and a "catholic cross" tattoos.

"Everyday in the mirror, you get ready and put on your clothes and you see it everyday. After a while, it gets kind of old sometimes," says "Steve".

A person can expect at least six months of laser treatment to get rid of a tattoo, which can sometimes be more painful than actually getting one.

Yet Steve says, for him... its a small price to pay.

"It will be well worth it," says "Steve" after being asked if he'll miss his tattoos.

But Wilburn says he'll never get rid of his tattoos because they represent who he is in a way words never will.

"I don't want to ever forget how long its taken me to get to a good point in my life where everything's going good for me. And also losing someone who was as close to being my best friend as possible. Its one of these things you want to remember, and this is how I want to remember it in a special way," says Wilburn.

You may be curious about which body parts are the most tattooed.

Both Wall and Carter say men usually tattoo their arms and chests the most.

On women, the lower back and ankles are the most popular places to get marked.

For more information click on the following sites:

vanishingtattoo.

tattoo finder

And for information on tattoo removal click here.