Nowadays, many people have put enormous effort into getting rid of their extra weight. Besides the health benefits that come along with having more lean mass and less body fat, slimming down your body can bring about significant alterations as to how you might look.
Therefore, it is only natural that you find yourself pondering over what happens to tattoos when you lose weight, should you already own at least one. Still haven’t found an answer? Stick with this article until the end to find out!
What Happens To Tattoos When You Lose Weight?
Tattoos tend to appear bigger and a bit distorted when you lose weight. But whether the impact is noticeable enough depends on the conditions of your body.
If your weight loss is gradual and minimal, chances are there will be certain stretches and blurry lines on the tattoo, but not too much. On the other hand, if you manage to lose a great amount of weight, your tattoos will likely be saggy than initially.
In some extreme cases, when lots of loose skin is present, and the original tattoo is too small, the skin can fold over the tattoo and cover its entire existence.
Can I Have New Tattoos After Losing Weight?
In theory, as long as the skin tissues are still there, your body will always have places for new tattoos. Nevertheless, for a body just going through a significant weight loss with an extreme amount of loose skin left, things will be a bit more challenging.
First off, loose skin is not ideal for the inking process. Its textured surface prevents artists from needling deep inside the tissues and moving it around without accidentally touching unnecessary parts.
To make matters worse, if you insist on tattooing over saggy surfaces, your skin will have to be stretched out temporarily, causing lots of pain and discomfort.
And the worst past? Once the tattoo is done, and the skin tissues come back to the original conditions, the tattoo likely appears invisible to most eyes due to its location. Only when the skin is stretched out again would people catch a glimpse of what is inked on your body.
Due to the reasons mentioned above, you are not recommended to get a tattoo on your loose skin after losing weight drastically. But if you truly wish for it, then make sure to carefully consult with an experienced artist to see what they bring to the table.
Usually, tattoo artists will suggest having tattoos on body parts with a smaller amount of fat, which provides an even side to work on. These include your back, your upper back where the shoulders are connected, the back of your neck, your wrists, and your calf.
The design of your tattoos would also come into question. Going for something small and classic is the safest option, especially if the tattoo artist is going to ink on limited spaces like wrists or necks.
For a tattoo much bigger and more impressive, mentally prepare yourself that things might not turn out exactly how you want them to be. Blowouts can happen – mostly with no fault of the artist – but simply due to the conditions of the tissues.
In short, while it is possible to get a new tattoo after losing weight, the inking process might be more excruciating, and the result does not always live up to your expectations.
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Everything You Need To Know About Weight Loss’s Effects On Tattoos
Most vulnerable locations
Regardless of where your tattoo is, it is still prone to changes after weight loss. However, there are specific areas where fat usually accumulates, making tattoos more exposed to transformation. These include upper thighs, upper arms, and the belly.
Scale of impact
How much a tattoo is altered by weight loss can be traced back to how you decide to get rid of the excess fat.
Losing weight over the course of months (or even years) gives the skin enough time to slowly shrink back down, so the affected tattoos can keep up with the pace of your body’s changes. By the end of your fitness journey, the skin might as well be tight, and any visible modification on the tattoo is minimized. The same situation also applies when you lose just a few tiny pounds.
Vice versa, a substantial weight loss and/or weight loss taking place too quickly can damage how a tattoo might look. The skin tissues cannot adjust themselves when the fat drains away in a short amount of time, resulting in saggy surfaces, stretch marks, and consequently, different-looking tattoos.
Necessary treatment
When it comes to preserving the state of your tattoos throughout your workout regime, the key is to stay consistent and moderate with weight loss. Do not rush things, or else you will be left with a ton of loose skin and highly distorted tattoos in the end.
Another piece of advice is to keep your skin hydrated, both inside and out. Be sure to drink your daily water intake, coupled with a good old bottle of moisturizer or body lotion. A thin layer gently applied over the skin at least once per day would help retain the tissues’ elasticity and firmness.
In case the distortion in tattoos after weight loss is too much to ignore, asking your tattoo artist for a fix is always a feasible solution. Anything from filler tattoos, touch-ups, or color rejuvenations will do the trick.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Conclusion
So, what happens to tattoos when you lose weight? Overall, losing weight is a journey of changes for your body, so it is natural for the tattoos to be altered slightly on the way.
But just because the tattoos look different does not mean they will become worse than before. So wash away your worries, and instead focus on how you can minimize the impact of a substantial weight loss on your body art with our detailed guidelines!
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