As some of you know, I am totally obsessed with tattoos and art work. Due to that addiction and my love of the TV show, The 100. I have, after 30-40 hours of work, a full backpiece of the females on the show. The reason I chose a TV show to tattoo is not just because I’m a major fan (even though I am), it is because this particular show meant a lot to me.
I briefly mentioned in my first post that I had my leg lengthened by Ilizarov (an external fixator) which meant staying in hospital. During my many hospital stays, I took my laptop with me and continuously watched the first season of The 100 on repeat. Seeing the strong females such as Clarke, Raven and Octavia, I felt like I too, could be strong and make it through all my severe infections and intense pain.
The tattooing itself all depends on your personal pain threshold. For me, it doesn’t matter how painful my joints are, it doesn’t change the feeling of the needle. Good things I did to prepare for a tattoo include: having a good night’s sleep, eating a good meal beforehand and making sure to drink plenty. I also found sugary items were good at helping me deal with the adrenaline rush caused by the tattooing process.
Before the artist actually has the needle on your skin, make sure you relax, and if it is your first one, have a book or use your phone as a distraction. The more relaxed you are, the easier it is for the artist to tattoo you and the less pain you will feel (the latter is not guaranteed but it is highly likely).
What matters however, is the aftercare. Because now you are dealing with a giant cut effectively, that has the potential to get infected like any other. It’s usually recommended by most artists to use some sort of antiseptic cream. I usually use the creams sparingly as too much moisture can distort the image of tattoos as they heal. Conversely, too little can cause the ink to pull out as the tattoo becomes too dry. No cream can also increase chance of infection as it is recommended to use a mild antiseptic.
Again, feel free to use my advice but please be aware I’m not a doctor and this does not constitute as medical advice. Speak to your doctor and/or the artist about your concerns before getting a tattoo. – Sez x
Why not have a look at our article on getting a safe tattoo for more advice?
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(Any opinions expressed in Sez’s blog are not necessarily shared by Arthur’s Place. Nothing that you read in Sez’s blog constitutes medical advice.)
