Ethan “ModBoy” Bramble, a 24-year-old Australian man, has spent much of his young life transforming his appearance through extensive body modifications and tattoos, ultimately covering nearly his entire body in ink. His fascination with body alteration began early—at just 11 years old, he underwent his first modification by stretching his ears, a decision that would set the stage for more dramatic procedures in the years to come, including splitting his tongue and even surgically removing his belly button.
Over time, he collected more than 200 tattoos and spent roughly $60,000 AUD, which is about $39,000 USD, on his transformation. While tattoos and body modifications can be a powerful form of self-expression, Bramble eventually came to a realization that would lead him down a very different path. As he matured and especially after becoming a father, he started to experience regret—not necessarily for all the work he had done to his body, but for the extreme extent to which he had taken it, particularly the tattoos on his face. His perspective shifted dramatically as he began to see how others reacted to him, especially when he was with his daughter.
The judgmental stares, the unspoken assumptions, and the whispers didn’t just affect him—they began to weigh on him as a father, concerned about how these reactions might impact his child. In a heartfelt interview on the LadBibleTV show No Filter, Bramble opened up about these feelings, admitting that while he doesn’t regret all his tattoos, he wishes he hadn’t gone so far, especially with the ones on his face. He explained that there’s a difference between regretting a tattoo and wanting to change how people perceive you, and in his case, it was the latter that pushed him to begin the process of transformation. Bramble noted that people often treat him differently and that he feels the judgment in their eyes, particularly when they see him in a parenting role.
He didn’t want his daughter to be subjected to unnecessary judgment or uncomfortable questions about his appearance until she was old enough to understand. With that in mind, he made the decision to undergo laser tattoo removal, focusing on his face. For the past year, he has been undergoing laser treatments, a slow and often painful process, performed in stages. According to Bramble, he has already gone over the entire area six or seven times, and he expects it will take at least two more years for his face tattoos to fade significantly. He shared that the reason behind this choice wasn’t just about public perception but also about his mental health. Bramble revealed that he had been dealing with anxiety and suspected that a big part of that anxiety was connected to the overwhelming visual presence of his tattoos, especially those on his face.
While he says he’s still okay with how he looks now, he finds comfort in knowing that his appearance will gradually shift back to something less extreme. He described the process as “clearing the canvas,” an emotional and symbolic way of starting fresh without erasing his past. His story is a powerful example of how becoming a parent can change a person’s priorities and influence even the most deeply ingrained aspects of their identity. It’s not a rejection of who he was, but rather a conscious choice to redefine who he wants to be—for himself, and more importantly, for his daughter. Ethan’s journey is a reminder that transformation doesn’t always come from adding more to ourselves; sometimes it’s about letting go of what no longer serves us, even if it once did. His decision to remove the tattoos from his face is a deeply personal one, driven by love, reflection, and the hope of giving his daughter a different experience—one where she isn’t burdened by the assumptions others make based on how her father looks. His transformation is ongoing, both on the outside and within, and it’s a testament to the power of growth, parenthood, and the courage to change direction when it matters most.
