What To Do If You Made A Mistake With That New Tattoo | sk:n clinics (2024)

By Ellie Taylor26th April 2022Category: Advice

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Medically Reviewed June 2023, by Charlotte Tundy, Regional Nurse Trainer, for sk:n. Next review due June 2024.

It’s not uncommon to feel regret after getting a tattoo, especially if you’re used to seeing your body in a certain way and find it now looks completely different.

It may take some time for you to adjust to or get used to the tattoo. However, if you’ve made the decision to begin the removal procedure right away, you have a few options. Continue reading to find out what to do if you regret your new tattoo right away.

Can A Fresh Tattoo Be Removed?

If you immediately regret your new tattoo you may be wondering ‘can a new tattoo be removed’ and the answer is yes. Tattoos are removed using lasers which break up the pigment colours.

What To Do If You Made A Mistake With That New Tattoo | sk:n clinics (1)

A new tattoo can be treated as soon as the skin has healed from the tattoo application process. Meaning that you can forget your regret sooner, with the healing process typically taking 6 to 8 weeks.

Remember to look after your tattoo during this period to ensure that it heals smoothly and without scarring.

Is It Easier To Remove A New Or Old Tattoo?

Older tattoos tend to be easier to remove and require fewer sessions than newer tattoos.

There are two key reasons why it’s easier to remove older tattoos:

  • Sun exposure – Over time, your tattoo will fade as a result of direct sun exposure. The sun gradually breaks out the tattoo ink. Of course, the sun takes a long time to work, and the tattoo will never be completely removed naturally. Many people with older tattoos have exposure to the sun over time to help fade the tattoo. During the laser removal process, a fading tattoo is significantly easier to remove.
  • Body rejection – When you get a new tattoo your body sees the ink as a foreign object and will try to attack it. Whilst this will not damage a new tattoo, it will wear the ink down over time. The laser process will be easier for individuals with older tattoos because the body’s battle against it will help lower the amount of ink that needs to be removed.

Brand New Tattoo Removal

At sk:n we offer laser tattoo removal and pico tattoo removal.

Laser tattoo removal is quick, painless, and provides excellent results. This innovative technique works by passing the laser’s light into the skin and breaking up the tattoo ink into small bits. The immune system then clears these pieces from the body.

Picoway is the most up-to-date tattoo removal technology, with results in half the time of competing lasers. Pico is the fastest form of laser tattoo removal, thanks to its specialised short-pulse laser technology system. It’s ideal if you’re short on time and need your tattoo removed for an upcoming event or if you need it removed for work. It is suitable for all skin types and can even be used to erase difficult tattoos.

Click here to watch India’s Laser Tattoo removal journey.

Key Learnings

  • It’s not uncommon to feel regret after getting a new tattoo, and they can easily be removed.
  • You can’t remove your tattoo until it is fully healed, the healing process typically takes 6 to 8 weeks.
  • Older tattoos tend to be easier to remove and require fewer sessions than newer tattoos.
  • Laser tattoo removal works by passing the laser’s light into the skin and breaking up the tattoo ink into small bits.
  • Picoway is the most up-to-date tattoo removal technology, with results in half the time of competing lasers.

Find your nearest clinic and arrange a free consultation with one of our trusted dermatologists for advice on how tattoo removal can work for you.

What To Do If You Made A Mistake With That New Tattoo | sk:n clinics (2024)

FAQs

What happens if a tattooist makes a mistake? ›

If you don't want to use the same tattooist, that discussion will need to be had with tattoo shop management so that they can rectify the situation. If the issue is clearly due to negligence, you will likely get a refund and be welcomed back for correction at a later date.

What to do if you regret tattoo placement? ›

If you have a tattoo you regret, you have options, here's what you can do:
  1. Temporarily Hide Your Tattoo. If you think you might want to have your tattoo removed, but you aren't completely sure, you can temporarily cover it with clothing, makeup, or jewelry. ...
  2. Replace It With A New Tattoo. ...
  3. Have The Tattoo Removed.

What to do if you don't like your new tattoo? ›

Add ons, reworks, complete cover-ups or opting for laser removal sessions are all options that should be looked in to when you are left with a tattoo you no longer love.

Is it normal to regret a new tattoo? ›

It's not uncommon to feel regret after getting a tattoo, especially if you're used to seeing your body in a certain way and find it now looks completely different. It may take some time for you to adjust to or get used to the tattoo.

What to do if you're not happy with your tattoo? ›

If you aren't happy with your tattoo, there are two primary options: removing it or modifying it. Laser tattoo removal is a safe way to remove your tattoo, often accomplishing thorough results so your tattoo has minimal or no visible ink.

Can you sue for a misspelled tattoo? ›

If the tattoo artist executed the tattoo you agreed upon, you can't sue just because you don't like how it turned out. But, if you provided the artist with a picture of a meaningful quote or symbol and the artist got it wrong, you might have a claim.

What is the most regretted tattoo? ›

Participants told us they regret getting tattoos on these spots: upper back, upper arms, hips, face and butt. Size matters. Apparently, the smaller your tattoo, the more likely you are to regret it. We found that 63 percent of people with a tattoo smaller than the palm of their hand regret it.

What is the rule for tattoo placement? ›

In tattooing a general rule is that all designs should face the center of the body (heart). For example, front thigh tattoos should face inwards towards each other. And top outer arms will face forward in the same direction the body faces.

What is tattoo flu? ›

Some people feel psyched about their new tattoo, while others might feel sick. If you're feeling a bit under the weather after getting some new ink, you might be experiencing “tattoo flu.” Usually mild and quick to pass, this post tattoo flu-like illness is a common result of your body's natural defenses saying “Whoa!

How to correct a tattoo mistake? ›

We use a technique called laser tattoo lightening to correct mistakes made. We can also use laser tattoo lightening to remove tattoos altogether if that's what you want. Using the Enlighten Pico Laser, this device breaks down the ink into fragments, which the body will naturally shed within the coming weeks.

What do I do if I don't like my tattoo design? ›

If at any point you hate the design, don't hesitate to tell your artist. You might have to reschedule the appointment, but they should be able to work with you to find a balance that you both love. To avoid this situation, make sure to be clear about the design's direction from the start.

Is it OK to put nothing on a new tattoo? ›

1-3 Hours: Remove bandage and wash with cool water and anti-bacterial soap, put nothing on the tattoo afterwards. Wash the tattoo one more time before you go to bed that night.

Is it easy to mess up a new tattoo? ›

It's easy to ruin or fade your new tattoo if you do not care for it properly. Even worse, your tattoo could become infected, or you may have to get it touched up frequently or completely.

Can you get a tattoo removed right after getting it? ›

The short answer is yes - a fresh tattoo can be removed.

Our experts recommend waiting until your tattoo has completely healed which can take around six to eight weeks after having the tattoo before you start your removal sessions.

Can you sue a tattoo artist if they mess up? ›

Generally, you can sue a tattoo artist or parlor if you have been subjected to injury or unsatisfactory work. The legal ground for what you can truly sue for may vary from case to case, however. For example, an injury or infection is more than likely going to be a solid case in a legal sense.

Can a tattoo mistake be fixed? ›

But as with anything in life, ink mistakes do happen, but there are a few ways to fix them. Whether you opt to cover up the existing tattoo with another design or get it removed entirely, the decision is up to you, though it helps to consult with a professional tattoo artist who can guide you through your options.

Can you get a refund for a bad tattoo? ›

They may agree to offer you a refund or work on the tattoo to bring it up to your expectations at no extra cost. If they've made a clear error and it's not your fault (e.g. you supplied an incorrect spelling) then you can demand reimbursem*nt and ask for reasonable' costs to get it fixed.

What to do if you get a bad tattoo? ›

6 Alternatives to Consider When You Have a Tattoo That You're Really Unhappy With
  1. I. Ask What Others Think of It.
  2. II. Ask the Tattooist to Fix It.
  3. III. Clothing Cover-Up.
  4. IV. Laser Fading for Cover-Up.
  5. V. Laser Removal.
  6. VI. Learn to Live With It.
Dec 30, 2022

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