Question:
Question for tattoo fans only, please!
For Christmas, my DH gave me a gift certificate for the tattoo I've been planning to get once I hit the Century Club (last time I weighed, over a week ago, I was down 98lbs, so it's very near if not already here!). I'm getting a beautiful butterfly tattoo, the same design my favorite lovely niece had done last year. Hers is on her right shoulder, but she's a naturally born slim size 3/5. My problem is, although I feel good about my weight loss, I'm self conscious about showing off the skin (you know the saggy stuff). Where should I put it? I have only one other tattoo -- Tigger on my right calf -- and someday I hope to have Pooh on the other calf. So do I put my butterfly on my shoulder? Chest? Thigh? Ankle? Help me! Suggestions welcome! I don't see myself wearing tank tops until I can get these bat wings in shape and I don't wear a whole lot of low cut tops....or at least I never did before. Thanks for the feedback. And no tattoo-bashing please! - Anna LAP RNY 7/3/02 -98lbs. — Anna L. (posted on December 27, 2002)
December 27, 2002
I vote for your ankle. I got one there long before my surgery and I am glad
I got it there. AT the time it was the least fat place on my body. Even
if you continue to lose alot it will not change the tattoo on your ankle.
— tulagirl
December 27, 2002
Anna,
Being a tattooed lady myself (3 of them, all relatively small) I too am
considering another and feel the same way about the saggy skin. I have one
already on my arm so I don't think I would put another there. I found a
butterfly I really liked pre-op and have always thought I would put it at
the base of my spine (lower back) at goal. I've reached my goal weight and
I'm not yet satisfied with the way things are lookin' down there yet, so
I've decided to wait and see if my skin will catch up with my weight loss.
I'm 8 mos post-op as of Xmas day. I have a close friend who is amost 2
years post-op and her skin has caught up quite well, she lost alot of
saggies. Tattoos are self-expression in the purest form and something we
will live with forever. It is special to you and usually has some meaning
or bench-marks a time in your life. If you are ready for it girlfriend, I
say go ahead and put it where you wish, you are beautiful all over!
— Annette H.
December 27, 2002
Hi. I am a big fan of tattoos and body modification. I'm down 40 lbs from
318, but that never stopped me from getting a tattoo. Remember you are
doing this for yourself, not the general public. It doesn't matter where
you put it, as long as you are happy with the way it looks. How about on
your back between your shoulder blades. I recently had a flower done there
with my husband's name incorporated into the vines. Email me for a pic, if
you like. Good luck. : )
— J. W.
December 27, 2002
Anna,
I am 14 months post op, I got my first tattoo in September, and did it for
no one but me, so it is on the inside of my right ankle, now when I cross
my legs, I can see my purple flower creation. I vote for ankle, but the
inside, so you can see it! Good luck! Dawn OPEN RNY 10/24/01 total loss
172 pounds :-)
— Dawn M.
December 27, 2002
Anna,
My husband and I have matching celtic cross tattoos. Mine is on my back,
right below my bra strap. I like having it on my back, so it is usually
hidden but I can show it off when I want to. I can't wait to get another
tattoo post-op!
— Alicia K.
December 27, 2002
hiya. i have 14 tats...most pre op but a few post op. the only thing you
may want to consider is if you plan on having plastic surgery, will it cut
into or even remove the tattoo?
good luck,
kate
open rny 6-14-01
pre op: 268lbs
goal: 135lbs
current: 124lbs
— jkb
December 27, 2002
How about an unusual place, like on the top of your foot. I have pretty
feet and toes, so I put a tatoo of a champange glass and a rose going
around it. I have received many complements and people often tell me they
never saw a tatoo there and its a nice place to keep a tatoo. You can keep
it hidden at times and show it off when you want. I must warn you though,
it really does hurt in that spot ;-)
— Luscious1 X.
December 27, 2002
Thank you all so much for the great comments and suggestions! It's official
as of today that I qualify for this "reward" as I am down 100
pounds! Woohoo, even with the Christmas goodies I ate! I have decided I am
going to go with the shoulder. As one poster said, I think it will motivate
me to tone up! My upper body has always been my "chubby" spot,
being an apple shape. Even in high school for the brief 3 years when I was
thin and in shape from being on the swim team, I never had a lot of upper
body strength. I think the tattoo on the shoulder will motivate me to
exercise more and to reach goal and maintain, so I can "show off"
my tattoo. Plus, my niece will think it's cool we'll have the same
butterfly in the same spot! She loves her Auntie Anna! Thanks again, I knew
I could count on my AMOS pals! - Anna LAP RNY 7/3/02 -100lbs. :)
— Anna L.
December 27, 2002
p.s. Luscious you are right about the top of the foot being a painful
location! I'm brave but not that brave! LOL (I have a friend with a
beautiful dolphin on the top of her foot, I know the pain she had with
that!)
— Anna L.
December 27, 2002
I have a large tattoo on my upper back in the middle. I like it there
because with a low backed top or dress I can show it...but it is also
easily covered up when it isn't appropriate for it to be shown. Honestly,
I believe it will be my one and ONLY tattoo because it hurt like HELL and I
tell every teenager that asks me that! :-) I had two daughters who died
and the tattoo is of two little girl angels holding roses and their names
and dates in between them. Took 4+ hours in one setting. Another reason I
chose the back was because it has the least fat and is the least likely to
suffer from weight loss and/or gain in the future.
Jane
— troopersma
December 27, 2002
hi there :) i was swimming this summer and ran into a dude that does tats
and he had several. i was at the 100lb lost and told him i was in the
process of massive weightloss and where was the safest place to put it. he
told me, the ankle should be ok, so thats where i got a beautiful rose with
my sons name on the side. so far, so good, that was 73 lbs ago! best of
luck to you! :)
— carrie M.
December 27, 2002
Try permanent make-up. You don't spend a lot on makeup after it, &
look beautiful even after surgery! I have this, & am happy with it.
The lips, mucous membranes, & soft areas of your body will hurt the
most. Over bony areas it hurts less. Check if the dye has iron oxide in
it. Iron oxide colors fade & travel. Sandi Hammons of Premier
Pigments in Arlington, Texas uses natural products that don't fade, nor
travel anywhere.
When I got this done I heard from other women that had lip implants that it
hurts to kiss after that, so I decided against that.
I had my lips lined in a darker color, enlarged with the pigment, & the
rest of the lips in a shade lighter to give them a look of being larger.
You can get a dental block to keep you from feeling it when getting it,
& the tatoo artist can use & give you some numbing stuff to keep it
from hurting a lot.
I hope this helps. Blessings,Karen
— Karen J.
December 27, 2002
Hi Anna - I think you can put Pooh and Tigger on the same leg , this way if
you want to put a butterfly on your other ankle you can . I have a rose on
the inside right ankle and a cats face on the outer right ankle .Then I
have two daisies above my left breast and a heart/rose on my right shoulder
in honor of my mother (pasted). Next time I might go for the outer right
thigh just above the knee area . Where ever you chose should be good , if
not , get another somewhere else . Have fun .......
— patti G.
December 27, 2002
Hey girl. I placed my butterfly tattoo on my right inner ankle. It looks
amazing. Try it, you may like it. GOOD LUCK!!!
— Regina C.
December 27, 2002
i have two tats already and plans for 3 more. i am 3 months post op and i
to am going to reward my self when i hit the century mark. I ahve designed
a celtic knot braclet that incorperates my starting weight...366...in to
the top of the design, kinda a reminder od where i have beebn and never
want to be again...the problem i am having is desididng to put it on my
wrist or ankle lol. for thoose that are curios the two i already have are
for my two oldest children one of the others i plan to get is my
youngest:D. congrats on hitting the mark and good luck on the tat
— Becky M.
December 28, 2002
Hey! I have two tatoos. One on my lower back of seven butterflies on a
tribal design and the other on the top of my foot of a butterfly on a
flowery vine. I am planning on getting another tatoo on my shoulder. Don't
worry about the extra skin, i'm sure the tatoo artist has seen worse
things! <3 Chrissy
— Christine C.
December 28, 2002
Update - well I went for it today! I have a beautiful rose with a butterfly
in between my shoulder blades, upper area, just below my neck. So when I
wear a pretty sundress on vacation it'll show. He used like 12 colors and
it is awesome! :) Thanks for your feedback! p.s. It hurt a heck of a lot
more on this spot than Tigger did when he went on my fat leg a few years
ago! lol I kinda missed my extra layer of fat today under that needle!
— Anna L.
December 28, 2002
I have one tattoo on my left shoulder above my breast, but far enough over
it won't show with low-cut tops and dresses. I adore it. I'm considering
another one, but want to lose a few more pounds first. I'm torn though
between a butterfly, a yellow rose and a tasmanian devil. I'm considering
my right hip toward the backside.
— Cathy S.
December 28, 2002
Anna, I am over 420lbs. I decided to have a purple and pink orchid with a
spray of blue bells flowers tatooed on my right wrist. I opted to have blue
bells flowers going slightly up my wrist. Opposed to having a large flower
bracelet. It wasn't very painful and it was an easy spot.
I have recieved many compliments.
CONTRATS! ON YOUR 100LB!
— Aynikaye
December 29, 2002
A very dear friend of mine got a butterfly tatooed above her ankle - she
felt that there was less chance of sagging skin there. Now she has one on
her shoulder (back) also. She is shameless about pulling her shirt off the
shoulder to show it off - LOL.
— Patty_Butler
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