My 1st Tattoo!

The tat is beautiful. I know have 3.  The one on your back will hurt much worse than the one on your arm.  The closer to the spine the more nerve endings.  Hurts like heck. Darlene

ok...I have one on my lower back and fell asleep while getting it.  get a good sized one as sometimes the small ones make that area look bigger...mine is big. Not huge.  and if anyone donates blood...you usually have to wait 6-12 mos after fresh ink before you can donate. also no tanning beds or swimming until healed...pools or lakes...always use sunscreen forever...they will fade and certain colors fade out fast....do not scratch it as it heals...... man you flung a craving on me...I want another one it has been a few years...... tam

LOL, well, what are ya waiting for!!!!!!! Thanks for all of the tips. Do you ever use sunless tanner? Just wondering if I should avoid putting it on that area (once its healed)? I just sometimes use sunless tanner in the summer to even everything out.

once the tatt heals and the scabby stuff is gone you can use sunless tanners. You can use a tanning bed  or the real sun too, just put a good sunscreen on it...you can get sunscreen in a stick and it is easier. This is life long too.....you have to take care of them. I had to have one re done about 8 weeks after I got it because the ink faded....and some of the outline was not very defined. It happens tho. But for right now avoid soaking it in the bath, no pools as the chlorine can fade it and no lakes etc as bacteria can infect it. Do you apply anything to it? Like Bacitracin? It will itch and do not scratch...you can gently rub lotion on it. It needs to breathe so let it. It is very nice looking by the way and congrats. I wont get any more as my other half doesnt like them...even tho he paid for the rubber duck on my butt!!!!! Go figure. have a great day...its wet and gloomy here in Arkansas...ick tammy

Tammy, thanks for the info. I want to take good care of it so it will look good for a long time! Its wet and gloomy here in PA too!!!

Tracy, I checked out your tattoo pictures, and the vines are especially way cool.  I had never looked at your pics before, and could not believe your pre-op picture.  I would never, ever be able to identify  you in that picture.  Probably one of the most dramatic changes in appearance I've seen.  My two daughter and I have toyed around with the idea of getting a matriarchal family crest tattoo, identical to the three of us, but we can't decide on one we all like.  My girls are 19 and 25.  My 73 year old mom in a nursing home would get it too, if she could, lol.  My husband absolutely hates all tats, or even single pierced ears, so I'm not sure how he would deal with the fact that his wife and daughters all got tatooed!  Debra M.

Hi Debra! Your tattoo idea sounds very cool! Dh and I did rough drawings of what we wanted and then took them ahead of time and had their artist put our ideas into a professional drawing. I hope you can all decide what you want and hope your husband is ok with it!!! Good Luck!!!

Hey girl!  I just saw your post!  Wow - I love your Tat!!!  I got one years ago on my ankle and love it!  Now after I have my PS in May, I am going to have a 'Tramp Stamp" done on my lower back!  They are addicting so be careful!   I love the fact that you guys kinda have matching tats!!!   Have a great day! Valerie :)

Hi!! Thanks so much!!! Congrats to you on your upcoming ps and tattoo!!!! Post a pic once you're all done!!!

I just got my 1st tattoo too!  I just turned 35 at the same time I hit 100lbs down and goal. http://www.obesityhelp.com/myoh/albumId,497/uzone,photos/action,gallery/curPhoto,98785/ Congrats on your beautiful tattoo and your sucess!