What You Can Do About A Tattoo You No Longer Want
When you get a tattoo, the last thing you may think is that one day you will no longer want it on your body. Whether it is a name you want to erase from your past or simply a tattoo that no longer holds any meaning to you, you may be weighing your options for getting rid of that tattoo that you no longer want. Get to know some of the options that are available to you so that you can move on from the ink that you now regret.
A Tattoo Cover-Up
One of the ways that you can get rid of a tattoo that you no longer want is to cover it up. Tattoo artists regularly get requests from customers to tattoo over and around existing tattoos so that the original tattoo is no longer visible.
The idea of covering up your tattoo will only work in certain situations. There must be room in the area for a larger tattoo, for example (and you must be willing to have a larger tattoo instead of a small one). Your tattoo also needs to be quite small or have some empty space to fill in around it and incorporate it into a new design.
If you want to cover your current tattoo with a new one, talk to a few reputable tattoo artists in your area and have them draw up a few sketches of design ideas. That way, you will be able to best decide if a cover-up tattoo is right for your situation.
Laser Tattoo Removal
If you would rather remove your tattoo, there are many options available to you. One of the best tattoo removal options is laser tattoo removal. Laser tattoo removal works by using concentrated light energy (the laser) to create thermal energy which is then used to break up the pigments in the tattoo ink in your skin.
This procedure is usually done over the course of several sessions. The pigments in the ink will not all disappear immediately after a single session of the laser. However, with each session, you will notice more and more fading on your tattoo. Black ink is generally the most receptive to the laser treatment, though color tattoos can be removed using this method as well.
When you go through the laser tattoo removal process, you will need to be careful of infection at the tattoo site. The skin in the area will be irritated and inflamed which can lead to further problems. However, with soothing antibiotic ointments, you should be able to avoid infection. There is also a minimal risk of scarring or changes in skin pigmentation at the tattoo removal site. These risks can be managed with proper care of the site with ointments and creams to keep the skin nourished and moisturized.
Now that you know a few of the ways that you can get rid of a tattoo that you no longer want, you can schedule your appointments and move on from your tattoo mistake of the past.
