Options For Regrettable Tattoos

Tattoo artists always hate when they hear stories about people regretting their tattoos. As more people are getting them it’s only fitting that the rate of regret and removal increased too. Whether it’s design, time, or a bad artist, the reason for regret are numerous. Luckily, so are the options for removal.

Laser Removal

Laser removal is the most popular option for completely removing a tattoo. The ink is targeting with pulses of concentrated light that break down the ink. The bad news it that it takes at least 10 treatments for the tattoo to be fully removed. This is less if you only go in for a partial fading. The more treatments you get the more your skin gets damaged which means blisters, scabs, and scarring are all possible side effects of laser removal. This process is incredibly painful and it’s pretty pricey. Colored ink, especially blues and greens, are significantly harder to remove also.

Intense Pulsed Light Therapy

IPL is another treatment option that is gaining popularity. It’s similar to laser removal. A high-intensity light is emitted from a wand onto the targeted areas. This method is a lot less painful than laser but unfortunately, it is also more expensive. It’s relatively new so specialists aren’t sure about recommending it or not yet.

Dermabrasion

This is an old school removal option that isn’t used much today. It involved “sanding” or “blasting” away the top layers of skin through abrasive friction. If it sounds painful that’s because it is. It’s also not super effective, which is part of the reason it’s not even offered in most places anymore.

Tattoo Creams

Tattoos creams claim to lighten and fade tattoo ink. If this sounds too good to be true because it is. Most of them don’t work or at least don’t work effectively enough to match their hefty prices. Chances are they won’t work but if you really want to try them there aren’t really any side effects other than a loss of money.

Cover Up

Cover-ups are a good option for some people. A skilled artist that specializes in or has experience with cover-ups can give you a new ink to replace the bad one. If done well you can’t even see the old one at all. Cover-ups are only good if it’s the design, not the idea or placement of the tattoo, that you regret. A good cover-up can be expensive depending on the size and detail needed. Look at artist portfolios to make sure you’re not getting another bad one. Colored tattoos are harder to cover up and may require some laser fading first.

Restoration

Ink fades and spreads as time goes on causing some people to fall out of love with their tattoo. In this case, restoration might be the option for you. Top tattoo artists can go over old pieces and bring them back to life. Be sure to find an artist that specializes in this.

Conclusion

Tattoo regret is unfortunate but there are tons of reasons people regret tattoos. In order to avoid regret always research your artist, make sure you love your design, and think about the long term. Thankfully, there are far more options out there for removal than there used to be. Contact our Toronto tattoo shop today to set up an appointment for cover-ups or restoration.