As always, we highly recommend checking out temporary tattoos<\/a> before you get inked for the first time. They\u2019ll allow you to enjoy some body art even if you\u2019re on a cocktail of blood thinners!<\/p>\n Getting a tattoo when you are on blood thinners (also known as anticoagulants) is possible but many tattoo artists won\u2019t allow it. There are also some side effects and risks that range from a higher possibility of getting an infected tattoo to losing a lot of blood during the session.<\/p>\n Blood thinners prevent your blood from clotting, which makes for a very bloody and messy tattoo session. It also prevents your tattoo from healing quickly and safely afterwards.<\/p>\n Bottom line<\/strong>: most tattoo artists won\u2019t ink you if you\u2019ve taken blood thinners, and if they do, only very small tattoos are safe for you.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n To find out exactly how blood thinners affect your tattoo (and why that\u2019s so very bad) here\u2019s what happens during the tattooing process.<\/p>\n To mark your body with permanent ink, the tattoo artist<\/a> uses a tattoo pen<\/a> (also referred to as a tattoo gun or machine) that pricks your skin with a needle<\/a> repeatedly.<\/p>\n By needling your skin, the tattoo artist can deposit ink<\/a> into the middle dermis layer of your skin. This layer is deep enough that your skin will heal over the top, but not so deep that the immune system will instantly remove it or be invisible from the outside.<\/p>\n Every time the needle punctures your skin, a small amount of blood will leak out too. This is completely normal and, if you\u2019re not on anticoagulants, the bleeding will soon stop and the healing will begin.<\/p>\n The technical term for a blood thinner is an anticoagulant. This is because blood thinners don\u2019t actually thin the blood<\/em>. Instead, they prevent your blood from clotting (coagulating). As a result, with every tiny wound that the tattoo needle creates, you\u2019ll expel more blood than usual. You\u2019ll also continue bleeding for far longer.<\/p>\n Usually, the tattoo artist just wipes away the blood that emerges from a fresh tattoo, then carries on inking. But if you\u2019re on blood thinners, the blood just won\u2019t stop. <\/em>As a result, the tattooist will keep wiping away the blood and this can fade the final tattoo design.<\/p>\n The answer is yes<\/strong>. If you\u2019re getting a very small tattoo, like the one picture above, you\u2019re not going to lose much blood during the session even if you\u2019re on blood thinners. And although you still have that higher risk of infection, many tattoo artists will be happy to ink you if you have a note from your doctor saying it\u2019s okay.<\/p>\n The key is to talk to your tattoo artist about it. If they know that you\u2019re taking blood thinners before <\/strong>the session, they can make preparations or refer to you someone who is more comfortable inking you.<\/p>\n If you are taking any of these medications, you may be thinning your blood too much to get a tattoo:<\/p>\n Furthermore, there are some other substances that will thin your blood! You may be tempted to try these before your tattoo session, but that would be a bad idea. Talk to your tattooist for tips on how to prepare for your tattoo session!<\/p>\n Even though you can technically <\/em>get a tattoo on blood thinners, we strongly advise that you don\u2019t. <\/strong>Here are 5 very good reasons why.<\/p>\n If you\u2019ve got a very large tattoo planned, then the excess blood that flows from your body could lead to dangerous levels of blood loss. Losing too much blood leaves you feeling weak and dizzy. If you lose a serious amount, you may go into shock<\/a> or have trouble breathing.<\/p>\n You\u2019re unlikely to die from this, mainly because the tattoo artist is going to call an ambulance if you start spurting blood left, right and center! In fact, most decent tattoo artists will stop inking you if they see excessive blood loss.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t bank on a refund if that happens.<\/p>\n With blood getting in the way, there\u2019s a higher chance that your tattoo artist will make a mistake. This is especially probable if you\u2019re getting inked by a new or trainee artist, or you\u2019ve chosen a very intricate design to get inked on your skin.<\/p>\n Usually, the artist will regularly wipe the area during tattooing to remove excess blood and ink that accumulates on your skin. If you\u2019re on blood thinners, the tattoo artist will need to do this far more regularly, thus breaking their flow.<\/p>\n Also Read:\u00a0What Happens If A Tattoo Artist Messed Up?<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Following on from that last point, the more you bleed and the more your tattoo artist has to wipe and readjust, the longer the tattoo session is going to take. This means more time sitting in the chair and really long hours. Your body will start to ache and so will your tattoo artists\u2019 hands.<\/p>\n That means either rescheduling your sessions to include more of them (which will cost you more) or hoping that your tired tattoo artist won\u2019t slip up or make a mistake. Either way, your tattooist isn\u2019t going to be pleased.<\/p>\n With all the hassle you\u2019ve put your tattoo artist through, either with longer tattoo sessions or just lots of wiping up and concern, you can definitely expect them to put the price up. If they have an hourly rate, you may be charged that.<\/p>\n They may also charge you for any extra ink and cleaning equipment you required due to excessive bleeding\u2026<\/p>\n \u2026but in most cases, if you tell your tattoo artist that you have taken blood thinners (or a substance that may thin your blood) then they\u2019ll refuse to tattoo you at all. Rebooking a session for when you are off the meds may be more costly as well.<\/p>\n Blood thinners impact your body\u2019s ability to clot the blood. Usually, your tattoo will produce a little blood and ooze in the first day or two after getting inked\u2026 but if your blood is too thin and can\u2019t clot as quickly, it will take longer.<\/p>\n Not only does that mean a longer healing process (which also prolongs the painful burn-type feeling) but it also increases your chances of getting an infection. An infected tattoo can be painful and even distort the design of your tattoo as it eventually heals.<\/p>\n Read More: Tattoo Infection: Everything You Need To Know<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\nCan I Get Tattoos on Blood Thinners \u2013 The Short Answer<\/h2>\n
![\"Can](\"https:\/\/www.saved-tattoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Can-I-Get-Tattoos-on-Blood-Thinners-\u2013-The-Short-Answer.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
Why Blood Thinners are Bad for Tattoos<\/h2>\n
![\"Why](\"https:\/\/www.saved-tattoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Why-Blood-Thinners-are-Bad-for-Tattoos.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
What Happens When You Get Inked<\/h3>\n
The Effects of Blood Thinners<\/h3>\n
So, Can You Get ANY Tattoo on Blood Thinners?<\/h3>\n
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Known Blood Thinners List<\/h3>\n
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5 Disastrous Side Effects of Getting a Tattoo on Blood Thinners<\/h2>\n
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Dangerous Blood Loss<\/h3>\n
Tattoo Mistakes<\/h3>\n
Loooong Tattoo Sessions<\/h3>\n
![\"Loooong](\"https:\/\/www.saved-tattoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Loooong-Tattoo-Sessions.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
Expensive or Non-Existent!<\/h3>\n
Tattoo Infection<\/h3>\n
Quick FAQs<\/h2>\n
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Can you get a tattoo while on metoprolol?<\/h3>\n