Can you get a tattoo while breastfeeding 

Is it safe to get a tattoo while breastfeeding?

Tattoos involve injecting ink into the dermal (second) layer of the skin, typically using a hand-held electric machine with needles coated in ink. While tattoo inks in the United States are subject to FDA regulation as cosmetics, none are approved for injection under the skin.

Is it safe to have a tattoo removed while breastfeeding?

Tattoo removal is now primarily achieved through the use of lasers. This process involves the use of laser energy to break down tattoo pigment, causing it to shatter into smaller particles.

There have been no specific studies conducted on the increased amounts of ink released into a mother’s body during the laser removal process. It remains uncertain whether the ink particles are small enough to enter breast milk.

Unknown Impact on Breast Milk

As a precaution, it is generally recommended that mothers wait until they have completed the weaning process before undergoing any laser tattoo removal. This is because there is limited evidence regarding the safety of tattoos and breastfeeding, and the potential for ink particles to enter breast milk during the removal process is not well understood.