Up until recently, Leandro de Souza was known as the most tattooed man in Brazil. Now, he is undergoing a painful process to remove 95% of the tattoos that once covered his body.
Leandro, 35, started his tattoo journey as a teenager. “I got my first tattoo at 13,” he told G1, a Brazilian news outlet. Inspired by his favorite rock bands like Nirvana, Guns N’ Roses, and Metallica, he continued adding tattoos over the years.
But Leandro’s life took a difficult turn after divorcing his wife ten years ago. Struggling to cope, he started using drugs. It began with cocaine, then escalated to a mix of ecstasy, LSD, and alcohol for nearly nine years.
“I couldn’t handle my life anymore,” he said. “I felt like a circus attraction everywhere I went.”
Leandro’s wake-up call came when he entered a shelter in Bagé, Brazil, where he encountered evangelism. This moment changed everything for him.
“The first step is accepting that you can’t do it alone,” Leandro explained. “You have to admit you’re an addict.”
A woman at the shelter began to guide him spiritually, and soon after, Leandro decided to change his life completely. This included removing the 170 tattoos he had accumulated over two decades.
Two years ago, Leandro marked a big milestone—one year free from drugs and cigarettes. He hasn’t had alcohol in over three years and now spends his time preaching to others, including families and children in prisons.
The tattoo removal process isn’t easy. Leandro has already had two laser sessions and will need six more, each lasting about 30–40 minutes. The sessions are spaced three months apart.
“It’s much more painful than getting the tattoos done,” he said. “Even with anesthesia, the pain is three times worse.”
Leandro is committed to the process, saying it symbolizes his new path in life. Despite the challenges, he is determined to leave his old life behind and embrace his fresh start.
