Many tattoo artists encourage their clients to have several laser treatments to lighten an unwanted tattoo or a selected section of an existing tattoo before covering it up with a new one. This lightening or complete tattoo removal will greatly reduce any chance that the old tattoo will be visible through the new tattoo and also can greatly limit the size of the new cover up. We always will welcome advice from your tattoo artist about the desired degree of tattoo lightening, and about the exact elements in the old tattoo which should be lightened or eliminated to achieve your desired results. You should delay the new tattoo art about a month or two after your final laser treatment before having a new tattoo placed in the laser treated area.