Getting Nexplanon is pretty common now a day. So people who have Nexplanon implanted might want a tattoo as well. Are you one of those who has a Nexplanon contraceptive implant while also dreaming about getting that killer tattoo? Well, hold onto your hats or should I say, your arm? Because getting a tattoo over any sort of implant requires consideration.
Picture this: You’ve got this rad idea for a tattoo – maybe it’s a beautiful rose, a fierce dragon, or a quote that resonates with your soul. You’re all set to make your skin an artistic masterpiece, but then you remember that tiny, hormone-releasing implant hanging out in your arm. Now, can you tattoo over Nexplanon or not? That is exactly what I will be discussing in today’s article.
Key Takeaways
- Nexplanon is an implant that prevents unwanted pregnancy for up to 3 to 5 years and after that time frame, you will have to remove the implant surgically.
- It is highly recommended not to tattoo over Nexplanon.
- Reasons you should not tattoo over Nexplanon are the Nexplanon may get damaged, the chance of unexpected pregnancy, the risk of infecting Nexplanon, scarring the tattoo, tissue damage, Nexplanon shifting position, and skin reaction.
- If you want to get a tattoo and Nexplan then you may these things to work around it: get the tattoo first, discuss with your tattoo artist, choose a tattoo design accordingly, wait for the skin to heal, get a temporary tattoo, get the tattoo on the front arm.
Nexplanon: Short Briefing
If you have this implant you probably know what it is, still, let me give a briefing to keep you posted! Nexplanon is like a tiny superhero for birth control. It’s this small, flexible rod that gets snugly tucked under your skin – usually in your arm. And it releases a hormone called etonogestrel. This hormone works double duty: it stops your ovaries from popping out eggs (no baby-making here!) and it thickens up your cervical mucus so those sperm have a tough time reaching their destination.
Here’s the deal – Nexplanon is like a boss when it comes to preventing pregnancy. You’re talking less than a 1% chance of unwanted pregnancy if you use it right. It’s a set-it-and-forget-it kind of deal, hanging out and doing its job for up to three years. When you’re ready to part ways, a quick trip to your friendly neighborhood healthcare provider is all you need to get it removed.
So, there you have it, a brief lowdown on Nexplanon – the birth control wingman that’s got your back, and your arm!
Tattoo Over Nexplanon: Can You Do It or Not?
If you have a Nexplanon implant you may want to know if it is safe to get a tattoo over it or not.
Simply put, it is highly recommended not to get a tattoo over or near your Nexplanon implant. Because when you get a tattoo, the tattoo needle pokes deep into your skin and this depth can be uncertain. What I mean is sometimes the tattoo needle may go deeper than the recommended amount of depth. And it may reach your Nexplanon implant and damage it.
I am not saying you cannot get a tattoo over Nexplanon, what am saying is you shouldn’t as there are many risks to it.
Tattoo needle damaging the Nexplanon would decrease its effectiveness or it may not work at all. You may face the risk of unwanted pregnancy because of it. Getting pregnant without planning could be troublesome. It can affect your career, goal, social, and everything. Now, why would you take such a risk just to get a tattoo?
Not to mention, getting a tattoo makes the skin super sensitive and vulnerable to germs and infection. If you get a tattoo over your Nexplanon it could introduce the area to germs and infection. Getting an infection near any sort of implant can lead to health complications. Not only do you have to get that Nexplanon removed but you may also end up scarring the skin permanently.
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7 Reasons Why You Should Not Tattoo Over Nexplanon
Still not convinced and want some straightforward reasons not to tattoo over your Nexplanon? Do not worry my friend, I got you covered. In this portion, I have gathered and elaborated on a few crucial reasons for you not to tattoo over or near Nexplanon.
1. Nexplanon may get damaged
Tattoo needles depth can be uncertain, so by mistake, it may reach and poke your Nexplanon. The Nexplanon may get damaged and lose its effectiveness if your Nexplanon gets damaged in leads to multiple issues.
2. Chance of unexpected pregnancy
If you end up ruining the Nexplanon or damaging it, then it may lose its quality of preventing pregnancy. So, you could say it can increase the chance of you getting pregnant unexpectedly. Unexpected pregnancy can be a huge issue and it can majorly impact your life.
3. Risk of infecting Nexplanon
You do not want your Nexplanon to get infected, do you? It is rare but possible for your Nexplanon to get infected because of tattooing. The tattooing procedure is like a mini surgery but unlike surgery, the wounded skin stays open and not bandaged. Because the wounded skin stays open, it is prone to get infected easily. If the tattoo over your Nexplanon gets infected then there is a high chance the infection would reach the Nexplanon as well. If the Nexplanon or the area around it gets infected you may end up needing to surgically remove that Nexplanon.
4. Scarring the tattoo
Nexplanon sounds like magic but it has its limitations. It can stay effective for 3 to 5 years at most. So, you will need to get that Nexplanon removed after 3 years. Removing it is not as easy as you may think. It requires surgery to remove the implant and your skin may get scarred. And if you have a tattoo over that area of your skin then there is a high chance the tattoo would get scarred. These types of scars are permanent so they can ruin or scar your tattoo for life.
5. Tissue damage
The tattooing procedure is a little bit complicated. During the tattooing procedure, the tattoo needle can generate some heat or power which may damage the skin tissue. Usually, it is not a problem, but skin tissue around your Nexplanon getting damaged can create a problem.
6. Nexplanon shifting position
Nexplanon is an implant that gets surgically inserted into the inner side of your arm. The perfect choice for the implant is your non-dominant arm. Now if the tissues around the Nexplan get damaged because of the tattooing procedure, there is a chance the Nexplan shifting its position from the place it is implanted on. The shifting won’t be drastic but still, even the slightest shifting could create issues for you.
7. Skin reaction
Our body may react negatively to any foreign matter like implant or tattoo ink. Getting a tattoo over your implant to further complicate matter if your body or skin fight back to protect you from these foreign matter.
6 Things You Can Do to Get Nexplanon And Tattoo: Best of Both Worlds
Want to have it both? A fine fabulous tattoo and Nexplanon? Do not stress over such an issue. I have provided some tips that you can use to have both your Nexplanon the perfect pregnancy guardian and a tattoo.
1. Get the tattoo first
If you have not gotten your Nexplanon yet then this is the perfect time to get a tattoo. You can get a tattoo and then later on get a Nexplanon implemented. A tattoo requires some time to heal. The surface of the skin or epidermis may take around 14 days to heal and the dermis layer of the skin or second layer of the skin requires 3 to 6 months to heal. So, go ahead and get your favorite tattoo and wait around 6 months for it to heal completely, and then get your precious implant without any worry.
2. Discuss with your tattoo artist
Tattoo artists are like the Santa Clause of tattoos. They can provide you with the perfect gift of a tattoo. But discuss with them that you have a Nexplanon on your arm and if the tattoo artist can work their magic to make a tattoo over it or near it without damaging the tattoo.
If the tattoo artist is experienced enough then he can provide you with realistic advice that if it is possible to tattoo over the Nexplanon or not. And an experienced tattoo artist can maintain perfect needle depth so that your Nexplanon does not get damaged.
3. Choose a tattoo design accordingly
Do not choose a complicated tattoo design that requires more work. Instead, go for a simple tattoo design that avoids the implant area. This way you can get the tattoo over your Nexplanon and will reduce the chance of facing any issue regarding it.
4. Wait for the skin to heal
If you want to get the tattoo after getting Nexplanon then at least wait till the skin is fully healed. Getting Nexplanon can wound the skin like any mini-surgery would. So wait for your skin and the tissue around the Nexplanon implant to heal before you get a tattoo around that skin.
5. Get a temporary tattoo
You can get a temporary tattoo that does not require skin poking. This type of tattoo is safe to get over your Nexplanon. And top of that you can get some benefits like these tattoos are super cheap and if you do not like the way it looks you can remove it from your skin pretty easily.
6. Get the tattoo on the front arm
Nexplanon gets implemented on the inner side of your arm. So you can get a tattoo on the front side of your arm. The placement of the tattoo still stays on your arm but just on the outer side. This way you can get your previous tattoo on your arm while having the Nexplanon without facing any sort of issues.
FAQs
How can I know if my Nexplanon is broken because of getting a tattoo?
Nexplanon shape can be visible from the outer skin but a proper way to know if your Nexplanon got broken or damaged or not is by imaging it. Professional healthcare experts can do an X-ray to get the imaging of your arm by observing the X-ray result they can tell if your Nexplanon is in good condition or broken.
Can I get a tattoo while having Nexplanon and being on birth control pills?
Nexplanon and birth control pills are not really the same. You can get a tattoo even if you have Nexplanon but it is highly recommended to avoid the implemented area to get a tattoo. And birth control pills do not affect tattooing in any way, so you can get a tattoo before, after, or during the time you are on birth control pills.
Will the removal of Nexplanon scar my tattoo?
There is a high possibility of your tattoo getting a scar during the removal of Nexplanon. Because it requires a mini-surgical procedure to be removed. These scars can be permanent and can distort your tattoo for good.
Should I get a tattoo after or before getting Nexplanon?
If you want to get a tattoo it is highly recommended to get the tattoo before you get Nexplanon if the placement of the tattoo is right where you would get the implant. This way you can avoid a lot of possible complications. Make sure the tattoo is completely healed before you get your Nexplanon. And remember when you get that implant removed after a certain period of time, the tattoo may get scarred.
What type of tattoo design should I go for when getting a tattoo over Nexplanon?
Go for a simple tattoo design that does not require much work. And it would be best to choose or create a tattoo design that would avoid the Nexplanon area and just stay around it. This way the implement will not have any chance of breaking and getting damaged.
Final Thoughts
So, whether you’re a seasoned tattoo veteran or a newbie just dipping your toes into the body art pond, you should reconsider getting a tattoo over your Nexplanon implant. Getting a tattoo over it increases the implement getting damaged, misplaced, or infected, and the skin may react negatively to it.
But it is possible to get a tattoo while you have Nexplanon and there are ways to reduce the chance of complications too. If you want to get a tattoo over Nexplanon then first choose an experienced artist and discuss the matter with them, choose a simple design that avoids being over the Nexplanon implant, and get the tattoo when your skin is fully healed from the implant surgery.
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