While some people take pride in their scars, others consider scarred skin a blemish or a reminder of a bad experience. Scars can cause so much anxiety for some that they consider covering them up with tattoos. However, scar cover-up tattoos are different from regular tattoos. They require careful planning and lots of considerations. Here are some of them:
1 Set Your Expectations
You cannot merely go to a tattoo artist and ask them to hide your scar. It can be frustrating because you may end up needing to schedule several consultations. Plus, you also need to have realistic expectations. You have to wait for your body to completely heal before getting a tattoo because if not, you’ll end up disappointed. You also have to keep in mind that the tattoo is not something magical that can quickly erase your scar. It will not change the texture of your affected skin. Another thing to prepare for is that it’s not possible to cover all scars with a tattoo. It all depends on the quality of the scar. In general, scars with keloids are more difficult to tattoo.
2 Different Level of Pain
Getting a regular tattoo is painful as it is. Getting a scar cover-up tattoo will introduce you to a different level of pain unless there is nerve damage to the area that has caused you to lose a sense of pain. Scars, even if they healed several years ago, will no longer have the same skin integrity; that area will always be more sensitive to pain. Fresh scars are especially sensitive, and some tattoo artists will refuse to do the work. You also have to remember that tattooing on scarred skin requires follow-ups for possible touch-ups. Often scar tissue, when tattooed on, will have intense inflammation, and it can look rough while it heals. While this is normal and the skin will usually settle down, some tattoo artists will want to see how the tattoo settles down before doing any other work in that area.
3 Choose the Best Tattoo Artist
Scar cover-up tattoos require a tattoo artist who has extensive experience carrying out elaborate tattoo work. Plus, you also have to work with someone who practices hygienic tattooing procedures. Do not work with a tattoo artist who will insist on doing the tattoo even when your skin hasn’t completely healed yet or when there is still inflammation. Tattoos applied to irritated skin can reopen a wound and cause infection. Make sure that your skin is completely healed before beginning the tattoo session. Also, it is not recommended to have a tattoo done if your immune defense is low. Tattooing will cause inflammation, and you need to have your immune system ready to combat infections. If your tattoo results in infection because of a negligent tattoo artist, you may contact malpractice lawyers like Tinker Law Firm for a free consultation to see if you have a malpractice claim.
4 Repeated Sessions
As previously mentioned, scar tissue is not like normal skin tissue. And not all scars are the same. Some wounds won’t even take the ink during the first session. This is why you should work only with an experienced tattoo artist who has worked with scars before.
5 Choosing the Design
When choosing the tattoo design, it’s all a matter of personal preference. You can choose any design that you like. But, you also have to consult with your tattoo artist to ensure that your idea is feasible. You have to consider the complexity of the design concerning the location of the scar. Nobody is perfect. If you feel that hiding your scar will boost your self-esteem, then go for it. Just make sure that you take the necessary precautions because removing a tattoo is a different issue altogether. If you’re not sure, you can opt for a temporary make-up tattoo first before doing the real thing.
