24-year-old dad, whose body is completely covered with more than 200 tattoos, removed them for the sake of his baby daughter

Most people carry a few regrets from their younger years—impulsive decisions, experiments with identity, moments of rebellion that feel distant with time. But for Ethan Bramble, better known online as “ModBoy,” those choices were not subtle or easily hidden. They were written across his skin in bold, permanent ink, visible to the world every single day.

Ethan, a 24-year-old father from Australia, became widely known for taking body modification to an extreme few ever consider. By his early twenties, his body was almost entirely covered with more than 200 tattoos. His appearance went far beyond conventional tattoo culture. Stretched ears, a split tongue, the removal of his belly button, and extensive facial tattoos transformed him into a walking statement of radical self-expression. What once felt like freedom, identity, and control would later become a source of reflection—and unexpected change.

Body modification has long been part of human history, from ancient rituals to modern tattoo artistry. In today’s world, tattoos are mainstream, often associated with creativity, individuality, and even luxury tattoo studios offering hyper-detailed custom designs. But Ethan’s journey began unusually early. At just 11 years old, he stretched his ears for the first time, marking the start of a path that would define much of his adolescence and early adulthood.

As the years went on, the modifications intensified. What started as curiosity evolved into a lifestyle. Ethan invested an estimated 60,000 Australian dollars into tattoos and procedures, transforming himself into a recognizable figure within extreme body art communities. Social media amplified his visibility, turning his appearance into both a personal brand and a public spectacle. For a time, the attention validated his choices.

But life has a way of shifting priorities.

Everything changed when Ethan became a father.

Holding his baby daughter forced him to look at himself through a different lens—not as an individual experimenting with identity, but as a parent responsible for another human being. The tattoos themselves did not suddenly lose meaning, but their consequences became clearer. He began to think not about how strangers judged him, but how those judgments might one day affect his child.

In interviews, Ethan has spoken openly about this turning point. He doesn’t frame his past as a mistake, but rather as a phase shaped by who he was at the time. Still, he admits that perception matters in ways he hadn’t considered before. Facial tattoos, in particular, became a source of anxiety. Simple daily activities—grocery shopping, medical appointments, imagining school drop-offs—started to carry emotional weight.

“It’s not about regret in the traditional sense,” he explained. “It’s about how I’m perceived, and how that perception could spill over onto my daughter.”

This awareness triggered something deeper than surface-level concern. Ethan began experiencing anxiety tied to his appearance, especially his face. Mental health, he realized, was intertwined with how the world reacted to him. In a society where first impressions still influence opportunity, trust, and social acceptance, his face had become a barrier rather than a canvas.

So he made a decision few expected.

Ethan began laser tattoo removal.

Laser tattoo removal is not a quick fix. It’s expensive, physically painful, and emotionally demanding. High-powered medical lasers break down ink particles beneath the skin, requiring multiple sessions spaced over months or even years. Dark pigments respond differently than lighter ones, and facial skin is especially sensitive. For Ethan, the process meant enduring repeated treatments over more than a year, often targeting small sections at a time.

He described the experience as both brutal and liberating. Session after session, the bold lines that once defined him began to fade. The transformation wasn’t instant, but it was undeniable. As the ink lifted, so did some of the psychological weight he’d been carrying.

“I’m clearing the canvas,” he said. Not to erase his past—but to make space for his future.

What’s important is that Ethan hasn’t rejected body art or self-expression. He’s been clear that he still appreciates tattoos and respects the culture surrounding them. His journey isn’t an anti-tattoo message. It’s a story about evolution, accountability, and how identity can change when responsibility enters the picture.

In a world obsessed with before-and-after transformations, Ethan’s story resonates because it isn’t driven by vanity or public pressure alone. It’s driven by parenthood, mental health awareness, and the desire to protect his child from unnecessary judgment. These are themes increasingly discussed in modern conversations around masculinity, fatherhood, and emotional intelligence.

His story also highlights a broader truth about personal branding in the digital age. When your appearance becomes your identity, changing it can feel like dismantling yourself piece by piece. Ethan’s willingness to do that—publicly, painfully, and honestly—speaks to a level of self-awareness many never reach.

Today, as his facial tattoos continue to fade, Ethan looks visibly different. The transformation surprises people who only knew him as “ModBoy.” But beneath the changing surface is the same person—just one who now defines himself not by shock value, but by purpose.

There is something powerful about watching someone choose growth over permanence. About understanding that self-expression doesn’t have to be static, and that strength sometimes looks like reversal rather than rebellion. Ethan’s journey challenges the idea that identity is fixed, reminding us that reinvention is not a betrayal of the past—it’s often a response to the future.

From extreme body modification to intentional change, from viral curiosity to devoted father, his story sits at the intersection of tattoo culture, mental health awareness, and modern parenting. It’s a reminder that the bravest transformations aren’t always the ones that add something new—but the ones that require letting go.

And for Ethan, that choice wasn’t about fitting in. It was about showing up differently for the person who matters most: his daughter.