Have you ever gotten a tattoo you regretted almost immediately after it? If so, you're not alone. Studies have shown that as many as one in four people regret their tattoos.
There are a few ways to fix a tattoo you don't like. One option is to get it removed. This can be a costly and painful process, however. Another option is to cover it up with another tattoo. This can be a good way to turn a negative into a positive.
If you're unhappy with your tattoo, there are a few ways to fix it. Check out this guide to learn how to fix a tattoo you don't like.
Why I Don't Like My Tattoo Anymore?
Some argue that tattoos are highly addicting, and because of this addiction, many individuals acquire tattoos without giving them any thought. You could be unsure about what to do if the design doesn't exactly fit your personality or the outcome is unfavorable.
Other causes for your change of heart might be spiritual in nature. Whatever the cause, you may attempt one of these professional-recommended fixes to improve your less-than-ideal tattoo.
How Frequently Do Individuals Regret Getting A Tattoo?
There are many statistics about tattoos, including information on the number of individuals with tattoos, the number of people with many tattoos, and the average age at which a person gets their first tattoo.
The amount of people who regret having a tattoo is something that is less frequently discussed, at least not openly.
It's hardly surprising that some individuals have second thoughts, given the surge in tattoo parlors and the quantity of skin being covered.
- 2,225 American people were polled by Harris Poll recently on their biggest regrets. They stated the following:
- When they received the tattoo, they were too young.
- They no longer suit the tattoo's aesthetic or alter their personality.
- They obtained the name of a former companion.
- The tattoo seems amateurish or like it was done improperly.
- The tattoo has no real meaning.
- The initial poll we cited also questioned participants about the body parts with the most unfortunate tattoo placements. These include the buttocks, upper back, upper arms, hips, and face.
For Dustin Tyler, regretting his tattoos resulted from either the design or the placement.
"A tribal tattoo I received on my back when I was 18 is the tattoo I detest the most. I'm 33 right now," he states. He doesn't want to cover it up completely, but he does want to do a cover-up with something he loves more.
How soon do individuals usually start regretting getting tattoos?
Some individuals never get over their joy and happiness and treasure their tattoos for the rest of their lives. Others may feel remorse starting as soon as the following day.
According to Advanced Dermatology, nearly 1 in 4 of those who regretted their choice within the first few days had done it on the spur of the moment, whereas 5% of those polled said they had planned their tattoo for several years.
Following that, the figures considerably increased, with 21% claiming that regret set in around the one-year mark and 36% admitting that it took some time before they began to second-guess their choice.
Javia Alissa, who has over 20 tattoos, claims that she regrets one of them.
When she was 19, she had the Aquarius sign tattooed on her hip. A year later, she began to regret the decision when a classmate saw that it resembled sperm (it was extremely poorly done).
Even worse, she is a Pisces rather than an Aquarius. She doesn't have any intentions to remove it, but she could want to conceal it.
What Can You Do To Lessen Your Likelihood Of Regret?
In life, most choices are followed by some level of regret. It's beneficial to consider some professional advice that might reduce your likelihood of regretting your tattoo.
For the past 15 years, Max Brown of Brown Brothers Tattoos in Chicago, Illinois, has been tattooing people in and around the city. He is well-versed in techniques for reducing the likelihood of regretting a tattoo.
Brown advises focusing on the location initially. He claims that some places "simply don't heal as effectively as others."
Tattoos on the fingers, particularly those on the sides, frequently don't heal properly. According to Brown, this is because the side and underneath of hands and feet don't often respond appropriately because of how they are used in daily tasks and performance.
Next, you should consider the tattoo's design. In particular, in high-exposure parts of the body like the arms, wrists, and necks, he says, tattoos without black ink "tend to fade unevenly, and without the black lines to anchor, can become soft and fuzzy and difficult to read once healed and aged."
Finally, Brown warns against what he refers to as the "tattooer's curse," which is the reluctance he and other tattoo artists experience when requested to tattoo a lover's name out of concern that they may curse the union.
Tyler advises anybody considering getting a tattoo to ensure they are doing it for themselves and not because it is a trendy design. Because it will be permanently attached to your body, give it much thought.
Alissa advises waiting to see whether you still want a tattoo in six months if you want one but aren't sure it's the correct choice. She predicts you won't regret it if you do.
How To Fix Bad Tattoos
Covering off the tattoo
Step 1: Cover it with clothes.
If possible, dress in long-sleeved shirts, coats, jeans, etc., to hide the tattoo.
Using clothes to conceal the tattoo is a reasonably simple temporary solution if you're not ready to go the more permanent (and expensive) path of getting a cover-up tattoo or having laser removal done.
Online vendors provide flesh-colored tattoo-covering sleeves in sizes that cover the entire arm, the lower or upper arm, the wrist, and the ankle.
Step 2: Use makeup to cover up the tattoo.
Find a foundation with high coverage that matches the color of your skin close to the tattoo.
You may get particular makeup items for hiding tattoos online or at numerous beauty supply stores.
Making your tattoo invisible using cosmetics can help you cope with it in the short term, yet it's also not ideal for the long run.
Step 3: Get a cover-up tattoo
The existing tattoo is often covered up with a new, bigger one in a cover-up.
Locate a tattooist or studio specializing in cover-ups that can provide you with a portfolio of great work. You want to ensure that it will be done correctly this time if it wasn't the first time.
You'll require a design that is dramatically larger than the original tattoo.
By working with your artist, create a design that will complement the previous one's attributes. You'll want a design that can incorporate the previous tattoo and then disguise it because it might be challenging to cover over a fresh tattoo.
Most cover-up tattoos are colored to better blend in with the existing ink. Tattoos with a tribal design are usually the exception.
Getting Laser Removal
Step 1: Research laser removal.
Tattoo removal using lasers is typically time-consuming, expensive, and unreliable.
It might not be feasible to entirely erase a tattoo, depending on its depth, type of ink, and location.
Step 2: Find out if you're a strong candidate.
Make sure you're a good candidate before you sign up because laser removal won't work for everyone. Before committing, schedule a consultation. Laser removal can worsen if you've already had various tattoo removal methods that left scars behind after treating your tattoo.
However, if your tattoo has previously undergone treatment with just little scarring, laser therapy could be effective.
Research renowned dermatologists in step three. Ensure the removal person has a proven track record of producing a high-quality job with few adverse effects.
Ask your primary care physician or dermatologist to recommend a tattoo removal specialist whose work they are familiar with and confident in.
Step 4: Research the technology.
Before opting for laser removal, thoroughly investigate what a laser treatment does.
Laser therapies employ pulsed Q-switched lasers to break the ink particles apart for the body's immune system to absorb the ink particles. The broken-up ink particles will go to the lymph nodes, where they will stay.
A tattoo may usually be removed in 5–10 sessions spread out over several weeks. Although prices differ, on average a session will cost around $200. Unless it is medically required, most insurance companies won't pay the expense of tattoo removal.
Step 5: Understanding the process.
Please ensure you are familiar with both the technology and the surgery so there are no unpleasant surprises once you have committed to it.
A laser tattoo removal session will typically go as follows:
- Before starting, the doctor may inject you with painkillers or topical anesthetic. You'll also be given safety eyewear.
- To direct the laser, the doctor will place a hand-held instrument on your skin. Each laser pulse should feel similar to being snapped by a rubber band or splattered with hot oil.
- The doctor will likely administer ice or a cold compress after the laser has been used to treat the whole region before bandaging it.
- The doctor may then prescribe a topical lotion for you to apply to the area regularly.
Step 6: Be aware of any possible adverse effects.
Although laser removal is typically a risk-free treatment, there are some potential adverse effects, such as Infection: If the tattoo location is not adequately treated, an infection may develop.
Scarring: There is a remote possibility that the procedure will scar you permanently.
The likelihood that the skin in the treated region will become either lighter or darker than the surrounding skin is known as hypo- or hyperpigmentation.
What You Should Know About Tattoo Removal
You should first stop being so harsh on yourself if you regret the artwork that is now covering your arm. Since guess what? It's not just you.
Many individuals alter their minds a few days after getting a tattoo. Good news: You can always get it taken off.
If your tattoo is still healing, use this time to consider your removal choices and choose a dependable expert to take care of it for you.
How Long Should I Wait To Have It Removed?
Usually, you have to wait until your tattoo is fully healed before even thinking about having it removed. Check out our article for how long does it take for a tattoo to heal!
Dr. Richard Torbeck, a board-certified dermatologist at Advanced Dermatology, P.C., advises patients to wait at least six to eight weeks before getting a tattoo removed. However, healing times might vary.
He says that "delayed tattoo responses that might occur with particular colors can be rectified by doing this."
It also gives you time to consider the situation and determine if this is what you want. Because, as Torbeck points out, removal may be just as traumatic and irreversible as getting the tattoo.
When you're prepared to proceed with removal physically and psychologically, it's time to decide which course is best for you.
Options for Removal
According to board-certified dermatologist Dr. Elizabeth Geddes-Bruce of Westlake Dermatology, laser treatments are the most popular and efficient method of tattoo removal.
She continues, "Sometimes patients want to scar the region instead, and mechanical dermabrasion can occasionally be successful."
Lastly, according to Geddes-Bruce, a tattoo can be medically erased by removing the skin, covering the region with a graft, or immediately sealing it (assuming there is enough skin available).
A dermatologist with board certification is ideal to discuss and carry out any of these procedures.
Removal fees
According to Geddes-Bruce, "the cost of tattoo removal depends on the size, intricacy, and competence of the professional removing your tattoo. Various colors require different laser wavelengths; thus, treatment will take longer.
Additionally, there are significant regional variations. However, she claims that on average, it probably varies between $200 and $500 every treatment.
Several respectable tattoo removal companies provide free tattoo removal for gang-related tattoos. One such business is Homeboy Industries.
What To Do About Anxiety And Regret
It's not unusual to feel remorse after having a tattoo very away, especially if you're used to seeing your body in a specific manner, and it now appears to be different.
Allow yourself to wait it out to help you deal with whatever anxiety or remorse you may be experiencing right now. Or let the event sink in.
You could need some time to adjust to or grow into the tattoo. Also, keep in mind that you have the choice to start the eradication procedure or cover up your regret or fear if they don't go away.
And lastly, it might be time to get professional treatment if your tattoo makes you extremely depressed or anxious.
You may work through these emotions and potentially find other triggers or reasons for your symptoms by discussing the source of your anxiety and depression with your doctor or a mental health expert.
FAQs
Is It Normal To Not Like Your Tattoo At First?
After having a tattoo, people frequently alter their minds. In fact, according to one poll, 600 participants confessed they regretted getting at least one tattoo. The good news is that you may take steps to reduce your risk of regret both before and after having a tattoo.
Is There A Cream To Remove Tattoos?
Hydroquinone and trichloracetic acid (TCA). TCA successfully eliminates most of the tattoo ink by scraping off the top layer of skin and penetrating some of the deeper layers. The melatonin is decreased by the skin lightening and bleaching agent hydroquinone, which also fades the colors in the epidermis.
Will Lemon Juice Remove A Tattoo?
Salt and Lemon
Lemon juice has bleaching capabilities, and salt is an excellent source of sodium and chlorine. Lemon juice's vitamin C rehydrates the skin, while salt's ability to penetrate deeply into the skin aids ink's fading. Consequently, using lemon juice in this manner is a beautiful technique to erase a permanent tattoo.
What Is The Fastest Method For Tattoo Removal?
Laser treatments are the most reliable method of tattoo removal. With little harm to the surrounding skin, lasers target the pigment in the tattoo ink. Dermatologists are one sort of service or company that offers laser treatments.
What Oils Cause Tattoo Fading?
Tea tree oil can upset your skin's PH balance and harm the moisture barrier, making your tattoos appear faded and drab. Tea tree oil might result in dryness and allergic skin reaction.
Does Coconut Oil Remove Tattoo Fading?
Because coconut oil has a relatively minimal risk of allergies, it is safe to use. Coconuts are entirely natural, in contrast to the several synthetic components included in many ointments and lotions. Although allergic responses can happen, they are pretty uncommon. Your tattoo won't deteriorate if you use coconut oil.
Conclusion
If you're considering getting a tattoo, remember to take some time to think about what you want and why you want it. It's also important to be aware that it's normal to feel some anxiety or regret after getting a tattoo, and there are things you can do to work through those feelings. Ultimately, the decision is up to you, but your choice must be thoughtful and deliberate.
