Have been wanting to get a tatoo for years....scared of pain involved...usually have a high pain tolerance but

Question

have difficulty when it comes to someone inflicting pain on me.. it's a mental thing really, not somatic. What to do ...what to do?? Silly question really, but I appreciate your input.

Answer 1

dont worry tattooes really dont hurt so bad

be brave you will be fine

i have over 40 hours of tattooing on my body and i dont think i would have had so many if it hurt that bad

Answer 2

It's good that you recognize that it's mostly mental. That's smart. You're 90% of the way to dealing with it.

(Side comment - why is it then that it always seems like 90% is still remaining?)

Everyone I've talked to about how much it hurts afterwards has stated that it was *far* less of an issue than they'd thought. Like you, me & everyone else, we totally build up how much it will hurt in our heads. I feel this is compounded by the nature of tattoos being permanent, really psyching us out.

Then we go in, and although it's hardly pleasant, it can't possibly be as bad as we think. It's like the other side of having too great an expectation for something - our heads picture the Aristotlean or Platonic ideal, but reality is often not quite so intense. This will be doubly so when the endorphins kick in; it was all I could do to keep from giggling uncontrollably during my first inking.

Definitely bring a (supportive) friend or someone along for the first visit. Their talking & presence will really help out, and not just getting you in the door.

Answer 3

I guess it all depends on how big the tattoo is, how many colors and where you are having the tattoo. The first two I did were just in black on my back and I hardly felt anything at all. I have one on my shoulder and three stars a little lower than my waist. Then I had a big butterfly done on my wrist. That one hurt more as I have no fat on my wrist and it is quite big and it is 4 colors. But, I still say, it wasn't that painful getting it. It was a bit more painful in the healing process with all the colors, but not that it was that bothersome. The black ones were like nothing really happened. If you have a hgh pain tolerance it won't be any big deal, unless you decide to have your whole arm or leg done.

Answer 4

Not a silly question at all! I won't lie - yes, it hurts. But not unbearably compared to other kinds of pain (like birthing!). I am turning 51 soon and have 4 tattoos, the most recent one acquired in November, and yet I'll snivel over a paper cut - go figure. It's important to make sure that the image you choose is something you are going to be able to live with for the rest of your life, as laser tattoo removal is not perfected yet. It is also of PRIMARY importance that you go to a reputable studio that has all it's health department clearances. It's one thing to get body art for life; a life-threatening disease should NOT be part of the package.

Oh, and one more thing that nobody mentions - before you go for your artwork, check to see where you are in your menstrual cycle (obviously this applies to women). The closer you are to your period, the more it's going to hurt because of the fluctuating hormone levels.

Now, get out there, get your body art and wear it proudly!!

Answer 5

Its really just an annoying pain. It hurts less in fatty places like you bum and more in thinner places like the infamous "tramp stamp" on your lower back. If it is a mental thing you need to get over that first. The last thing you want is half a tattoo because you freaked out in the middle. Pick something small on you bum to start, it wont hurt as much and if you freak no one will see it. this might sound silly but call dr. drew on loveline. There might be more to your mental thing he can help you with.

Answer 6

For me, it didn't hurt so bad. It kinda hurt more after the fact when it was sore. It just feels like someone carving into your skin, which sounds terribly painful, but they're not monsters about it. If you find something you really want tattooed on you, then go for it. If you like it enough, no pain, no gain, as they say. But it's not too bad at all, especially if you were to get it in a place known as less painful and irritable. Good luck.

Answer 7

It does hurt but not as much as I had always thought it would. I got my first tattoo last year at the age of 35 and am ready to go back and do it again.

I will say that it all depends on where you have the tattoo done. Friends that have had the top of their foot tattooed said that it was extremely painful. Mine is on the small of my back and even being right on my spine I did not think it was as bad child birth.

Good luck and when you do decide you are ready just go and do it or else you will think yourself out of it.

Answer 8

I have a big problem with needles.. I'm a total girl about it... but I am covered in tattoos.

It's like a fast, hard vibration. It's not as painful as you may think- depending on where you are getting it done. The back of my neck and my chest were the easiest. Over my shoulder blades, my arms and my back were painful.

Answer 9

I usually have a very high pain tolerance but, i got a small love heart tattoo on my left shoulder blade & it hurt like nothing else. I almost cried. It felt like a million needles going through my skin. Its up to you but, i dont think tattoos look nice, especially on women. You need to consider the quality & hygeine of the place where you want to get your tattoo due to disease from dirty needles &, if you dont mind it being there for the rest of your life. My advice, dont do it. Get a piercing instead.

Answer 10

I was so worked up over the pain with my first tattoo that I sat in the tattoo parlour unable to speak to anyone (even my partner) with tears streaming down my face. I was beside myself. Luckily, the tattooist was understanding, and helped me through it.

The pain was *nothing* like I expected. It was fairly easy to handle, honestly. Just like a huge cat scratching you (though this is just my spin on the pain, you might relate it to something different). It tends to build up over time. It will start out that you feel nothing, and then it will gradually build up.

If you can, take someone with you who has had tats before, they'll help to support you.

good luck!

Answer 11

it`s not an unbearable pain...it does hurt but not severely...it`s more uncomfortable than anything else...i`m one of those people who nearly passes out when i have blood drawn at the doctor`s, & if i can get a tattoo & 14 piercings, then probably u will be ok...a piercing or tattoo is different because hopefully it`s something u are choosing to have done, whereas being stuck by a medical professional is usually something u are forced to do because of illness, etc...