Thinking about bikini season and that tattoo you’d like to have removed, but not sure if you’ll be able to swim after the procedure? We understand. Summer is quickly approaching, and this is your guide to getting started on tattoo removal while enjoying as many summer activities as possible!

Can You Swim After a Laser Tattoo Removal Procedure?

You should avoid immersing the treated area in hot or potentially dirty water until the tattoo has healed, just as you would with a tattoo. We recommend avoiding baths, hot tubs, pools, oceans, lakes, and rivers where the tattoo is submerged until any redness or blisters have healed. We recommend avoiding submersion to avoid coming into contact with any potential sources of infection for your newly treated tattoo.

How Long Can You Swim After Tattoo Removal?

After tattoo removal, we recommend waiting 3-5 days before submerging in a hot tub or other body of water. Of course, if your tattoo is still red, itchy, or blistered after 3-5 days, you should avoid swimming until the treated area has healed. Don’t be concerned if you happen to fall into some water by accident. Just make sure to thoroughly and gently rinse the area with clean water and mild soap.

To fully enjoy tattoo removal and summer activities, we recommend waiting a few days before swimming after tattoo removal. It is also critical to keep the treated area out of direct sunlight. We recommend bandaging the area or wearing a cover sleeve to keep sunlight from interfering with your removal progress.