Before tattooing over scars, you should first make sure that they are fully healed— I recommend waiting at least 1-2 years post-op for surgical scars to heal on the deepest level. For surface level scars that do not penetrate to the deepest layers of skin, it can take anywhere from 3 months to a year or more depending on the wound itself.

Scar creams, tissue massage, and silicone strips can be used to help flatten the scar, but are not required! If you are prone to keloids, I do not suggest getting scars covered up with tattoos, as it may make the keloids worse.

All tattoos hurt; this is just how they work! While getting scars tattooed over, it may hurt more, or less, than the skin around it, and it may be impossible to know until the tattoo is in progress.

During the tattoo process, a lot of scars may change texture or colour, looking red, inflamed, puffy, etc., and this is a normal reaction to the process of being tattooed over scar tissue.

The healing process is pretty identical to tattoos over non-scarred tissue, though it may be more red or swollen at first.

Scar tissue can be unpredictable, as scars are as unique as everyone’s skin. Sometimes the ink may need a second application after it is healed to become fully saturated, or lines may change thickness where it crosses over into a scar vs. the skin around it. A second session may be needed to tighten up the tattoo after we see how your individual scars handle the tattooing process.