Tattoo forever? This is often not the case. What you had tattooed in your youth may no longer appeal to you at the age of 30, 40 or 50. Don't worry: you can hide the "sins of youth" with a cover-up.
A tattoo is a decision for life. But do you always know what you want? People change, and that's completely normal. You continue to develop and then at some point the tattoo may no longer fit. That's completely natural. There are two ways to get rid of the tattoo: You can have the tattoo removed by laser, or you can opt for a cover-up.
Which option is right for you depends not only on your personal preferences, but also on the type and size of the tattoo and the area of the body. Incidentally, in many cases it comes down to a mixture: first a laser is applied, then a cover-up tattoo is created. This is because, contrary to the grandiose promises of many doctors, not all ink residue can be removed with a laser.
Laser: How does it work?
If you are still convinced, even after much thought, that the old tattoo really has to go, then the laser is probably the right choice. However, laser removal can be painful and often takes longer than getting the tattoo. Nevertheless, laser treatments are considered safe compared to the previously used methods with acid, files and/or liquid nitrogen.
The laser shoots intense and short flashes of light at a specific wavelength onto the tattoo from a very short distance. The flashes of light are barely visible, but penetrate up to 4 millimeters deep into the skin. They shatter the tattoo's color pigments into tiny fragments, which the body breaks down via the lymphatic system. You excrete these particles via the kidneys and intestines, at least for the most part. Some of the pigments and fragments probably remain in the body.
Of course, this is not done in a single session, but over several appointments. How many sessions are necessary depends on the size of the tattoo, the age and the motif. Some laser treatments take years. The situation is different if the laser treatment is "only" intended to prepare the tattoo for a cover-up. This can usually be done in just a few sessions.
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Not entirely safe, so please pay attention!
Laser tattoo removal is offered by many companies. However, only doctors are legally permitted to carry out these treatments. They do not have to work in a doctor's surgery, but can be employed in a tattoo studio and can also offer other cosmetic treatments as dermatologists.
Please make sure that the doctor treating you has the appropriate training for laser treatment! Because lasers are dangerous. High-quality medical laser systems are safe if they are operated correctly. If they are not operated correctly or other laser systems are used, the treatment is not safe, but can cause burns, inflammation and pigmentation disorders, often resulting in scars. Since January 2021, the law stipulates that laser removal may only be carried out by doctors with the appropriate training.
Cover-up tattoo: turn old into new
A cover-up is always used if you like tattoos in general but just can't do anything with one motif. There are two options: Either you opt for a pure cover-up, in which case the old tattoo is incorporated into the new design as it is. This means it no longer stands out, but becomes part of a new motif.
The second option is to partially remove or fade the old tattoo using a laser treatment. What is left of it can then be integrated into the new tattoo. Or the new tattoo covers the remains of the old one.
Cover-up tattoos require a lot of experience and artistic skill. So you should definitely look for an artist who has experience with cover-ups. Only then can you be sure that the result will be convincing.
Cover-up does not always work!
A cover-up is not like a sticker that you simply place over the old tattoo so that it disappears underneath. The old tattoo doesn't disappear at all, but (hopefully) blends seamlessly into the new tattoo. The motif of the cover-up must therefore not only suit you and your current life situation, but also be suitable for making the old tattoo fade into the background. It's not enough to "put something around it". A cover-up is not a frame, but actually makes the old tattoo visually disappear.
This is no easy task. Take your time when looking for a tattoo artist. Cover-ups are the supreme discipline in tattoo art. Take a close look at the repertoire of the artists in question. Make sure that the chemistry between you and your artist is right. Lengthy discussions and recommendations that are considered for a long time and then discarded are an essential part of the search for the right artist. Seek advice and ask questions.
Of course, all this costs time, nerves and money. But it should be worth it. Because you don't want to run the risk of having to cover the cover-up in a few years' time.
The details: How the artists work
We have already mentioned this: with a cover-up tattoo, the artist integrates the old motif into the new one. The new tattoo is therefore significantly larger than the old one. Colors and shapes must match, the style of the cover-up is often the same or very similar to your old tattoo. A classic skull in black (realism) can somehow be integrated into an Asian tattoo. But it will be difficult with other motifs.
The structure looks something like this: The artist creates a motif that is placed over and around the old tattoo like a blanket. The old tattoo therefore becomes part of this "blanket", which logically has to be larger than the original tattoo. The new motif is designed in such a way that the focus is on a previously untattooed area - the eye is thus drawn away from the old tattoo.
The colors of the new tattoo must be chosen so that the old one can blend in. The pigments of the old and the new tattoo will mix, which is why a cover-up always requires several layers of color. Some pigments can only be covered with black, others can be covered with more. However, the cover-up will always be darker than the old tattoo. Very dark tattoos are therefore bleached with a laser treatment before the cover-up is applied.
Different techniques for covering
There are actually very different ways to create a cover-up:
1. improve existing motifs: If your tattoo has only lost a little color and contour, you can simply touch it up. The tattoo is touched up and then looks like new again.
2. covering over originals: Small, light-colored tattoos are suitable for this form of cover-up. The old motif is covered over with a new tattoo. The new tattoo is naturally larger and darker than the old tattoo.
3. integrate old tattoos into a new design: If you don't want to or can't completely cover up your old tattoo, you can also have it integrated into a new motif. Sometimes this works wonderfully well stylistically (e.g. when the small, single rose on the forearm merges into a new carpet of flowers), but it can also be a total break in style. This is known as a blast-over.
These styles are suitable for cover-ups
Not every tattoo can be covered up so easily with a cover-up. A few conditions must be met for the new tattoo to look really good. Important factors are the size, color, depth of the old tattoo and your wishes regarding the new tattoo. These requirements predestine your tattoo for a cover-up:
- The tattoo is rather small, there is a lot of free skin all around in an area that is easy to tattoo.
- Your tattoo is monochrome or designed with few colors and is rather bright.
- The tattoo is already a little faded and looks "airy".
- Your tattoo consists of simple letters, numbers or lettering that your artist transforms into a colorful motif.
- Curved lines and shadows can be easily incorporated into a new motif (the aforementioned rose is one such motif) or can be concealed in the dark shadows of a new motif.
Intricate styles such as dotwork can be better hidden with a cover-up tattoo, but you can't make a massive tattoo disappear under dotwork. The new motif will always consist of traditional styles, neo-traditionals or tribals, and biomechanics are also suitable.
Even a cover-up needs to be maintained
Just like your first tattoo, your cover-up also needs to be cared for. After all, the motif should retain its intense color for a long time and the contours should remain clear and distinct. Make sure that the cover-up heals well!
Incidentally, you can also make unsightly scars from accidents or burns disappear under a tattoo. However, the scar must be completely healed for this. Make sure you find a tattoo artist who has experience with the different skin structure of scar tissue and can deal with it. Scar tissue heals differently, the cover-up will probably take several sessions and months to heal.