What happens when you get a tattoo?

Question

I am planning on getting my first tattoo. I have two ideas as to where i want to put it. Could you please tell me the healing process and parts of your body that are more painful than others? Thanks

Answer 1

healing: typically two weeks from the day you get it. during this time you want to wash it with dial soap 2-3 times a day, and keep it moisturized 3-4 times a day with a curel or lubriderm non scented moisturizer, or of course... h20cean (a lube specially for healing tats.)

don't scratch, tan, or go in the sun for long periods of time. wear loose clothing. and your tat should look brand spankin new when healed. just a tip, the tattoo WILL LOOK LIKE SH!T until it's healed. so don't panic.

pain factor: the most painful place to get a tattoo, the most "common" painful place is anywhere on the rib cage, or neck. least painful "common" places might be biceps, back, something like that.

good luck.

Answer 2

I hope this question is related. I apologize if it isn't. I got my first tattoo yesterday after thinking about it for 4 years (I'm 37 years old). Anyway, I got the superman shield on my right arm and there is one part where it looks like the black outline of the "S" is bleeding down into the yellow background. I think this might just be the ink that the artist used to draw the outline before he actually did the tattoo, but I'm not sure. Each time I put the A&D ointment on, some of that original ink does run off, but this particular spot stays put. Any suggestions? I would post a picture if I could figure out how!

Answer 3

Painful parts will be areas that have less skin on the bone (ribs, wrists, top of hands, top of feet, etc.), and I've heard people complaining of bruising where there isn't bone anywhere near the skin getting tattooed (for instance, area between rib cage and hip bones).
You can expect more pain on less exposed areas (genitals, arm pits, back of knees) too.
The healing process is quite easy if you take good care of your tattoo.
After getting tattooed it will be red and tender, but due to endorphines won't kill you.
I always get the joke slap to "set the ink" and it never hurts at that point.
The next day however it will more than likely be sore and irritating to the touch. I call it the "gross day" because the area just feels nasty and you have A&D slabbed on your body.
After that you'll be using lotion on it. Your skin will eventually peel and leave you with the tattoo you'll have.
You're also going to be washing the tattoo constantly which is a tad of a hassle, but necessary.
Your skin will be raised, you might expect a little scabbing, but with good care, shouldn't happen...atleast in a large amount.
In the time of peeling you'll be really itchy, but slapping the tattoo helps.
Really your tattoo artist is going to go through all of this with you so you'll be completely prepared.
Good luck on your first tattoo!!!

Answer 4

There is some pain when getting any tattoo. It's my understanding that the less body fat in the area, the more painful. I had my done on my upper hip and the pain was tolerable---one session of 1 1/2 hours.
Ask around for a reputable, certified artist. If you come across someone with a particularly clear, sharp tat, ask who did theirs. Don't be shy; most people like to discuss their body art.
After your tattoo is done, the artist will give you specific instructions for care; follow the instructions to the letter.
Good luck!

Answer 5

Getting a tattoo does hurt - anywhere that is near a bone or a sensitive part of the skin will hurt more. Use a lot of ointment the first week and don't peel it. Research the tattoo artists in your area and get recommendations. Make sure you go somwhere clean to avoid infection. Also be sure you really think about what you are going to put on your body and be sure it is something you will still want in 30 years.

Answer 6

the healing process is much like any wound healing except you shouldn't let the tattoo dry out. your artist will tell you what he wants you to put on the tattoo. my artist says to put a+d for a few days and then fragrance free lotion. a scab will form and then it will fall off. you shouldn't pick the tattoo or scratch it (because it will itch) it depends on where you are planning on getting it as to how long it will take to heal. pain varys depending on where you get it as well. i can only speak for the tattoos i have, the spine hurts SO bad. so do the tops of your feet. the shoulderblades aren't as bad.

Answer 7

The healing process is going to be about a week to ten days to completely scab over and heal. The pain is going to depend on where you get it and how big the tat will be. I have hard the ankle and lower back as well as the inside of your arm is painful. I have mine above my left breast and it wasn't painful at all. More like a stinging sensation. Good luck!

Answer 8

As you know, a tattoo is placing ink under your skin. It is permanent unless you go to great extremes to get it removed.

The most painful spot on your body is your hands. They have more receptors than anyplace else. However, if you put it on your hands, it will wear off. (I have had it happen). Your upper back is also painful.

The tattoo artist will give you some "medicine" to rub over the tattoo while it is healing.

Answer 9

The lower back is the most painful on females. It all hurts, no matter where you put it. After you get the tattoo it may peel---DO NOT PEEL IT because that will ruin your tattoo.

My advice is to make sure that you have a good artist doing your tattoo. My first tattoo was done by some jerk who didn't know what he was doing and now my tattoo looks like crap. Ask the artist about how to care for the tattoo.

Answer 10

I can only add a few comments to the good ones above:

It does hurt, but the endorphin release will dull that considerably. One session my artist started on my back and worked her way over to my shoulder & arm - I barely felt the arm work. The next session she started on my arm and worked over to the back, and since the endorphins hadn't started yet I felt it a lot more on the arm. They kick in within about 5-10 minutes on me.

You need to keep the area moisturized, but don't overmoisturize the tat, *and* don't smear too much of whatever you're using to the surrounding skin. It can cause you to break out in a rash on the surrounding skin. You want to keep the tattoo feeling like the surrounding skin, but swampy & goopy is bad. That rash can itch more than the tat itself...

Btw, someone had a good link to a map of areas & how much they (roughly) hurt. I can't find it & didn't bookmark it, but it was based on lots of feedback and seemed dead-on to me. Perhaps someone else here knows of it.