Getting a tattoo is invasive since the targeted skin area incurs hundreds of punctures using a sharp needle. As a result, the procedure involves bleeding in small amounts. People intending to get tattoos must conduct due diligence to ascertain that the involved artist observes safety and hygiene. Health experts associate blood thinners with excessive bleeding. Blood thinner users understand the risk factors involved when they undergo invasive procedures. Thus, there have been questions on the risks involved in getting a tattoo while on blood thinners.
Getting a tattoo involves an invasive procedure where the artists mark the body with long-lasting ink. The artists use a pen, gun, or tattoo machine to complete the process. The artists use the tattoo gun to repeatedly prick the skin using a needle, which deposits the permanent ink on the middle layer of the skin. The artists deposit the ink deep in the skin, making it difficult for the immune system to eliminate it. Some blood will ooze out when the artist punctures the skin using the needle. The bleeding stops soon after the tattoo session is complete and the recovery procedure begins.
People give divergent opinions concerning having tattoos while on blood thinners. Some argue that the procedure is risky and should be avoided, while others say it’s okay. Based on health expert opinions and guidelines, this article shows that people can get a tattoo while on blood thinners.
Can you get a tattoo on blood thinners?
Dr. George Forgan-Smith of the Elite Tattoo Aftercare explains in this video (https://youtu.be/MSwwchIWfKY) that it is okay to tattoo on blood thinners. However, the procedure should be well planned and discussed with the tattoo artist. Dr. George further suggests that a tattoo on a blood thinner should not exceed 2sq inches. A large tattoo while on blood thinners increases the risk of a slowed recovery and other complications.
It is usual for a tattoo to bleed during the application stage and recovery. However, the amount of bloodshed is not alarming since it does not negatively impact tattoo outcomes. The scenario differs for people aspiring to have a tattoo while on blood thinners. People take blood thinners following a doctor’s prescription due to underlying health conditions. Patients at risk of quickly forming clots use blood thinners to prolong the clotting time. Using aspirins, heparin, and warfarin arguably contributes to blood thinning. Therefore, the tattooed area is likely to bleed more when on blood thinners than it would in normal circumstances.
Bleeding when getting a tattoo pushes the ink out. The artist has to be persistent and add more ink to the target skin area. However, such a measure overworks the skin area, causing more bleeding and scabbing. The healing process becomes a little more challenging for such individuals and potentially develops some light spots.
While having a tattoo while on blood thinners is possible, it is essential to understand the potential risks. Excessive blood loss is likely to pose health risks to the tattooed person. Bleeding is not a significant concern during the tattoo process under normal circumstances. However, excessive bleeding is a side effect of using blood thinners, which is likely to occur during the invasive tattoo procedure. If uncontrolled, excessive blood loss has a detrimental impact on the body since it can cause the organ to fail. This happens due to the inability of the heart to supply adequate blood to various body tissues when experiencing excessive bleeding.
Another potential risk associated with tattoos on blood thinners is poor visibility for the artists. To eliminate excessive ink and blood, tattoo artists frequently wipe out the targeted area. Wiping out helps increase the visibility of their stencil, which helps actualize the intended piece of art. When the procedure involves tattooing on blood thinners, it becomes challenging to complete. Large amounts of blood will obscure the tattoo area at a higher rate making it difficult to see the ink formation. The bleeding affects the outcome of the tattoo. It is challenging for an inexperienced tattoo artist to deliver an accurate tattoo when the client is over bleeding.
Tattoo on blood thinners increases the chances of leaving ink pigment dropouts on the skin, which affects the tattoo quality. Blood thinners prolong the period it takes for blood to clot during recovery. A typical tattoo begins to clot a few hours after completing the procedure and is completely dry within 36 hours. Individuals should refrain from taking blood thinners after getting a tattoo. Otherwise, one risks continued bleeding and delayed healing by resuming to take blood thinners soon after the procedure is complete.
Having a tattoo while on blood thinners increases the risk of infection for the victims. As earlier noted, blood thinners prolong the time taken for clot formation. As a result, the skin on the tattooed area remains open longer, creating room for bacterial infections. In such a scenario, it requires an extra effort to heal since the tattoo should always be clean. The infection is visible through the formation of bumps with pus. The bumps might affect the entire tattoo or appear selectively. Other signs of infection on tattoosinclude swelling, redness, and surface tenderness. The infected individual might also experience fever, chills, itchiness, soreness, and pain. Tattoo infection might lead to severe complications like septic shock, organ failure, and endocarditis.
Tattoo artists can easily turn away a potential client using blood thinners. Part of the safety practices is to inquire from the clients about any underlying medical conditions. The information helps appropriately assess whether the health conditions allow the tattoo procedure. In a scenario where they identify some potential risks, the artists turn away the client. People taking blood thinners should understand that in such scenarios, the decision helps to guarantee their safety.
A tattoo on a blood thinner is costly because the session takes a long to complete. The tattoo artists take more time wiping the large amounts of blood from the skin surface. However, they need much more time to inject ink into the tattoo and ensure that the bleeding does not dilute it. The tattoo artist will therefore have to start and stop applying the ink consistently. That will make the tattoo sessions for those using blood thinners longer than normal.The client will have to endure more pain when the session is longer. It also means that the client will pay more when charging hourly.
Stopping blood thinners before tattoo
Some individuals have the determination to get a tattoo while on blood thinners. The above paragraphs outline the potential dangers blood thinner faces when getting a tattoo. Hence, it becomes fundamental to observe some safety precautions to prevent the severity of associated complications.
The first precaution is that artists require patients on blood thinners to get permission from their cardiologist. The doctor will evaluate the patient’s condition and assess whether it will be risky to pause the blood thinner prescription shortly. The health experts will assess the possibility of patients suffering from cardiovascular diseases and stroke. The patient needs to adhere to the advice given by the cardiologists concerning getting a tattoo.
The tattoo artist recommends stopping blood thinners before a tattoo. Tattoo artists suggest that individuals stop taking blood thinners one week before the tattoo session. They also recommend that one should not resume with the blood thinner prescription for at least one week after the session. Continued consumption of blood thinners increases the risk of bruising and excessive bleeding. On the other hand, stopping blood thinner prescriptions can be risky for patients since they can develop complications. Stopping blood thinners before a tattoo session also minimizes the blood-thinning effect on the tattoo area.
Tattoo artists recommend that their clients resume blood thinner prescriptions at least a week after the session. The time allows an efficient recovery time for the tattoo surface. At this time, the opened skin will have closed, and there will be no bleeding. Patientstaking blood thinners immediately after a tattoo session increase the infection risk. The loose skin will take a long to recover, creating room for a bacterial and fungal infections to affect the wound. It is essential to consult with the doctors on when one should resume taking blood thinners to avoid complications.
The answer is yes if you are inquiring whether one can have a tattoo while on blood thinners. However, tattoo experts recommend that blood thinner users should have small size tattoos. The small space reduces the amount of blood lost during the tattoo session. Tattoo artists require their clients to have a doctor’s letter to okay the procedure. Clients must discuss their blood-thinning status with their artists when planning the tattoo session. The discussion will enable the tattoo artists to prepare themselves for any probable eventuality that might require urgent medical attention. The tattoo client should also prepare for possible threats such as infections. Being on a blood thinner does not deny a chance to live the desired lifestyle. However, blood thinner users should consult their doctors when at risk of bleeding.