Tattoo Regret: Learn About Laser Tattoo Removal & Tattoo Cover-Up Options

Why do people sometimes regret getting a tattoo? ‍

There are several reasons why people regret having a tattoo; the most common is that they just don’t like a tattoo anymore. Maybe a tattoo is connected with a drunken impulse on holiday, or is a barrier to career growth, or maybe your tattoo is a dealbreaker in a long-term relationship.

Whatever your reason for wanting to remove an old tattoo, or maybe you have an immediate tattoo regret, Este Medical Group offers laser tattoo removal treatments for body, hands, and face tattoos. 

If you have long-term or immediate tattoo regrets, then our guide to tattoo removal and cover-up options for tattoos may be of assistance. Because a tattoo is considered permanent, we understand that it can be disheartening and uncomfortable to have an unwanted tattoo. 

‍Celebrities Who Regret Their Tattoos

You are not alone, even some high profile celebrities have had unwanted tattoos.

• ‍Megan Fox for instance had a Marilyn Monroe tattoo removed from her arm.
• ‍Pamela Anderson had her legendary barbed wire tattoo removed.
• ‍Britney Spears had a tattoo permanently removed because it didn’t reflect her belief system anymore.
• ‍Katie Price had a tattoo of her ex-husband's name crossed out.
• Even Colin Farrell and Pete Davidson have had tattoo removal procedures. 

If you have never had a tattoo before, then think long and hard about that first tattoo ink, as a few days later you might have your first tattoo regret. That said, tattoo regret is not that common; only about a quarter of people have tattoo regrets.

For those men and women with tattoo regret, one of the most effective treatments to remove unwanted ink is laser tattoo removal. 

If you would like to arrange for your UK tattoo removal consultation, then book a consultation with Este. 

‍What Is Immediate Tattoo Regret?

Immediate tattoo regret is when a person regrets a new tattoo shortly after getting it. In a small percentage of cases, when people make a spontaneous decision to get a tattoo, they often regret it within a few days.  

Tattoo timing aside, ‘tattoo regret’ is when a person is dissatisfied with at least one of their tattoos after getting them. Several studies have shown that tattoo regret rates have increased in recent years as inked skin has become more popular and common; tattoo regret is also highly connected to someone getting a tattoo at a younger age.

Regardless of your age, when you get a new tattoo it may take a couple of weeks or longer to get used to the tattoo on your body. 

‍How to deal with instant tattoo regret? There are a few options to consider. 

• Take more time to get used to your new tattoo, as there is a period of adjustment
• Talk with someone you trust before you make a removal decision
• Book a laser tattoo removal consultation 
• Learn what to expect with laser tattoo removal
• Consult a tattoo artist about inking over the tattoo regret
• Maybe cover your new tattoo with clothing or make-up as you decide how best to proceed 

‍Do people regret tattoos? Yes, sometimes people regret getting inked. If you have never had a tattoo before you might want to consider experimenting with henna or temporary tattoo designs to see how you feel about being inked. 

‍Dealing With Tattoo Regret

There are several options for dealing with tattoo ink regret. With advanced laser technology that can target ink pigment in the skin and shatter it, tattoos are no longer a forever problem. 

‍How to deal with tattoo regret. If you are coping with tattoo regret, then we recommend you get support from family and friends, get feedback on your tattoo decision and see if that helps. Take time to find out more information about tattoo laser treatments and how it works (see Does Tattoo Removal Hurt?).

Book a session with your tattoo artist to see if there is a way your tattoo can be modified or changed to suit you better. Maybe it is something in the design or colours that bothers you, and not the idea of actually having a tattoo.

Having conversations with other people who have tattoos or have had tattoo removal will prove worthwhile in dealing with your predicament. Even the biggest tattoo regrets have a solution. 

One excellent solution for permanently dealing with an unwanted tattoo, big or small, is laser tattoo removal. You can have a tattoo removed from hand or face using modern laser technology (e.g., ClearLift tattoo removal).  

‍What Does Laser Tattoo Removal Involve? 

Este has laser tattoo removal treatment for people who want to get rid of a tattoo. Here’s what to expect from a medical clinic laser removal tattoo procedure. 

During Este Medical UK tattoo removal treatments, we use a powerful, yet skin-safe ClearLift Q-Switched laser on unwanted tattoo ink. The heat generated by the laser targets the surface skin layer to reach the tattoo ink underneath. ‍The targeted tattoo ink is then shattered into miniscule fragments. Over time, the body’s immune system is able to absorb these tiny ink fragments, which means that gradually the tattoo fades. A course of treatments achieves the best long-term results.

First of all, laser tattoo removal sessions can vary in how long they take; they can last from 5 to 25 minutes, or longer, depending on the size of the tattoo.

How many laser treatment sessions you will need to remove a tattoo can depend on the age of the tattoo, how big it is, and how concentrated the ink is in the design. For example, someone with a minimal line tattoo may require fewer treatment sessions than someone with a full sleeve tattoo.

How long laser tattoo removal treatments take varies from person to person: some individuals may need 4 to 6 treatments, and other people may require up to 12 sessions to completely remove a large tattoo. We recommend that you contact Este Medical to book a consultation for tattoo laser removal.

‍Laser tattoo removal is considered highly effective, and the best way to permanently remove tattoo ink. When you come in for a removal consultation we can discuss the results we feel may be achievable for your specific tattoo.

Laser Tattoo Removal at Este Medical Group:

‍Tattoo Regret Cover-Up Options

One of the most common cover-up options to hide a tattoo you regret is another tattoo that is larger and darker than the original tattoo. A cover-up tattoo that uses bright colours and lots of shading is effective at hiding a regret tattoo. Our recommendation is to find a tattoo artist with a strong reputation and experience in doing cover-up ink.  

Some people decide to cover-up old or regret tattoos with professional make-up concealer. This might work for a couple of months or years, but it is a time consuming and non-permanent option to covering up a tattoo. 

Whatever you decide to do, make sure you book a cover-up tattoo with a verifiable tattoo artist or tattoo clinic, likewise if you are hiding or fading a tattoo with product make sure it is skin-safe. We don’t recommend bleaching tattoos, or using hydrogen peroxide on your skin to remove a tattoo. This approach can be damaging to the skin’s surface and might provoke an allergic reaction or cause a skin burn. We strongly recommend that you come to an Este Medical clinic near you for a free tattoo removal consultation before you do anything drastic. 

‍Let Este Medical Free You From Tattoo Regret! 

Whether your tattoo is small or big, we have experience treating a variety of tattoos with laser removal, from hand tattoo regret to lower back tattoo regret. Wherever your tattoo is on your body, however old or new, Este Medical can help you remove the tattoo and your regret. 

‍Contact Este Medical and make a plan to rid yourself of unwanted skin ink, our laser tattoo removal treatments will free you from regret!