Those with tattoos, come in. Updated with pic

[shauni27]

Apr 18, 2023 20:25:53 GMT -5 cleo29 said:

I think I am going to get myself one this summer for my birthday. It will be a line from one of the last poems my dad wrote before he died, in his handwriting. "And the odyssey begins again" I think the entire stanza would be too much.

I love this. I am getting a new one in 2 weeks with my dad's writing on it as well. 

OP, I have two very small tattoos, each took about 10-15 minutes. One is my wrist and the other is my ankle. I was always afraid to get a tattoo because of my low pain tolerance and I do not think I could ever get one that would take more than 30 minutes for this very reason. But Knowing that it is pretty quick helps, and while it hurts a little, it is not like "omg, this is terrible, please stop!" Papercuts for example are far worse, lol.

I am already talking to a tattoo artist who is a family friend about the next one I get, and she does poke and stick, and I am worried that will hurt more.

[shauni27]

Apr 19, 2023 7:11:13 GMT -5 mags said:

Apr 18, 2023 20:25:53 GMT -5 cleo29 said:

I think I am going to get myself one this summer for my birthday. It will be a line from one of the last poems my dad wrote before he died, in his handwriting. "And the odyssey begins again" I think the entire stanza would be too much.

My next one (last one) will also be from something my dad wrote! He wrote a goodbye letter and the last line was "Goodnight my darlings, goodnight" there was more but that is the piece i think I will use.

oooooooh man, that is so sweet that you have that! That is so special.

[Deleted]

I agree with the description that it feels like the rough edge of a paperclip being dragged across the skin. I got one on the inside of my forearm at the end of January; forget-me-nots (black and grey) with my parents initials entwined in the stems. It's about 4" long and took about an hour and a half. A few moments of very slight discomfort, but otherwise it was easy. And the artist kept checking in with me on how I was doing/feeling.

I would not take anything beforehand, and have a conversation with the artist to discuss what to expect and any prep suggestions. They'll guide you on the aftercare as well.

[pixy0stix]

RE: bringing friends - there's a good chance they won't be able to sit with you. It's really fucking boring watching someone get a tattoo, and it's distracting in a bad way for me personally. You'll be fine. It's a nothingburger.

[chilerellanos]

My experience with bringing friends is they’ve always allowed them, except during the height of Covid (July 2020).

It’s really dependent on the artist how close they allow you to be.

Over the weekend there were 6 of us, but 5 of us got tattoos. But he allowed us to be wherever we wanted as long as we weren’t in his way.

We mostly sat in the waiting area though, because there’s really not much to do while they’re getting their tattoo.

Your tattoo artist should be talking to you. Checking in on you. Reminding you to breathe if you’re holding your breath, etc.

[pixy0stix]

My BFF brought a circus with her for her first tattoo. I would have bowed out had I known she was bringing both her husband and her sister in a addition to me. Her sister then yoinked the design and had it tatted on herself during the same appointment. It was a mess. More people = more problems, lol!

[underwaterrhymes]

I took a friend with me - a girl I worked with named Tracy who had a large tattoo of Tweety Bird on her boob.

I took Tracy because I knew she wouldn’t let me back out 😂. She sat next to me the whole time and cheered me on, however this was back in 1993 and to use the word artist for any tattooist at this particular tattoo joint would be a stretch. Suuuper chill place.

[msmerymac]

I've heard arms are NBD. I have a tattoo on the back of my calf that just felt a bit like a sunburn when it was happening, but didn't hurt at all after.

[Jalapeñomel]

I think you'll be fine in that spot, especially if it's small. Coloring and shading is the worst part, and if you're getting a small tattoo, I cannot imagine you'll have much of that.

I just finished a 5 hour tattoo session, and I just read a book. It was fine until the end. 


My tattoo artist books like 6 months in advance, and he will only allow 1 person to sit with someone and only if there aren't other people in the shop. He doesn't want to get distracted. 

[chchchia]

My first one didn't hurt one bit...the second "one" (which was 5 different things so to speak) on my inner wrist hurt to me but it was tolerable. I didn't enjoy the pain but far easier than kidney stones or childbirth if you were to put it on a scale.

[doggielover]

I had my first one done on the inside of my wrist and honestly it wasn't bad. I was expecting it to be really bad. If you go to an experienced tattoo artist they are really good at distracting you. The woman who did mine asked me a lot of questions and kept the conversation going. Before I knew it she was done.

Once you get one it's only a matter of time before you get a 2nd!!!

Edit:  The place I go to is small and they will not allow people back with you.  

[eddy]

I have an inside of forearm tattoo that is small. It is just my mom's handwriting.

It absolutely hurts, but it is not unbearable. Sometimes people will bring headphones. I just sat there and spaced out. I was never so uncomfortable that I needed them to stop.

[HRH Queen Dick I]

I think tattoo pain is cleansing, like a good cry.

[pinkdutchtulips]

I got one on the small of my back on a whim in 2000? 2001? It felt like a bunch of pinpricks but not too untolerable. The only problem was when it was over, I stood up and nearly passed out. Some gatorade and crackers and I was good to go. 

I'm thinking of getting another, Miss R's star constellation (Cancer), on me with the 3 larger stars being her initials REJ .. the biggest question is where ? 

[Deleted]

My tattoo on my inner forearm was super easy. I wouldn’t take any pain meds, I’ve read that they can make you bleed more.

[Saudade]

I have so many, including a full sleeve. They all have different levels of pain. Most of the sleeve sessions (4-4hr sessions) I slept because I went after a night shift. There are some more tender areas (inner bicep, elbow) but overall a small tattoo doesn't hurt that much. I also have a very low pain tolerance and didn't have issues, however my sitting limit is around 3.5 hours. The last 30 minutes are the worst for me.

[underwaterrhymes]

Can I ask for thoughts on this? My mastectomy reconstruction used stomach fat, so I have this gnarly abdominal scar. It’s high (and my belly button is wonky since they reconstructed it and then went in through it for my hysterectomy.)

I’ve seen some cool stomach tattoos, but they’re usually lower and so I go back and forth between just rocking this scar and getting it inked up. 

Anyone have any suggestions? 

SPOILER: Click to show

(Hid the photo under spoiler tags in case gnarly stomach scars aren’t your thing. 😂)

[chilerellanos]

underwaterrhymes

Maybe go in to talk to a tattoo artist and see if they can come up with something cool on that area.

[pixy0stix]

Apr 19, 2023 12:21:01 GMT -5 underwaterrhymes said:

Can I ask for thoughts on this? My mastectomy reconstruction used stomach fat, so I have this gnarly abdominal scar. It’s high (and my belly button is wonky since they reconstructed it and then went in through it for my hysterectomy.)

I’ve seen some cool stomach tattoos, but they’re usually lower and so I go back and forth between just rocking this scar and getting it inked up. 

Anyone have any suggestions? 

SPOILER: Click to show

View Attachment

(Hid the photo under spoiler tags in case gnarly stomach scars aren’t your thing. 😂)

Scars can sometimes not hold the ink, aka they're notoriously hard to tattoo. You'll have to go in knowing that there's going to be some artists that will reject you just because they don't want to mess with scar tissue. Don't let that discourage you, though, because I bet you'll find someone who could do something really cool!

[underwaterrhymes]

Apr 19, 2023 13:56:30 GMT -5 chilerellanos said:

underwaterrhymes

Maybe go in to talk to a tattoo artist and see if they can come up with something cool on that area.

I was thinking of taking  in this pic and seeing if they can do something similar. It’s just such a high scar that I’m not sure it would look right.

[chilerellanos]

I love that! I I wouldn’t worry about where the scar is! I would just find a good artist who will work with the scar!

[underwaterrhymes]

Apr 19, 2023 14:06:54 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

Apr 19, 2023 12:21:01 GMT -5 underwaterrhymes said:

Can I ask for thoughts on this? My mastectomy reconstruction used stomach fat, so I have this gnarly abdominal scar. It’s high (and my belly button is wonky since they reconstructed it and then went in through it for my hysterectomy.)

I’ve seen some cool stomach tattoos, but they’re usually lower and so I go back and forth between just rocking this scar and getting it inked up. 

Anyone have any suggestions? 

SPOILER: Click to show

View Attachment

(Hid the photo under spoiler tags in case gnarly stomach scars aren’t your thing. 😂)

Scars can sometimes not hold the ink, aka they're notoriously hard to tattoo. You'll have to go in knowing that there's going to be some artists that will reject you just because they don't want to mess with scar tissue. Don't let that discourage you, though, because I bet you'll find someone who could do something really cool!

It’s not a soft scar, either. The sides are a little better, but I had wound healing issues in the center. My PT was working on it before I had my hysterectomy and I’m cleared to head back to her at the end of the month, so I’m hoping if we can get it soft enough it will work. 🤞🤞🤞

[chilerellanos]

Gosh this thread is already making me want another one.

[fivechickens]

I have three. One inner ankle, one outer ankle and on my wrist.

My wrist tattoo is my newest one and it was tolerable. I don’t remember how the other two felt because I have had them for 25 years.

[estrellita]

I have 5. My first was just about 2 years ago now at 34!

Tylenol is usually ok, but not ibuprofen as it will make you bleed more. Also part of why they say not to drink. Make sure you eat and drink lots of water. Mine are on my ankles, upper back/shoulder and shoulder/upper arm. None were excruciating but the ankles hurt a little more, and around the shoulder blades. It feels like a cat continuously scratching you in a way. Which sounds terrible, but you get used to it! Recovery is a bit annoying/painful for the first few days. It kinda feels like a bad sunburn. It will peel and itch but try to leave it alone. Your artist will give you instructions, but for me, I washed mine 2-3 times a day with plain, fragrance free hand soap. Then I used Aquaphor for the first few days or so, then fragrance free lotion (Lubriderm is what we use, and I see it recommended a lot). I use lotion until it is fully healed and stops peeling. This worked better than Saniderm for me. I had that once and I'm pretty sure I'm allergic to the adhesive!

ETA: Oh also, line work was fine. Shading and color suuucked 😂

[Jalapeñomel]

Apr 19, 2023 14:07:34 GMT -5 underwaterrhymes said:

Apr 19, 2023 13:56:30 GMT -5 chilerellanos said:

underwaterrhymes

Maybe go in to talk to a tattoo artist and see if they can come up with something cool on that area.

I was thinking of taking  in this pic and seeing if they can do something similar. It’s just such a high scar that I’m not sure it would look right.
View Attachment

I would do research and find someone who’s experienced with scars.

There’s a big tattoo convention in Chicago that you can go to and find someone who’s experienced! Just keep in mind you may have to wait a long time to get into a good artist like that.

[gretchenindisguise]

I feel bad for my kids, I don’t think they can ever have something I write them tattoed on them. They would spend the rest of their lives having to read it to people and defending it against being a bad tattoo because it would be illegible. My handwriting is terrible.

[underwaterrhymes]

Jalapeñomel - thank you! I’m not in a rush, and would much rather wait for someone experienced with scars than to mess it up because I got carried away with the idea.

[10outof9]

Apr 19, 2023 10:04:43 GMT -5 Jalapeñomel said:

I think you'll be fine in that spot, especially if it's small. Coloring and shading is the worst part, and if you're getting a small tattoo, I cannot imagine you'll have much of that.

I just finished a 5 hour tattoo session, and I just read a book. It was fine until the end. 


My tattoo artist books like 6 months in advance, and he will only allow 1 person to sit with someone and only if there aren't other people in the shop. He doesn't want to get distracted. 

I think line work is the worst part! Lol.

OP, it’s so person-specific. I have 11 tattoos and they all hurt to varying degrees. My forearm piece is pretty big, but honestly it was nbd

[10outof9]

Apr 19, 2023 14:10:25 GMT -5 chilerellanos said:

Gosh this thread is already making me want another one.

Ugh, same. I’m currently on blood thinners though so…