50 Times People Asked Tattoo Artists To Cover Up Their Scars And Birthmarks And Couldn’t Be Happier With The Result
We already published an article about tattoos covering up birthmarks and another one about inking over scars so we figured why not do a piece that combines the two together. After all, millions of people have blemishes on their skin that they're not excited about and there are plenty of ways to transform them into works of art.
This list by Bored Panda is full of beautiful, funny, and simply genius designs that 'healed' old body wounds and marks. And maybe a few mental bruises that came with them as well. So scroll down to check them out for yourself, upvote your favorites, you know how it goes.
This post may include affiliate links.
The Most Meaningful Tattoo I’ve Ever Done. Scar Cover-Up For This Amazing Woman. I Have No Words To Describe This Process
To learn more about these delicate cover-ups, we contacted Jesse Whitley, the owner of Stagecoach Tattoo Co. in Lubbock, Texas. "The most experienced artists can work with or around birthmarks, whereas scar tissue can be tattooed directly over," Jesse told Bored Panda. "Tattooing over a scar actually breaks down the scar tissue."
However, Whitley highlighted that the severity of the scar will influence the artist's ability to make a good tattoo in and around the affected area. "When tattooing over a scar, you have to understand that it is a different type of skin and holds ink differently than normal unaffected skin."
Check Out This Amazing Before And After Photo By Our Artist, Gustavo
A Camouflage Of Childhood Domestic Burn
According to health experts, scarred skin is harder and more irregular, therefore it is less able to absorb ink than regular skin.
It's also possible that the ink will migrate and cause the tattoo to look smudged or unclear. Therefore, it's vital that people choose an experienced artist.
Everyone’s body is different. That means everyone's level of pain tolerance is different, too. However, scar tissue is generally more sensitive to the needle. For some, especially those whose scars have caused nerve damage or compression, getting a cover-up tattoo might be extremely painful.
Make The Most Of What You've Got
Scar Tattoo
I Have No Words To Describe How Much I Was Looking Forward To Doing This Work And All That Are To Come
What a wonderful way to use your talent. God Bless you for the joy you have given, and will be giving to other people with similar needs.
One of the people whose tattoo you see in this list is designer and art director Deepali Masand. We contacted her and Deepali agreed to share her story — the woman gave an honest account of how she ended up with this beautiful cat design.
Everything started when she was 13 and got into a car accident. Deepali's left arm got stuck between the road and the vehicle, and she ended up with a huge burn-like scar.
Lily On A Rock. Design Is Based On The Client’s Birthmark
This Scar Cover-Up Tattoo
Covered Up Old Self-Harm Scars With My First Tattoo
Sometimes It Is Enough To Cleverly Integrate A Scar Instead Of Covering It
"Back in 2003, when the scar was still fresh, everyone suggested plastic surgery," she told Bored Panda. "But as time passed, I got really comfortable with that scar. It had stopped bothering me per se."
"Then fast-forward to 2018, when I lost my first fur baby. That [also scarred me]. I made an illustration as an ode to his passing for an Inktober prompt called 'Tranquil.' But this year, when I was about to turn 30, I decided to finally ink something that was meaningful to me, on me — I had been meaning to get a tattoo for the longest time."
Very Interesting Custom Project Around A Scar. I Guess I Could Call It “Scar Upcycling”
My Nephew Finally Had His Burning Scars Covered With A Tattoo. I Am So Proud Of My Boy! Made Me Smile And Also Made Me Cry Of Happiness
This Is Genius
This Is A 40-Year-Old Scar And We Covered It With Some Cherry Blossoms And Butterflies
This must bring so much peace and relief. None of these scars are terrible, but when it's your body you may not want to be constantly reminded of the event.
The designer said she had an epiphany. "It hit me in the middle of the night. I had to cover my scar with a beautiful memory. I reached out to a very dear and supremely talented friend Arnab that very moment."
"He also happens to be [an awesome] tattoo and graffiti artist and he was super stoked to hear this idea."
Got To Do This Rad Wine Glass To Work With A Birthmark Today
Turning Scar To Fishbone
The Process Of Closing The Scars
Finally Done Something With My Scar
"I had a couple of needle pokes on me as experiments but this was my first machine tattoo," Deepali explained. "The process was pretty seamless, as it was a friend who was going to ink on me. I bestowed the utmost trust upon him, as he's an animal lover too, and he just reciprocated the same."
"Arnab took inspiration from my illustration and made it his own. We built upon ideas as it went, a Van Gogh-like moon in green and blue inks and a little bit of scar to show through the moon's crater-like texture. It was meant to honor both the memory of the scar and my cat."
This Was Fun
C-Section Tattoo Cover-Up
Cúc chose to tattoo chrysanthemum because it's her favorite color and also her name in Vietnamese.
Scar Cover-Up
Hooked
Deepali said she had been warned that it might hurt but everything was finished in a single 3-hour session. "I can rather proudly say that I sat like a rock, more so because it meant so much to me and also the scar area was mostly dead skin."
"It was so overwhelming to see this tattoo get so much love, those who'd met my cat, Billu, had been touched by him in some sort of way (scratches included), and it almost felt like he's getting all that love via the tattoo."
My Dog Running Across My Scar
Simple Rainbow Concept
Scars Are Tattoos With Better Stories
Update On My Tattoo That Covers A Bad Nip, An Old Tattoo, And Some Top Surgery Scars
Deepali thinks tattoos are life-altering. "In a weird way, you feel like a different person; more aligned and aware. You also realize that pain is just something in your mind ... we can endure much more than we imagine!" And it's definitely visible in the photos.
It's we who define and give meaning to our scars. Not the other way around.
After 6 Years, Many Laser Scar Removal Treatments, Scar Strips And So, I Decided To Get A Tattoo Over My Scars And Loving The Result
We Continued A Project That I Really Enjoyed And Was Excited To Do. A Sleeve Of Snowflakes Between Birthmarks That Have Become Clouds
So My Sister Has Wanted Her Birth Mark Covered For A While Now And So She Wanted This
Paw Print Tattoo Around A Birthmark
One Way To Work Around A Scar
Birth Mark Tattoo
Scar Cover-Up Tattoo
Little Scar Cover From 2013
Scar Cover-Up. Really Pleased With This Delicate Piece
Birthmark Transformed Into A Cherry
Scar Butterfly
Scar Cover-Up
I am sorry you went through that, I'm currently struggling with SH and seeing it all covered up is kinda inspirational to me
First Session Of A Scar Cover-Up Completed, Still Need To Add Cherry Blossoms And Background
Something A Bit Different. Outlined A Good Friend's Of Mine Birthmark
I like the idea behind this one. Emphasizing and embracing something of ours, rather than covering it up (although I totally understand those who do cover theirs)
Turning Lemons Into Wine
Tattoo Scar Cover-Up 3 Years Post-Op
Within 1 Hour A Birthmark Turns Into A Moustache. Oh My God, We Had So Much Fun
I Had The Opportunity To Work On And Especially With This Pretty Scar Which Served As A Bench For Monsieur Le Baron
No Scars Are Impossible, They Just Need The Right Solution
It's worrisome how these scars got there to begin with.... and, the tattoo is doing nothing to put my mind at ease~
Scar Tattoo Cover-Up
This Is An Incredible Cover-Up
Thanks To My Client For Coming In To Get This Floral Scar Distraction Piece
We went with something a little simplistic and instead of trying to hide the scars just tried to incorporate them into the design. The take away is that the blood we have spilled in sadness can water a beautiful garden of joy if you only allow room for growth. Let’s be thankful for this day of life.
Scar's Cover
Without A Doubt The Most Fun I've Ever Done
Highlighted Her Birthmark Rather Than Covering Entirely. It’s So Meaningful To Me When Clients Tell Me That My Works Give Them Confidence Boosts. Love You All
Birthmark Into This Bold Sunflower Tattoo
What Do You Do With An Awkward Scar? Add Patrick Tattoo
Camouflage With A Deep Scar Tissue Loss
Scar Tattoo Cover-Up
Friends Tattoo Covering Self-Harm Scar. 15 Months Sober Stronger Now. They Were There For Me. I Commit To Be There For My Friends
Watercolour Scar Cover-Up
This Is What I Call An Amazing Idea. Done On The Base Of A Natural Body Mark
Scar Cover-Up
Got Tattooed Around Some Fresh Scarring From A Suicide Attempt. It's The Burning Bush From Moses' Story In Exodus. It Represents That, Going Forward, I Will Not Be Consumed
On A Large Surgical Scar On The Arm I Tattooed A Rose Dreamcatcher
Got This Tattoo To Cover-Up Self-Harm Scars. I Started Self-Harming When I Was In 6th Grade All The Way Up Until My Sophomore In College. So Far I’ve Been 4 Years Self-Harm Free
Think Twice
Welding This Long Scar
Knife As A Scar Cover-Up
I'm relatively sure that knowing the story behind the scar would add even more meaning to the tattoo....
So, Aurelie Came To Me To A Flower Tattoo On Her Wrist Before. Today She Came With A Particular Project About Her Scar
It's something that she never really accepted, even if she got her scar when she was a little little kid. Some stuff goes with time, other don't. So we talked about what she wanted to do with it, and she told me about a quote from a French song from Saez, with a word play about sewing silk (soie) and ourself (soi). It made me think of a similar wordplay that I love in a beautiful song from Dooz Kawa, and finally, the project draw itself to end as what you can see! I was very touched to be the one to work on this project. I love scar project tattooing, and I knew it was really hard for her to let someone work on it, but she's definitely a very strong women and she was awesome!
Covering The Scar After Unsuccessful Tattoo Removal. One Big Session
Tattoo, That Turn Birthmark Into Piece Of Art
Stacie Was So Happy To Get To Do These Tattoos For This Client
There Are Times When A Tattoo Can Serve A Useful Function. For Example, Covering Scars. This Is Especially True For Those With Large Scars That Create Aesthetic Discomfort For The Wearer
Delicate Work On The Scar, Very Happy With The Result, Thanks To Sandra For Trusting Me With This
What To Do With A Mean-Looking Shoulder Scar? Zip It Up, Zip It Up
Scar Cover-Up
Love Your Scars, They Are The Map Of Your Life, The Path Traveled And The Certainty That You Are Stronger Than You Thought
Should I Regret Or Ask Myself Are You Dead Yet?
There Are Two Marks On Our Skin That Are Forever: Scars And Tattoos
Tattoo Cover-Up For Old Scars
Got A Cover-Up Tattoo For The Scars On My Right Arm, I'm So Happy With The Result
Scar Cover. Would Love To Do More
Got Tired Of Seeing My Ugly Scar, So I Covered It Up
Lil Smiley Tattoo I've Made Out Of Birthmarks 2 Days Ago
Scar Coverage. This Work Is Part Of My Project: "Covering Scars"
Covered A Pair Of Scars On One Brave Lady
My New Scar Coverup
Fish And Scars For Fisherman
Salmon Anatomy
I keep seeing this scar shape, is it from stitches? What would cause the lines on either side?
Just Got This Tattoo Over Some Scars, Thought Y'all Might Appreciate It
Finished Up This Piece For Logan The Other Day! Thanks For Your Trust
Working with scarring is a specialty of mine - surgery, self-harm and accidents. I'm a strong believer in the transformative power of tattooing and this is just one of the many ways I can put it into action. It is a slow process and varies greatly person to person as minimizing skin damage and managing client's pain is always key.
Just Got A Lightsaber Tattoo To Add To An Old Scar
Scar Tattoo
Here's My New Trans Tattoo To Go With My Top Surgery Scars. I Am In Love
Flowers Covering Scars
Coverage Of Scars That Happened On Luciene, Thank You For Your Trust
Fish Tattoo Blending In With The Scar
Scar Cover
Zip It Up
Tiny Reminder To Smile Today And Enjoy Life. Love It When People Come With Ideas That Match So Well With Their Unique Bodies And Birthmarks
I Engraved A Lizard With A Very Long Tongue To A Customer Who Wants To Become A Grandfather With A Funny Wound In The Future
I hope the lizard becomes a lucky charm.
Would never have guessed "long tongue lizard" without the description
Piece of advice... before getting a scar or birthmark tattooed, discuss it with your doctor. Tattooing over those makes it hard to check for irregularities and skin cancer that can occur.
Yes, I was wondering about tattooing over freckles, moles or birthmarks. Excellent point you've made!
Load More Replies...That was one of the most touching posts at Boredpanda. I love the idea that something so small like few ink lines, can cover up and take pain away from mistakes or painfull moments in human life. And now completely different story about a birthmark, showing my family's craziness and stupid humor;) i have a birthmark between my bottom cheeks, which looks like a smeared poo and i was also conscious about it going for massage or other treatments where it was visible, and wanted to cover it up. I told it to my dad, and he got brilliant and very subtle idea about how to do it... So his idea was to add big arrow and write "This is not a poo"🤣
I feel so sad looking at those. They are great and I am happy the people are happy, still sad for some reason 😌
You're probably very empathetic like me and "feel" what they must have gone through 1)getting scarred 2)recovering 3) people's questions 4)pain of tattooing. Hopefully all are happier now, with the "upgrades".
Load More Replies...Piece of advice... before getting a scar or birthmark tattooed, discuss it with your doctor. Tattooing over those makes it hard to check for irregularities and skin cancer that can occur.
Yes, I was wondering about tattooing over freckles, moles or birthmarks. Excellent point you've made!
Load More Replies...That was one of the most touching posts at Boredpanda. I love the idea that something so small like few ink lines, can cover up and take pain away from mistakes or painfull moments in human life. And now completely different story about a birthmark, showing my family's craziness and stupid humor;) i have a birthmark between my bottom cheeks, which looks like a smeared poo and i was also conscious about it going for massage or other treatments where it was visible, and wanted to cover it up. I told it to my dad, and he got brilliant and very subtle idea about how to do it... So his idea was to add big arrow and write "This is not a poo"🤣
I feel so sad looking at those. They are great and I am happy the people are happy, still sad for some reason 😌
You're probably very empathetic like me and "feel" what they must have gone through 1)getting scarred 2)recovering 3) people's questions 4)pain of tattooing. Hopefully all are happier now, with the "upgrades".
Load More Replies...