Tattoo Cover-Ups in Tbilisi — Custom Rework by Ivan Tahine
Not every tattoo ages the way you hoped it would. Skin changes, ink fades and spreads, styles you loved ten years ago stop feeling like you — or the tattoo is tied to a memory you'd rather not carry around anymore. A cover-up isn't about erasing that tattoo, it's about turning it into something you're glad to look at again.
I've been doing cover-up work for most of my ten-plus years as a tattoo artist, and it's some of the most technical, most rewarding work I take on. Below is how I approach it, what's realistic and what isn't, and real examples of cover-ups I've done in Tbilisi.
I've been doing cover-up work for most of my ten-plus years as a tattoo artist, and it's some of the most technical, most rewarding work I take on. Below is how I approach it, what's realistic and what isn't, and real examples of cover-ups I've done in Tbilisi.
What Makes a Tattoo Cover-Up-able
Mountain hand cover tattoo by Ivan Tahine, Tbilisi
Almost any tattoo can be reworked into something new — but "almost any" comes with real constraints, and I'll always tell you honestly what they are before we start designing:
- Color and darkness. A solid black or dark-colored tattoo limits what can sit on top of it. The new design usually needs to be equal or darker in the areas that overlap the old ink, or we need to plan around lightening it first.
- Size. The new tattoo generally needs to be somewhat larger than the old one, so the new linework and shading can fully absorb the old shape instead of just outlining it.
- Saturation and age. Older, more faded tattoos are often easier to cover than dense, recent color work — there's less pigment to work around.
- Sometimes, laser first. If the old tattoo is too dark, too saturated, or in a spot where we don't have room to go bigger, a few rounds of laser fading before the cover-up gives us far more design freedom. I'll tell you upfront if I think this is the better path — it's not something I say to upsell you, it's what actually gets a better result.
- Dragon full back coverup tattoo by Ivan Tahine, Tbilisi
- Bird hand coverup tattoo by Ivan Tahine, Tbilisitbilisi tattoo price
- Dragon remake coverup tattoo by Ivan Tahine, Tbilisitattoo salon tbilisi
The Cover-Up Process
Eye ribs coverup tattoo by Ivan Tahine, Tbilisi
The Cover-Up Process
1. Send me a photo. Before anything else, message me a clear photo of the tattoo you want covered, in good lighting. This is the fastest way for me to give you an honest first read on what's possible.
2. Consultation. We talk through what you want instead — style, subject, how much you want to keep vs. fully replace. I'll tell you at this point if I think laser fading should happen first.
3. Custom design. I design specifically around the shape, placement, and color of your existing tattoo — this is not a stencil that would work on clean skin. You'll see the design before your session.
4. Session. Cover-up sessions tend to run longer than a tattoo of the same size on clean skin, because there's more shading and layering involved in fully absorbing the old ink. I'll give you a realistic time estimate once the design is set.
5. Aftercare. Same as any tattoo — written instructions after your session, and I'm reachable on WhatsApp if anything looks off while it heals.
1. Send me a photo. Before anything else, message me a clear photo of the tattoo you want covered, in good lighting. This is the fastest way for me to give you an honest first read on what's possible.
2. Consultation. We talk through what you want instead — style, subject, how much you want to keep vs. fully replace. I'll tell you at this point if I think laser fading should happen first.
3. Custom design. I design specifically around the shape, placement, and color of your existing tattoo — this is not a stencil that would work on clean skin. You'll see the design before your session.
4. Session. Cover-up sessions tend to run longer than a tattoo of the same size on clean skin, because there's more shading and layering involved in fully absorbing the old ink. I'll give you a realistic time estimate once the design is set.
5. Aftercare. Same as any tattoo — written instructions after your session, and I'm reachable on WhatsApp if anything looks off while it heals.
What's Possible: Three Kinds of Cover-Ups
Rework, same subject. Sometimes the original idea still holds up — it just needs to be redrawn with better technique. See the full story →: a client brought in a 20-year-old faded dragon tattoo and wanted to keep the same size and outline, so instead of covering it, I recreated it — same spirit, fine linework, and a fresher, more dynamic finish.
Full redesign. When the old tattoo is tied to something you want to move on from, we build something new that only uses the old shape as a structural starting point. See full story →: a client had small mountains tattooed years ago that reminded her of a bad time. We covered them completely with new, differently-drawn mountains in a darker palette, softened with added light and size.
Multiple tattoos, merged. If you've got a few small, unrelated tattoos in the same area, a cover-up can be a chance to unify them into one deliberate piece instead of a scattered collection.
Before & After
Letterin touch up tattoo by Ivan Tahine Tbilisi
Abstract coverup tattoo by Ivan Tahine Tbilisi
Mountain coverup tattoo by Ivan Tahine Tbilisi
Dragon full back coverup tattoo by Ivan Tahine Tbilisi
Eagle masculine coverup tattoo by Ivan Tahine Tbilisi
Fish back coverup tattoo by Ivan Tahine Tbilisi
Is This You?
Pricing
Cover-ups are priced the same way as any custom piece: $70 per hour, or $560 for a full-day session (8 hours). Because cover-up work usually needs more shading and layering than a same-size tattoo on clean skin, sessions often run longer than you'd expect from the visible size alone — I'll give you a real estimate after seeing the tattoo and agreeing on a design. A deposit of 100–200 GEL secures your slot and counts toward the total.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can any tattoo be covered? Almost always yes, but not always in one session and not always without changes to the plan — sometimes that means going bigger than you first imagined, sometimes it means a round of laser fading first. I'll tell you honestly what your specific tattoo needs.
Will the old tattoo still be visible after? Once healed, no — a well-planned cover-up fully absorbs the old design. In the right light, at close range, faint shadowing can sometimes be seen on very dark or poorly-faded originals, which is why I'm upfront about laser fading when it would give a cleaner result.
Do I need laser removal first? Not always. It depends on how dark and saturated your existing tattoo is and how much room we have to go bigger. I'll tell you during the consultation if I think it would meaningfully improve the result.
Does a cover-up hurt more than a regular tattoo? Not more, but sessions are often longer because of the extra shading and layering, so plan for more total time in the chair.
How long should I wait after getting the original tattoo before covering it? If it's a recent tattoo, let it fully heal first (at least 4–6 weeks). If it's an old tattoo you've had for years, there's no waiting period — we can start whenever you're ready.
- You have a tattoo you got young that doesn't represent you anymore
- An old tattoo has faded, blurred, or spread with age
- You have a name or symbol tied to a relationship or time you've moved past
- You've got a few small, unrelated tattoos you'd rather see as one piece
- You got work from an artist you no longer trust and want it redone properly
Pricing
Cover-ups are priced the same way as any custom piece: $70 per hour, or $560 for a full-day session (8 hours). Because cover-up work usually needs more shading and layering than a same-size tattoo on clean skin, sessions often run longer than you'd expect from the visible size alone — I'll give you a real estimate after seeing the tattoo and agreeing on a design. A deposit of 100–200 GEL secures your slot and counts toward the total.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can any tattoo be covered? Almost always yes, but not always in one session and not always without changes to the plan — sometimes that means going bigger than you first imagined, sometimes it means a round of laser fading first. I'll tell you honestly what your specific tattoo needs.
Will the old tattoo still be visible after? Once healed, no — a well-planned cover-up fully absorbs the old design. In the right light, at close range, faint shadowing can sometimes be seen on very dark or poorly-faded originals, which is why I'm upfront about laser fading when it would give a cleaner result.
Do I need laser removal first? Not always. It depends on how dark and saturated your existing tattoo is and how much room we have to go bigger. I'll tell you during the consultation if I think it would meaningfully improve the result.
Does a cover-up hurt more than a regular tattoo? Not more, but sessions are often longer because of the extra shading and layering, so plan for more total time in the chair.
How long should I wait after getting the original tattoo before covering it? If it's a recent tattoo, let it fully heal first (at least 4–6 weeks). If it's an old tattoo you've had for years, there's no waiting period — we can start whenever you're ready.
Book Your Cover-Up Consultation
Send me a clear photo of the tattoo you want covered, along with any ideas for what you'd like instead. I'll give you an honest read on what's possible and reply within 24 hours.
