How much does it hurt to get a tattoo? PLEASE SHARE WITH ME.?

Question

I am planning to get a tattoo on my very lower back right above the butt crack line and one on the lower abdomen. How much pain do I have to experience? And can someone share me with the pain they have to GO through? MOST IMPORTANTLY, DO ALL TATTOO PARLORS HAVE THE NUMBING GEL SO THE PAIN CAN BE REDUCED? I'M SUCH A CHICKEN

Answer 1

It hurts SO good! And, only doctors are allowed to numb their patients.

Answer 2

Well, the parlor I went to didn't offer me any numbing gel???!! I will be sure to ask next time! As for the pain - the tattoo I had on my lower abdomen didn't hurt at all, however, I did have my name done in Japanese characters on my way lower back and because there's not much flesh there it felt as though the needles were piercing my spine - now that one hurt!

Answer 3

I'll be honest, if the first thought in your head is "how much is this going to hurt" than you probably aren't ready for a tattoo.

Foremost, like its been said thousands of times on this board, it depends on your tolerance of pain.

You will experience quite a bit of pain. Let's be realistic, needles going in and out of your skin is going to be irritating and most likely painful.

For me, outlining hurts worse than shading. I relate it to pulling one hair on your head, and then pulling a handful. The one hair hurts worse. Outlining tends to go slower than shading, and I find it in generally to just be painful. It also depends on the placement of your tattoo. From what I have read the "tramp stamp" area tends to be painful. As for the lower abdomen, it can be sensitive as well. Now, the most painful areas tend to be the inner elbow, armpit/underside of the upper arm, and the back of the knee.

There will be discomfort as the artist repeatedly wipes a lubricant over the outline/stencil, and as he/she wipes off the excess in with a paper towel. Sometimes I find that to be worse than the tattoo itself.

And of course, there is pain afterwards. The skin is tender and inflammed. For the first few days it tends to sting/burn, and it'll be sensitive when you wash it, touch it, and keep it moisturized. If its where there is clothing, clothing can keep it irritated and it hurts that much more. And after that stage, it flakes...that itches like mad.

And NO! No reputable parlor will use numbing gel. These gels will constrict the skin, which in return will not allow the ink to settle into the layers of the skin. What does this mean to you? It means you'll pay for a tattoo that won't stay, and will look horrible...oh yeah, this also means touch-ups which will most likely not be done with any type of numbing, since it ruined the original tattoo.

Putting up with the pain is just part of getting the tattoo. Making it through the sitting is paid by a dressing and going home...tattooed.

Good luck!

Answer 4

I can't vouch for your lower back one, but I have one on the front of my hip. I'm scared of needles, but this totally didn't hurt. It felt a little uncomfortable, but I had friends with me to talk with and kind of keep my mind off of the tattoo. I know that the lower you get it, the more you feel that pinching sensation. Don't be afraid to ask the parlor about the numbing gel...you're brave enough just to be there & wanting to get one. So that you're not too freaked out, I would call the parlor first to ask them if they have the gel...it's not stupid. But honestly, it doesn't hurt like you would think it should...promise! You'll be so happy when you get it. Mine was well worth it :)

Answer 5

Well it hurts in a sort of uncomfortable pain because its constant. If it was a pain that lasted a second then it wouldnt really hurt too much.
I'm a chicken too and was freaking out before I got my first tattoo but I went for it and got my first 2 on the same day.
It's really not THAT bad. After a few seconds you get used to the pain and it's more uncomfortable than anything.
The lower abdomen will hurt more so get that one second.
It basically feels like a knife being dragged across your skin but not deeply.
I'm not sure if that helps but go for it. I hurts but its very tolerable and it's not the kind of pain that makes you never want to feel it again.
Good luck!!!

Answer 6

Getting a tattoo hurts regardless of using the numbing cream. I have two...one on my back and one on my lower abdomen. I was given numbing cream for the tattoo on my abdomen. It really helped but it does wear off. If I were you I would get your first tat on ur abdomen. It will hurt less and that way you will know what kind of pain your in for when getting one on your back because it will most likely hurt more. I hope this helped you! good luck

Answer 7

My sister has wanted a tattoo for years and years (She is the BIGGEST baby), after watching me getting several, she finally decided to get one on her lower back also. She was a champ. No numbing gel - when it was over she asked me what everyone's deal was. It wasn't bad at all. Like I said I have several. It pricks at first, but with the vibration of the needle, your skin goes numb on its own. I'm not a weirdo or anything, but I find it rather soothing. If you are still ify. . . .take an extra strength tylenol a half an hour before going in.

Answer 8

I got a tattoo on my foot and i was extremely painful but i look back and it was worth it. I was really scared about it and kept asking my brother (which has many tattoos) if it was going to hurt and it really depends on where you get it. I've heard and it was true with my experience that the closer to the bone it is the more painful i.e the foot = really painful i haven't heard of the numbing gel when i was getting my tattoo and they told me the foot was one of the most painful places and if they did have it i wish they would have offered it to me :) well good luck

Answer 9

Nope .....no numbing gel and you really won't need any. You're thinking of big long hollow needles jabbing in you over and over, pumping burning ink into your body.......You're letting your imagination run away with you....slow down, take a deep breath and relax. First there is NOTHING that looks like a needle at a tattoo shop. The tattoo machine actually to me resembles an big electrical inkpen. The number of needles on the tip varies but they are very, very tiny and can only penetrate your skin a fraction of an inch. The tip is dipped in ink and pushs ink into the skin (no hollow needles). The needles vibrate at a speed of 250 vibrations per second so its happening so fast that it doesnt feel like a needle stick. Your artist will tattoo you for a 5 to 10 secs and then stop, wipe up the excess ink, dip and tattoo for 5 to 10 secs and repeat over and over.......so its not like this long painful drawn out ordeal. You're getting short little breaks all through out the process. I have only had the outsides of my biceps tattooed but the closest thing I can compare it to .....it's like having tiny little sparks falling down on you over and over. They go out as soon as they hit the skin...but there's always more of them falling and hitting.. It doesn't hurt so much as it is annoying. The next day (and for about 5 to 12 days later) its going to feel like a sunburn. The key is to relax, some people concentrate on breathing. Or you can listen to music or talk to a friend to distract you. Use the best artist you can find. Click on my profile and go to my 360 page and click on the dragon tattoo in my blog. My dragon was 12 hours old in that picture...no scabs..no bleeding.

I am doing 8 to 9 hours under the needles Saturday so I've been doing my research.....here is the best article I could find on pain as charted by body location

http://www.tattooz.net/default.cfm?sitem...

I hope this helps (I bet ya even money that it won't be your last tattoo)

PS And good luck on your tattoo Kristina......I can't wait to see pics of the finished product (I love your artist)

Answer 10

Its hurts. I'm not going to lie. It hurts when he went over it too. And it stung a little after wards.

But the pain, was a good kind of pain. I enjoyed the pain. I know it sounds weird but I did.

Nope. You can't have numbing gel. Tattoo parlors don't carry it.

Answer 11

No numbing gel. They do not use it. If you are such a chicken don't even think about getting a tattoo. IT IS NEEDLES !!! As for how much it will hurt, every other question in this group is "how much will it hurt". Just look back.