Cover-Up Tattoos in Puerto Vallarta

A cover-up replaces an existing tattoo with a new design built specifically to absorb it. It is not simply tattooing over the top: the new piece has to be darker and denser than the old one in the right places, which means the old tattoo decides much of the new design.

What is realistic depends on how dark, how large and how old the existing tattoo is. Faded, thin, light work is straightforward. Solid black, heavy saturated color or a recent piece is much harder, and sometimes the honest answer is a few sessions of laser lightening first, then the cover-up — which takes months, not days. An artist who tells you that up front is the one to trust.

Send a clear photo taken in daylight, with the whole tattoo in frame and no flash, when you request a quote. Say what you would like instead, and say whether you are open on the design — cover-ups go much better when the artist has room to work with shapes that will actually hide what is underneath. Expect the new piece to be noticeably larger than the old one.

Common questions about cover-ups tattoos

Can any tattoo be covered up?

Not always in one step. Solid black and heavily saturated color limit what can go over them, and the honest answer is sometimes laser lightening first, then a cover-up. Send a daylight photo and an artist will tell you which applies.

Will the old tattoo still show?

A good cover-up is designed so you cannot pick out the old piece, but that depends on the new design being dark and dense enough in the right places. That is why cover-ups need larger designs and give you less freedom over the subject.