By Lisa Davis
Birthmarks, scars, or other skin conditions often make people feel self-conscious. More than that, scars may also be sad reminders of the illness or trauma halting the healing process. This is why getting a tattoo to cover scars and birthmarks is often associated with the major therapeutic power. Not to mention that modern cover-up tattoo designs are masterpieces in their own right!
Let’s explore different types of scars and some stunning ways to hide them with the help of tattoos!
Regular Scars Tattoo Cover Up
A normal scar is the result of injuries that required minor stitching and are generally not very deep, resulting in little to no raised skin tissue. These marks can be easily covered with a tattoo, especially if they are linear in shape. For example, lines of scarring can become part of a feather design, a garland of flowers, a tree branch or a floral arrow for an aesthetically pleasing effect. A fun way to cover a small scar is to use it as a fish bone structure, adding in just a tail and the head to finish off the tattoo design.
via @ink22.tattoo
via @sudburyblackink
via @ink22.tattoo
via @inkedb
Raised or Sunken Scars and Burns Tattoo Cover Up
Hypertrophic and keloid scars are raised scars with uneven surfaces that can be even bigger than the original wound. In contrast, some scarring can cause pits or divots in the skin due to the loss of underlying support structures such as fat or muscle. In many ways, burn scars look the combination of the two types and are often uneven, grafted, and of a different color than your skin tone. All these types of scarred skin require a creative approach and careful treatment.
Working with an experienced tattoo artist and designing layered tattoos are two of the best ways to create a successful tattoo cover-up design. The unique challenges of tattooing deeper or larger scars result in the most impressive results though! Here is the proof.
via @keroinka_
via @agatka_kedra
via @ivy_ink_tattoo
via @eloise_ttt
via @erdogancavdar
via @jairontattoo
via @machutattoos
Be warned that the process of tattooing over a scar can be tricky, as it depends largely on the type of scar being covered up. For a raised scar, such as a newly formed keloid scar, the skin may be too thick to accept the ink and properly hold it in place. To prepare this type of scar tissue for a tattoo, it is often necessary to reduce the thickness by utilizing skin-smoothing treatments like laser resurfacing or dermabrasion.
Birthmark Cover Up Tattoos
Many people suffer from insecurities due to physical birthmarks, and tattoos can provide an ideal solution to help alleviate these anxieties. With the help of a talented artist and technological advances providing safe inks and colors, they often look completely natural and beautiful. People who choose to get this type of tattoo typically report higher self-confidence levels and the ability to wear their unique birthmarks with pride, now that they are part of a stunning design.
A popular choice here is to make a birthmark part of the tattoo design rather than trying to hide it. For example, a mark can provide some marvelous shading for a floral tattoo or become an eye of a flower.
via @zoefowletattoo
via @saunakcruze
via @jingstattoo
via @whitecrow_jb
via @teetattooing
Mastectomy Scars Cover-Up Tattoos
Some breast cancer survivors are embracing a unique, beautiful way to honor their battle and triumph over the disease: mastectomy scar cover-up tattoos. Though breast cancer can cause painful physical and emotional struggles, mastectomy scars are now being viewed as symbols of courage. As women all around the world share their stories and pictures of their breast tattoo designs, they encourage other breast cancer survivors to take control of the narrative of the disease and redefine it in a positive light.
Floral tattoo designs are the most popular here as petals and blossoms mimic the form in a stunning way and make the look very soft and feminine. The phoenix bird and butterfly tattoos are popular choices for surgery scars cover-up too, as they symbolize rebirth and love of life. An elegant bra tattoo endowed with a pink ribbon is another way to cover up the scars in a beautiful and meaningful way.
via @fannychoutattoo
via @yuuztattoo
via @inkbykael
via @kevinrotramel
C-Section and Tummy Tuck Scars Cover Up Tattoos
More and more people are choosing to get c-section and tummy tuck scar tattoos as an effective way to hide any scars they may have from the surgery. This type of tattoo is usually quite intricate and can be designed in multiple ways – either a realistic art representation or something more abstract.
No matter the design, it is used to match the surrounding skin tone and texture. Thankfully, modern cover-up tattoos allow people to artistically transform past health events into something beautiful. Whether you get a tattoo with feminine floral motifs, a mandala tattoo design or choose something unusual, being tattooed can make you fall in love with your tummy again.
via @moni.ink.tattoo
via @inksocietybasel
via @inkonic.stu
via @tattooist_soop
Tattoos to Cover Vertical Stomach Scars
A vertical abdominal scar can have plenty of reasons behind its existence. Scars from surgery or an accident can be hard to bear, especially if it is in a prominent area of the body. But rather than make oneself feel embarrassed or self-conscious about the visual reminder of the past, use your scars as motivation for further growth.
One way to do this is by letting tattoo artists come up with artistic and meaningful tattoos to cover scars and celebrate the transformation you’ve gone through; not just on the physical level, but spiritually too. From illustrations of flowers and nature scenes to geometric shapes, tattoo ideas to use are endless.
via @entala_tattoo
via @gatamagattattoo
via @gem.tattoos
Tattoos to Cover Self-Harm Scars
Self-harm scars are a physical manifestation of the emotions and experiences we carry with us every day. Every scar is a reminder of moments of distress. Unfortunately, these visible reminders of pain may be stigmatized, cause embarrassment and trigger unstable questions. Having the scars covered can help those of us who have experienced or are currently experiencing self-harm to move past any stigma or judgment and feel comfortable getting support and treatment.
Many people choose to add in a semicolon tattoo design to cover scars from self-harm. The semicolon has come to represent respect for mental health issues and the idea of “your story isn’t over yet;” providing much-needed hope and comfort. Covering scars with a beautiful butterfly is also an option. It symbolizes metamorphosis, a powerful metaphor for getting through difficult times.
Other designs often cover half a sleeve and have much detail and fine lines that camouflage the scars, such as flowers, stars, or abstract shapes. By the way, these will also work great for stretch marks cover-up. Whatever you choose, opting to turn emotional pain into beautiful body art creates a positive self-image that can provide strength during hard times.
via @mr.jones.tattoo
via @ecebas_
via @adzik.tattoo
via @iconicinkkevin
via @meganbirdtattoo
via @glomas_tattoo
via @jeroenlang
Scar Camouflage Tattoo
Scar camouflage tattoos are a specialized form of tattooing that blends white scars with the healthy skin around them. The process involves implanting special pigments into the scar tissue to replace any missing color and restore normal skin’s appearance. By using this technique, tattoo artists can match the new pigment to the original skin tone, resulting in a more seamless and natural transition between healthy and scarred areas.
This procedure is often used to reduce the appearance of acne scars, stretch marks, surgical scars, and other kinds of blemishes on the skin. It can also be used for tattoo scarring cover up (an unfortunate result of poor tattoo technique) or to cover up tattoos that people want removed without having to undergo costly laser treatments.
via @studiosashiko
Getting a cover-up tattoo allows reclaiming your body as your own and take back control of how you want to present yourself on the outside. For those who have been living with an unwanted birthmark or scar for years, having it covered over can provide immense relief and satisfaction. Not only can it give you confidence when you look in the mirror but also allows you to express yourself by designing something unique that speaks to your personality or interests.
Mind that it is important to wait until the scar is completely healed before considering covering it with a tattoo. Depending on how deep the scar tissue is, this process could take several weeks or even months. Getting a tattoo over an area that has not fully healed can be extremely painful and may lead to further nerve damage. No matter what type of scar you’re covering up with a tattoo, make sure that you consult with both your doctor and your artist beforehand so that they can collaborate together on a plan that will produce safe yet beautiful results!
Even though tattoos over scars may take more time and cost more money than other tattoos due to their complexity, if done correctly they can easily enhance your appearance while providing powerful visual reminders of how far we’ve come from our past experiences.
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