-Question about Tattoos-

So I'm going to be 18 very soon and the idea of getting a couple of tattoos for my birthday has been appleaing to me for some time. I realize that they are permanent and removing them is expensive but I'm %100 certain that I am willing to keep them on my body for the rest of my life. But OF COURSE, my mom's been trying to scare me out of getting one by telling me that I can contract diseases from the needles or that I will never be able to give or recieve blood should I ever need to or that it's a sin against my Christian faith... etc.


I don't plan on getting anything like skulls and pentagrams or anything like that. What I was thinking of getting was an Aztec symbol or a planet, something like that. I plan on getting them on my arms somewhere were they won't be too visible if I need to apply for a certain job.

My questions are: Has anyone here who has tattoos experienced any negative effects from having a tattoo? If you do have one, do you regret getting it or do you think I should go ahead and get them?

 

I have gang tattoos that I regret, I have to one day explain them to my daughter. Even as an infant she scratches at them, one day I will explain tattoos are normal but what if my wife decides she doesn't allow tattoos at a young age and my daughter wants one because daddy has them?...You see the implications are huge and that is just one situation.
They do get in the way of professional life too I believe, job interviews are one thing that pops into mind I don't know how many I've been turned down due to my tattoos because no employer will admit that's why. Firm handshake or not. I remember feeling I had to speak more professional than normal when working in professional work settings because I felt everyone would judge me due to my tattoos, which are very noticeable. Nowadays I feel they are just a part of me now and I live with them, regardless of what I think people think. That's my experience with rushing into tattoos.

But you should not get a tattoo unless you think about the long term implications, and be very sure you get something you will like forever. You'll have to explain it over and over if it's noticeable part of your body. A shoulder is a good spot for a concealed tattoo.

 

My grandfather and father both have tattoos, and they very much regret making that decision 20 years ago. At the time your mind is set to look good, gain accessories or 'jump on the bandwagon'. Why do you want a tattoo? What are you reasons behind it? If you want it to decorate your body, i'd suggest you not get one. The only reason I personally would have one would be getting something that was very dear to me, such as a family or friend dying or a specific cause i support and i will support in 20 years time. Remember, they fade. As for the needle situation, if you get a tattoo at a well known or established tattoo parlor/shop that has the correct medical and hygiene regulations in place you will be fine, I don't really understand what you mean about the Christian Faith and giving or receiving blood? That is only for Jehovah Witnesses usually, as they would not give their own dying family member or child blood because it is "Against their beliefs" which i personally think is completely ridiculous.

Hope my views help your decision?

 

Just to clarify for you, all what your mum said is false, if you go to a reputable tattoo parlor then you won't contract diseases.

My cousin recently got a tattoo, and she loved it, she did it didn't hurt and there hasn't been any side effects short term.
However I have spoken to a few people who've had them for 5~ years and they say they'll never regret having them.
Now I've also spoken to some people who have had them for 20-30 years and they do regret having them.

So it's all good to say that you'll never regret having them; but think seriously.

The only consequence of having a tattoo is it being permanent for the most part.

 

My friends got tattoo on their backs and legs.

It looks great and all but the negative effects were like "Itchy skin, Rash, Irritation, Mood swing and peeling of skin".

Maybe that's just allergy or something but most of my friends who got a tattoo, Had all of the above effects. Not to mention, looking at it was very nasty.

 

Remember to not go over board, not for your first tattoo atleast. Don't get something you might regret later, things like a girlfriends name etc.

 

I do not plan on getting more than two tattoos. And I'd NEVER get my Girlfriend's name tattood on me lol. And what I plan on getting (if I do get it) is probably going to be something no bigger than 4 inches in diameter

 

I am all for it and I'm getting my best friend/x gf. who died name in greek with stay strong and her motorcross number on my bank or arm or side. but I just am going to regret being old and saggy with a tatoo lmao

 

Being old and saggy with a tattoo doesn't really bother me, as long as it's not huge and exaggeratedly big

 

Get a personal tattoo, something unique. Once you have a tattoo you will probably get a few more. I started out with 1 and ended up with 4.

 

Like above people said, if you take your tattoo in a good, clean and professional place you'll be alright. I have 7 tattoos and I have never had any problems. Just make sure the tattoo is something you really want, not some random picture from google or magazine, or you WILL regret it. Mine are all personal, from good and bad times of my life, every one of them has a meaning and because that they are really important to me. My daughter is now 6 and has asked alot about my tattoos, and in her kindergarden some parents look me weirdly but its alright.

Also if you are worried about work-related stuff, take the tattoo in to a place where you can hide it with a shirt for example.

And just take a good care of it after its done, so it doesnt get infected and youll be fine!

 

If your American dont get "family first" i went to cancun an seen like 30 douche bags rocking that tat and it killed me.

Make sure you go to a legit an clean place coz yeah i have heard horror storys of people getting infections and even worse AIDS. Apparently 1 dude in my area went to get a tat an they changed the needle and all but they re used the paint, and because the person who had got a tat earlyer had HIV/AID he got it also..

I have been so close to getting my name either tattooed in old English or running writting from my collar bone down to wear my belt sits but have backed out of it twice as i have tatted up mates an most of them regret it.

I even have one which has "how i roll" just under the right side of his neck clearly visible and he done it while he was hell pissed.

If your going to get one be original an get them to sketch up your idea if they cant be bothered to sketch you a draft free hand go find another place , this is going to be apart of your body for life so make sure you like it.

 

It's your life you do what you want with it.
Your mum is just lying to you to stop you from getting one.
At what point in the bible does it say not to get a tattoo?

I personally don't have tattoos because they look stupid on old people, it my look cool now when I am young but when I get older and my skin starts to wrinkle it just look like dirt.

 

I have a fairly large tattoo on my upper bicep of a musical design that I thought up and had designed for me. My advice is this: Think it through.

Before I got mine, I spent two years contemplating getting it. For me, I realized that music will always be part of my life, and it's something that was really dear to me, so I decided to get it. If you're getting something, get something meaningful that you know will always be meaningful. People who get Triforces or pop-culture tattoos are going to regret that because it won't always be relevant in their lives. Keep that in mind. Would 70 year old you still appreciate the intent of the tattoo?

As for sterility, what everyone else said is true. Any reputable parlor will use new sterilized needles, and everything that touches your skin will be disposable and brand new. If diseases are your concern, they shouldn't be. Also in regards to pain, it varies. Mine was on my bicep so it barely hurt at all, but I've heard things like ribs and feet hurt really badly. It all depends on where you get it and how high your pain threshold is.

In regards to donating or receiving blood, I'm pretty sure it's never an issue to receive, but you only have to wait I believe 18 months to donate. So that's not a permanent consequence, only temporary.

As for the religion thing, that comes from a passage in the Torah about modifying the body. Most Rabbi's will agree that tattoos aren't a big deal, and since that particular rule is more sacred to the Jewish faith than it is in Christianity, I'm sure it's even less of an issue there.

Just remember, THINK IT THROUGH. If your idea is "an aztec symbol or a planet" and you have to use the words "something like that", you are NOT ready to get a tattoo. Don't think about what looks cool now. Think ONLY about what will be meaningful later. My tattoo looks cool and it's meaningful. Worry about the meaning first, then worry about the visual appeal of it. If it's meaningless you'll come to regret it, and think about 70 year old you, not 17 year old you. Your interests and things that are deemed acceptable and current WILL change in your lifetime, so think of the future.


Edit: In regards to the guy that listed "side-effects", he's full of shit. First off mood swings from a physical procedure is ridiculous. The other things like redness, itching, and peeling skin is part of the healing process, and will happen for about two weeks after any tattoo. All you have to do is keep it clean and moist, and take care not to irritate it, and it'll heal fine, and all of those symptoms will completely disappear.

 

I don't know much about the Jehovah Witnesses beliefs, seeing as I am not part of that religion, but the reason for his mother stating that "you can't give or receive blood" is actually due to the ink. If you get a tattoo, you can not give or donate blood - even if you do remove them. There is something in the ink that will contaminate it if given to someone else without having the actual tattoo. As for receiving blood, I don't know if you can or not. I'm pretty sure you can, as the blood you are receiving WON'T be contaminated due to being given by a person without a tattoo. So, if you have a family member with the same blood type and with medical conditions of the blood, it may be a good idea to not get tattoos, in case of emergency. If you and a family member share a common blood type such as AB, or B, then you will be fine, as there are MANY donors in case of medical happenings. However if you are A or O, then you may want to steer clear of tattoos, as those are the rarer types, meaning less donors, meaning less chances of receiving blood.

*Just letting you know, this is from my mother, a registered RN nurse (which happens to be the highest ranking nurse, meaning most knowledgeable about the subject. She has also worked in the medical field for over 35+ years). This is all valid, correct information. Not just off of Yahoo Answers or anything...

I do know most things about medical stuff as well, as we often go over some things in case I ever need to know stuff for emergencies.*

 

The give/donate blood part is false, I have 7 tattoos and I donate blood every other month.

 

I realize that in order to have a tattoo I won't regret, it must have meaning to me. The reason I wanted 'an Aztec sybol or a planet' is because A.) The aztec symbol is relevant to my heritage, which I am very passionate about, and B.) Because I have an immense fascination with space and science.

 

It's your own decision, I went against everyone and I got a tattoo when I was underage. I don't regret it at all, to be honest I love it. Draw your own and get the artist to fix it up and such. It doesn't hurt and if it's what you want to do then do it just go for it. In my own opinion I love them and I still plan to get more but that's just me.

 

to answer your question. i have a tattoo. its well... big. all i can say is that you watch the guy who is giving you it to use new needles from a new paper packeging. paint used should be also new "cup".

about blood donations. you will be able to donate in 6 months after getting the tattoo. you will be able to receve blood instantly if you need it.

EDIT. don't get anything dumb on you.

 

From someone who has had tatto's 1. go to a real tattoo shop and get it done there no health issues. 2. no diseases. 3. a reputable tattoo shop will talk to you about sagging issues like for mine im gonna have to get it touched up in the future so it doesnt. the only negative effect i had was being shocked after i got it like wow this is gonna be on me for the rest of my life. but i got over it because it had meaning not somthing dumb. Best advice start with one on your back ect so that future employers wont be able to see it and start off there wait a bit ang get another if you want.