Tattoos can be a great way to pay homage to something meaningful in your life. When done right, they can be quite beautiful and compliment your aesthetic.
Unfortunately, there are instances where people end up regretting their tattoos. Sometimes, this is due to the tattoo artist doing a poor job. Other times, people get tattoos on impulse without really thinking it through, and other times, people simply outgrow their tattoos and don’t like the look of them anymore.
If you’re experiencing tattoo regret, what should you do?
Read on to learn how to deal with a bad tattoo.
Understand Tattoo Regret
Before we dive into how to deal with tattoo regret, let’s first talk a bit about the psychology of tattoo regret. First of all, you should never feel embarrassed about regretting a tattoo. A lot of people experience tattoo regret and for a variety of different reasons.
A recent Harris Poll surveyed over 2200 adults and asked them about their tattoo regrets. Here are the main reasons why people felt regret about their tattoos:
- They got their tattoo when they were too young
- They tattooed someone’s name on them that they’re no longer with
- The tattoo no longer feels meaningful
- Their personality changed and the tattoo no longer fits their lifestyle
While some people cherish their tattoos forever, others begin to regret them the next day. According to a report by Advanced Dermatology, 1 in 4 people who regret their tattoos within the first few days said their decision to get a tattoo was spontaneous.
This is why it’s always important to carefully plan out your tattoo and think about it for a while so you don’t experience regret.
How to Deal With a Bad Tattoo
What do you do if you’re feeling regret about your tattoo? Don’t let the anxiety build up in you for too long, as you have options. You have two main choices: get the tattoo removed or get it covered up. Let’s talk about what each of these options entails:
Tattoo Removal
When it comes to tattoo removal, you have two options: laser removal and surgical removal. Both methods are effective, however, surgical removal is the only way to guarantee that the tattoo gets completely removed. But, this method does leave a scar.
Laser tattoo removal is by far the most popular method, so we’re going to focus on that one.
Tattoo Removal Process
The process will begin by meeting with a laser tattoo removal specialist to discuss your tattoo. The specialist will examine your tattoo to determine how many sessions you need to completely remove it.
After the consultation, you’ll schedule the tattoo removal appointment. Before the appointment, you typically need to apply some numbing cream to the area and let it sit for about an hour. Your removal specialist can help you with the application if you’re not comfortable doing it on your own.
If you’re looking for a removal specialist in your area, click here to find “tattoo removal near me.”
During the appointment, the technician will use a laser that emits intense beams of light through the top layer of your skin to break up the tattoo ink. While this does involve some level of pain, it’s bearable.
How much pain you experience will depend on where the tattoo is located and how high your pain tolerance is. The thinner the layer of skin, the more the removal process will hurt.
How Many Sessions You Need?
The number of sessions it takes to remove a tattoo varies greatly from person to person. How many sessions you need will depend on:
- How long you’ve had the tattoo (the longer you’ve had it, the easier it is to remove, as the ink has had time to fade)
- The color of the tattoo (black and dark tattoos are the easiest to remove)
- The color of your skin (it’s easiest to remove tattoos on light skin)
- The size and location of the tattoo (the closer the tattoo is to your heart, the easier it is to remove)
It’s also more difficult to remove tattoos on those with preexisting skin conditions, such as eczema. Generally speaking, it takes 3 to 12 sessions to remove a tattoo. Each treatment costs anywhere from $100 to $600.
You’ll need to wait at least six weeks for the skin to heal before your next session.
Tattoo Removal Aftercare
Immediately following your tattoo removal treatment, your technician will give you an ice pack to soothe the area. You should keep the area bandaged for three days with sterilized gauze to protect it and prevent infection.
For the first few days, don’t apply any creams or makeup to the area. After a few days, you can apply ointment cream and moisturizer to help with itching and dryness. Keep the area as clean as possible, and keep it out of the sun.
Tattoo Coverup
If you don’t want to deal with the hassle of removing a tattoo, you can always get your tattoo covered up. This involves selecting a new design to cover up and change the look of the old tattoo.
You should only do a tattoo cover-up if you can change your current tattoo into something you really like. Otherwise, you’re going to end up with another tattoo that you regret that’s even more difficult to remove. You should meet with a tattoo artist to discuss what designs you can do to cover up your current tattoo.
Many times, tattoo artists are able to morph your tattoo into something unrecognizable from the current design.
Tattoo Regret: Time to Move On
Now that you know what to do about tattoo regret, it’s time to act. The worst thing you can do is let your tattoo regret to build up inside you, so start forming a plan of action today.
And, check back in with our blog for more helpful articles like this one!