06/02/2026
💫 You do not always have to remove a tattoo completely to change it.
One of the biggest misconceptions about laser tattoo removal is that the goal is always a blank slate. In reality, many patients come to Dr. Butterwick looking for something much more strategic: fading a tattoo just enough to make a better cover-up possible.
This process is called tattoo fading for a cover-up.
Using TotalTat³, Dr. Butterwick can often fade existing tattoo ink in fewer than three treatments, making the cover-up process more efficient and giving tattoo artists a much cleaner canvas to work with.
Why does this matter? Because trying to tattoo over very dark, saturated ink often limits what a tattoo artist can create. By fading the old tattoo first, the artist has far more flexibility with detail, contrast, and overall design.
In this case, the faded sleeve became the foundation for an entirely new Polynesian piece that would not have been achievable over the original tattoo alone.
The before and after here is not just laser removal — it is a collaboration between laser technology and tattoo artistry.
📍 Schedule a consultation with Dr. Butterwick to learn whether tattoo fading is the right first step for your next tattoo transformation.