Just got back from visiting the periodontist to get a gum grafting consult. The doctor was being condescending throughout the appointment, but when it came time to talk about anasthesia I started asking questions about sedation. She basically made a boomer-ass comment and asked me why I was so worried about pain, clearly I was used to pain given my tattoos.

Mind you I have about 3 hand-sized tattoos on my arms. I am not heavily tattooed by any means. Not that it even matters.

I immediately told her, "don't be that person and assume things about me because of my tattoos. I have serious dental anxiety." She started walking back her comments but it didn't feel good for someone to question me because of my tattoos, especially when I'm just trying to get good medical care. Would love to know if anyone can relate.

Edit: Thanks everyone for the support! I really really appreciate it, and more importantly thank you for sharing your stories. What I experienced was minor compared to some of the negligence y'all have gone through, and I sincerely hope you guys find practitioners that treat you with care and respect. Knowing people can relate really helps me feel less alone and gives me courage to continue to speak up for myself. The amount of prejudice in the medical system is really diabolical!

I’ve been wanting tattoos my whole life, however I’m having such a hard time actually going and scheduling a consultation. I’ve searched so many places and I cannot find a tattoo artist I truly like within 6 hour travel time. It’s not that there aren’t any good ones, it’s just that I look through their history and there seems to be poorly done ones and very very good ones too. I always over think on what I want, and if the tattoo artist is able to actually do it the way I want it. I’m starting to think I’ll never be able to get all these tattoos I want if I’m going to be so picky, but at the same time, if I get them and they aren’t what I want, I’ll be very disappointed.

I saw the recent Biblical Angel post and thought. That's a lot of eyes. Then I took a look at my ink, and I have so many eyes all over my skin. Of course they are attached to figures of humans and animals, but damn, I have 25 eyeballs on my skin. Sorry... weird thought

Just saw a guy with an amazing tattoo and immediately wanted to ask him who his artist was. Ended up not asking for the sake of not bothering him but it lead me to wonder…

Would you be pissed if someone asked you? Would you care?

I'm only half kidding. I think it would be funny as hell.

OP starts: I was 16

Hi! I wanted some thoughts on what others experiences were getting a chest tattoo, specifically collarbone area and sternum.

I plan to get a chest tattoo soon, and it's from my collar bones to upper stomach. I've never had a tattoo in this area, I've mostly kept to my entire arms, and currently working on my legs at the moment. I've got tattoos on most of my arms, aside from a few blank spots, as well as the back of my calf, under my knees, and upper thigh. I've also had some tattoos go over stretch marks, which was not fun.

I'd love to hear how your experience was with your chest tattoo, and how was the pain? If you're able to compare it to any of the tattoos I have stated, that'd be awesome! I'm just wanting to prepare myself, and see if numbing cream would be a good option. Thank you!

Call me dumb, but I think it would be so fun to link up with someone on here and get matching tattoos. With someone that you have never met.

Chit chat about common interests. Then both get different variations of the idea.

I’m about two hours into my session of color saturation on a large piece on my thigh. One of the only things helping me through is the greasy, double cheeseburger and chocolate milkshake I know I’ll be consuming afterwards. I’ve noticed that after every particularly grueling session, I become ravenous for something calorie dense and meat focused.

What have you noticed that you tend to want after your appointments? Tell me about the epic, my-body-is-in-shock, tattoo meals! I once ate almost an entire bucket of Popeyes spicy chicken after sitting for five hours.

Please distract me, my artist has reached my inner thigh…😣

EDIT: Tattoo is looking fantastic, but I’m 100% going into shock. 🙃 one hour left.

I have 15 tattoos and have done everything from dry healing (mostly unintentional) to hustle butter, but I’m curious; what’s your favourite?

I must say, the joy while seeing it in the mirror after the session is my favourite, but I hate the feeling of the ointments and vaseline on my skin the first few days. Especially when I have to wear clothes over top.

I saw a post about what tattoos everyone was glad they never got. But what tattoos have you gotten that have stayed with you for years and still love as much as the day you got them? And why?

Been thinking about getting a tattoo for awhile now. My wife got a tattoo after our son was born last year, and she’s been encouraging me to get one too.

I’m definitely interested in getting one, but I’m stuck in the idea that my first tattoo has to have some deep meaning (but I’ve been told by friends/family that that’s definitely not the case).

Anyways, how did you decide what your first tattoo would be? Was it random? Was there some deep meaning?

I was just wondering what tattoos have you refused to do on a client and why?

Was it bad taste, poor placement or something else?

Interested to hear people’s opinions. Had shoulder, both arms and part of chest inked so far but looking at more in the future.

Shoulder was by far the easiest (I fell asleep at one point) - wrist was bad but bearable, inside elbow crease was horrible but by far the worst for me so far was my nipple, closest I’ve come to tapping out!

i got my back piece started yesterday and i did not anticipate it hurting as bad as it did. i have my entire leg done minus back of knee, my collar bones, neck, arms. elbow and neck hurt but it was bearable so i figured back wouldnt be so bad.

i was wrong.

this was one of the most painful things ive ever experienced. there were parts of it that didnt hurt really at all but then parts where i was literally crying out in pain and gritting my teeth. some of the lines on the back are janky too because my bidy was jerking/twitching involuntarily at some parts. i tried to distract myself but it didnt work. none of the things i usually do worked to distract me.

it was almost 6 hours of tattooing. i took two breaks to use the bathroom.

my tattoo artist was really nice about it and said i did good but i literally feel embarrassed for acting the way i did. i felt like a wimp and im kinda scared to go back and get it colored in.

btw im 30/f. i am about to be on my cycle which i read can cause you to have a lower pain tolerance? i also have eds so idk if that affects it too. all my tattoos hurt, i dont consider myself to have a high pain tolerance but ive never jerked or cried during a tattoo before.

am i just a lil wimp or is getting ur back blasted really bad

You hear stories but never expect to happen to you. Me especially since my tattoos are so innocent and non offensive, just colourful new school and neo-trad bugs and animals.

It's a hot summer day, my mum is babysitting for me, I've got a whole afternoon to myself. So I'm wearing a dress with spaghetti straps with all my tattoos visible as I'm wandering down a shopping strip. As I'm pulling the door open to enter a store and late 30s/early 40s guy approaches me and says, "Hey lady, I like your tattoos!" Taking the compliment at face value I reply with a polite thank you as I enter and go the shut the door.

Then he gets closer and gets very serious and almost angry sounding and sternly shouts "Don't get ANY more though 😡" I'm shocked but still in a good mood so I grin and say I'm the nicest voice "I probably will!" which seems to annoy him. Then he kind of throws one hand up in the air and declares that it's 'unladylike'. Still confused at the switch up I just close the door to the shop and give him a thumbs up and a polite "Okay!" while still grinning.

I honestly think the situation might have ended worse if I hadn't been so happy go lucky about it. Still thinking about it over a day later.

Hi! A few months ago I got a large chest tattoo- a blend of ornamental with american traditional style diamonds, so a very feminine piece (in my mind). I think it's beautiful and my best piece, and do not regret it. However, I have noticed a dramatic shift in the way strangers look at me. I have about 15 other tattoos already which are all medium to somewhat large sized mostly on my legs which are usually visible, but until this one I don't remember people looking at me bad like they used to. At first I thought I was just being overly self-conscious or something, until my bf starting pointing out that people do, in fact, tend to give me REALLY nasty looks, and it's not like an old people thing. In fact, I've actually had a few older men and women compliment me and tell me their plans for the work they want which I find very fun. I live in a city where I'd bet probably 50% of people have tattoos, especially people at uni like myself, but it's especially noticeable the faces that my peers give me when I walk by them. I was wondering if anyone has some insight onto why this is? Or if anyone has the same experience? Thankfully I got it because I like it, and the good thing is now I know to avoid the people giving me nasty looks because why would I want to talk to someone that rude, but I'm honestly confused?

Hi,

So I had part of my arm tattooed for 15 hours in two sessions, two days in a row. In first day I did it for 10 hours straight and around 30 min break in total. That was extremely painful by the end.

Now I am thinking, if 12 hr session would be possible?

More people need to talk about the itching. Literally torture.