Tattoos... can you reduce the pain?

[SnozzberryBlu]

Thank you all for being so helpful! And no one blasting me either for my pain problem lol!

The site Vespertine sent me to (second one) had a good article, but boy the comments from people about those of us who can't deal with pain.. Right of passage, and we weenies dont deserve it if we cant handle the pain, etc...

Well.. HUMPH! lol... my tattoo represents a right of passage that was very painful, so there! ROFLOL!


Thanks again... and if anything else comes to mind post it

[hfire269]

I know that most artists wont tattoo on anyone who is under the influcene of anything. (alcohol makes you bleed more so that would just suck.) I have a tattoo on my leg and actually I thought it tickled. My sugestion would to basically meditate while you are getting your tat. Focus on a "happy" place and go there. The tat will be done before you know it.

[curiousagain]

I have one word for you. Lidocaine. It's legal and it is not a lotion. It is put on skin before puncturing it with a large needle. You can put it on, wait a few minutes and the skin is numb. Call your Doctor, explain what you need and why. It might be available over the internet from overseas very cheaply, I am not sure of that.

If you are pain sensitive, and the tat is going over bone, might be worth looking into.

[dave110256]

I have to tell you what worked for me. My tattoo took 3 and a half hours. If it hadn't been for the 2 pain pills I took prior to beginning, I don't think I could have done it. The artist that did mine said the best remedy is a few shots of alcohol before and during the session.

[Horizontal]

I didn't have much pain when I got my tat.. 90 min, all with the outline needle (I had to get a tribal style tat LOL). It was after that was killing me until I found that they made Neosporin with lidocaine in it.

Well I have 19 tattoo's, in all different places. The tattoo artist I go to now (for the last 6 of them) is the GREATEST! Very little pain, very little bleeding, major art work! People ask me all the time where I go because the colors are so vivid, and the art is so good. I'm getting ready to complete a "sleeve" on my right arm. I would have to say that the ones in my ears hurt pretty bad. But like everyone else has said, if you can make it thru the outline, the rest is cake. And for the record, everytime I have one done I ask myself why I am doing this, cause it does hurt LOL! Good Luck!

[Atilla]

I've been contemplating a tattoo myself for several years. I would like one around my ankle. My husband even gave me the money for it years ago for my birthday but I never got it done cause I'm too chicken.

I have thought about Emla cream as well. Then one day I casually mentioned to my doctor that I was thinking of getting one and he said to make an appointment with him first, he's give me some Lidocaine by needle and then I could go and get my tattoo. Unfortunately that doctor has moved on in his professional career and is no longer my doctor. But does it hurt to ask your doctor if he/she would be willing to do the same for you? Of course, you're still probably looking at at least 1 needle probably two.

I don't think the the effects of Emla last long enough to get you through an entire tattoo. I actually am a lab tech and we see lots of kids coming in to have their blood tests done using Emla. You need to keep it on for at least an hour before but once removed, it's numbing effects are gone within 20 minutes or so.

depending on how big your tattoo would be, that really wouldnt work!!! because they do some ink, then wipe, do some ink, then wipe. they would wipe the cream off in no time at all.

[bear_and_babe]

I got my tat done about 2 months ago. It is on my lower back and it HURT. But what really suprised me was how much I hurt 2 days later!

I took a valuim to get me started, but it wore off too soon. I was in a lot of pain and the artist said he had a spray that sometimes worked. But he said that it would only work on the broken skin. He sprayed it on, and waited a while and he started again. I went from crying to feeling nothing at all. I did not even feel the new areas he was working on. He had to stop every 20 min. or so to spray again, but it really helped. He said the spray was sort of like Bactine. I don't know what it really was, but it worked for me.

Gosh, I feel so "Butch" after reading some of these replies. I've never used anything to lessen the pain, I dont drink, or do drugs.... Just grin and bear it. And they usually do hurt for up to several days later.

[JennyMac]

Any reputable tatoo parlor will not give you a tatoo if they notice that you are either drunk or clearly spacey (legal or illegal stuff) They both thin the blood and therefore you will bleed more when you get them and the tattoo will then need to be touched up because the ink will be thin. (My brother had this problem, he wasn't on anything, he was just a bleeder

As far as the pain goes, there is not much in the way around it. Everyone's threshold for pain is different of course. We both have two. Mr Mac's arm band didn't hurt that bad, but his outer calf was a "wee bit painful" according to him.
But nothing you can't get through if you really want one.

My outer ankle wasn't as bad as my inner ankle (Got Mr.Mac's name in Korean in terwoven in tribal art)
But it also depends on where you want it. I think I want a small one at the top of my right breast. Not sure what I want to get though. Something else tribal I'm sure... If you were in Memphis, I'd send you to Wayne, our guy. He doesn't hurt badly at all. BTW it really depends on who is doing it too.

Jenn

[DandK]

Me and the MR both have tatts (5 each) in various parts of the body, and we both think the part of the thrill of getting a tattoo is the pain. As I am a HUGE wimp, I first thought that my first tatt would be like having skin ripped off and then sprinkled with salt, but to my surprise it was more of a rush that painful. Now that I have more done, including a huge piece on my lower back that goes a bit into the crack of my ass, I noticed that I have built up a little bit of tolerance to the needle. Not to say that is doesn't hurt, it DOES, but if you want a tatt, you'll have to earn it through the pain. Our advice, start small and simple then work your way up to larger pieces.

I've included a pic of my largest tatt before i recently had it completed.

[JennyMac]

You must forgive me, but that looks like it hurt like a son of a bitch!

I am attaching the pics of the ones on my ankle... if Mr Mac wants to attach his, he can do it in his own post!

The bigger one is on my outer right ankle. As you can see from the picture we had literally JUST gotten them done so all of my surrounding skin was still red and tender and swollen and kinda inflammed looking. It says "Korean for"

The smaller on is on my inner right ankle. It says my husbands actual name in Korean.

Anyway... haven't decided on the one on my breast yet.... didn't even really know that I wanted another one... they are kinda addictive.. but I like mine small and sexy!

Jenn

[sensuality]

I have a tattoo on my ankle of a blue rose...and as much as everyone told me in that area it was really going to hurt...it didn't at all.It felt more like a cat scratch than anything else.And, my ankle went numb after the first 10 mins or so anyway.I remember the lady doing it told me {this was about 8 1/2 yrs.ago}that they used to go deeper into the skin with the ink, but discovered that it's really not necessary to go so deep.Maybe that is why it didn't hurt,but I've given birth X amount of times, so,compared to that...everything else is a piece of cake.J Just don't ask me about piercing my belly button...I have been wanting to do that for awhile now and I am just so scared of that pain...Go figure!:rollseyes I am not one bit afraid of getting a tattoo though...I plan on getting one soon in my bikini area close to my thigh...and I can not wait...Oh,how the mind works!!

[eroticmoments]

Hello , I did NOT drink before I had My tattoo, I DID have a few beers after , and it was strange I felt a little *tough* afterwards.. As I sat getting my first one I was all ready planning my second...But here is something I didn't hear anyone else say...and MY hubby thought I was a little strange for asking the artist....BUT I asked , can you give Me SOME idea Of how this is going to feel, BEFORE you actually start the Tattoo.....hubby laughed but he said Sure...and he must have turned on the gun..with no ink.......it hurt some, but wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.....( on my shoulder) So I said Ok, go ahead!!!!!!!! I did move away from him a little during the tattoo, he had to grab my shoulders and bring me back towards him...he said I was getting away..LOL....it was a great experience and I'm glad I did it...still have not gotten back for my second, and final....but I'm still planning on it.....good luck!!!