Tattoos and covering scars, yes they are a great option!

Many people struggle with scars. Some scars are positive and can bring back wonderful memories. However, most scars are a reminder of an unpleasant experience. These reminders are often difficult to remove. But it’s difficult to remove a scar. It is possible to hide a scar with a tattoo.

If you are interested in covering scars with tattoos, you have come to the right spot. In this article, we will discuss how to tattoo over scars. We will also examine whether it is possible and what you can expect from a session. We’ll get to the point without further delay.

Why do people tattoo their scars on their bodies?

Many people choose tattoos to hide scarring. A tattoo can help you deal with scarring, especially if it’s visible.

Scar-covering tattoos not only hide scarring but can also bring back confidence after a hard experience. Not all scars can be covered with tattoos. You can cover stretch marks with tattoos.

The effectiveness of tattooing in concealing scarring and covering stretch marks has been demonstrated. However, not all scars and stretch marks can be covered with tattoos. Tattoo artists may refuse to tattoo scars if the scar will be made worse by the tattoo.

Scarring is not just an artistic body decoration. It is also a complicated process. It takes careful consideration and many factors to determine if scarring or stretch marks are worth the risk of getting tattooed.

Are scar-covering tattoos more painful than normal?

People’s pain tolerance is different. A scar-covering tattoo will not hurt everyone the same. You might find the pain tolerable if you have already had tattoos. However, if you are getting your first tattoo with a scar-covering design, you can expect to feel severe pain.

Overall, however, we can agree that tattoos covering scar tissue cause discomfort. They can be more painful than regular tattoos that are not covered by scar tissue. A tattoo can also cause mild to profound pain, depending on the scar.

Deeper and more severe scarring is thought to be the most painful, particularly if they are in areas with nerve damage. Because the skin’s surface is flat, the nerve damage is less and scars that are smaller and superficial don’t cause as much pain.

Is it possible to get a tattoo that covers scars?

While getting a scar-covering tattoo is easy, it’s important to take into consideration certain factors before you recieve your tattoo.

First, tattoo artists must examine scar tissue before they can do any scar tissue tattoos. Let’s look at different scars and the difficulty levels for tattoos.

Hypertrophic scars: These scars result from burns and other superficial injuries. These scars are often thicker, more reddened, and higher than the skin surface. These scars can only be tattooed once they have fully healed for at least a year. A hypertrophic scar can be tattooed once it is completely healed. Although there is a possibility that the scar tissue may become inflamed during the procedure, it is important to follow the aftercare protocol to protect both the scar and the tattoo.

These scars form after serious injuries. They are usually fully healed within 3 to 5 years. Only then can they be tattooed. These scars are often thick and reddish and have an irregular form. A keloid scar can cause serious irritation and scar reopening if it is not fully healed.

Also, these scars can be the most difficult to cover. A keloid scar tattoo is more complex and larger than one that covers a keloid. Even better, it is recommended to get a tattoo which will include the scar rather than putting a tattoo on the scar.

Scars in different types

Atrophic scars: These scars are typically soft and under the skin. They can appear as stretch marks or scars following a cut, deep burn, or simple surgical procedure. These scars can also be caused by chickenpox, acne, or other infections.

Atrophic scars are relatively easy to tattoo due to their shape and appearance. It is important to allow the scar to heal fully before choosing the right design. Because these scars often become discolored, it’s important to have multiple colors and details in your tattoo.

Amputation/skin-removal scars: These scars appear because of a body part being removed. Once the scars are healed, the skin becomes smooth to be tattooed. However, some parts of the body may have nerve damage that makes them too sensitive for tattooing. A tattoo on scar tissue can cause severe pain.

The type and location of scarring depend on many factors. Before you consider getting a tattoo, consult a skilled tattoo artist who has experience with scar tattoos. Only then can you get a full consultation and an insight into how a tattoo might look over your scar.

How to get a scar-covering tattoo

It is all about getting prepared and being informed when you are considering getting a tattoo. Same goes for scar-covering tattoos. Before you get one, these are the things that you need to know.

Assessing the scar. Tattooing over certain scars can prove difficult. It is essential to have a professional consultation. They will determine the type and location of the scars, as well as whether it is possible to create a tattoo. Keep in mind that scars with no edges work best for tattooing. Scars with darker edges might not suit for tattoo covering.

Assessing the healing stage. To apply a scar-covering tattoo to a wound, it must be completely healed. Depending on the type and severity of the scar, the healing process may take between one to five years. Make sure your scar is completely healed before you get it tattooed. 

Locating a professional tattoo artist is crucial. You need to find someone who has done similar scar-covering tattoos. Because scarring can lead to complications and irritation, you don’t want an inexperienced person handling it.  Opal Lotus has artists that specialize in tattooing over scars in Houston.

Finding a design to cover the scar can be challenging. Keep in mind that scarred skin can be unevenly textured so your final tattoo design may not look flat. It is important to choose a design that suits the scar. Avoid lines and geometric shapes and opt for more flowing designs, such as flowers.

How to handle the pain. As we have already mentioned, a scar-covering tattoo can be very painful. Consider the type and location of your scar and be prepared mentally and physically to complete the tattooing session. Keep in mind, however, that newly healed scars are more painful than those that have been completely healed.

Follow-ups & Aftercare

In order to avoid any complications, irritations, or infections, it is important to follow the aftercare procedure and to keep in touch with your tattoo artist. If there are any problems, your artist will inform you and let you know.
Scarring can be irritated, raised, or aggravated after you have a scar-covering ink. The scar tissue should heal within a few hours. If the scar tissue becomes irritated or hurts, it is best to contact your tattoo artist as soon as possible. If your tattoo is reddened, oozing, painful and/or bleeds for over 7 days, it’s likely that you have a tattoo infection.

Remember that the ink may appear feathery around scars. Also, the ink may appear blurry or less defined around scars. It is perfectly normal for this to happen. If you have any concerns about the look of your tattoo, you can always fix it.

Scar-covering tattoos have a greater chance of a breakout. This means that the tattoo needle may penetrate scarred skin a little deeper than normal. This will cause ink to spread beyond the tattoo lines and blur some areas of the tattoo.

What are skin colored scar tattoos?

Scar-covering tattoos need not be original tattoo designs. Some people opt for flesh-colored or skin-colored tattoos called scar camouflage, corrective pigment camouflage. These tattoos use the pointillism technique, which involves putting skin-colored ink into the scar tissue and correcting/lightening the scar pigmentation.

Corrective pigmentation scar tattoos are the best for cases of stretch marks and burn scars. Skin-colored scar tattoos can be very similar to the regular tattoo, but they are different. This is a special tattooing technique that falls under cosmetic tattooing. These types of tattooing are usually available at plastic surgery offices.

Depending on the size and location of the scar, skin-colored scar tattoos vary greatly in price. Because some scars may require multiple sessions, they can be more expensive. Consult with a professional to determine an approximate cost, but do not expect to know the final price. Some scars may not respond immediately to pigmentation ink, so you will need more sessions and a greater final cost. 

When not to get a tattoo to cover a scar?

Fresh scars: You should never have a tattoo done on a scar. This can cause health complications and scar reopening. This will make it take twice as long to heal and may even lead to an infection.

People with sunburnt skin should avoid getting a scar tattoo. Consult a tattoo artist once your skin is healed from sunburns. 

People with a weak immune system need to know that scar tissue requires time and energy to heal. A strong immune system, good nutrition and a healthy lifestyle are essential for achieving this goal. Your tattoo may take longer to heal if your immune system is weak. This can cause a variety of problems or even an infection.

Things to consider

We consider scars permanent and lifelong tattoos. Scars can have negative connotations or remind one of an unfortunate event in their life. Your scars, regardless of their negative connotations, are part of who and what you are. They’re beautiful in their own right. 

You can cover scars with tattoos. Do not make others feel uncomfortable. If scarring bothers people, it’s their problem. Do not surround yourself with people who think your scars are ugly or weird.

We strongly recommend that you get a proper consultation and assessment from a professional tattoo artist at Opal Lotus if you want to cover the scar. We will inform you about all pros and cons and any risks.