Does anyone have Tattoos?

[frankenpootie]

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I was curious about how many pre-meds and medical students have tattoos. I'm interested in getting my first and would love to hear about the pro's and con's. It'll also be helpful if anyone from the NYC area recommended a really good tattoo parlor.

 

[littlealex]

I have one but it is lightly colored and well hidden. People can't see it when I wear normal clothing.

I would not get anything on your arms, neck, or other readily exposed areas. For me, I have my tattoo for personal reasons and not to show it off. I don't want to have to spend a special effort hiding it in professional settings.

 

[Depakote]

a few of my classmates have them, my cousin now a PGY-2 has one.

Rule of thumb, don't get one that would be visible in professional attire. (Keep in mind this could be scrubs).

 

[frankenpootie]

I was thinking about getting one on my wrist or on a finger, but i take it this is a bad idea. i'll rethink.

 

[SAvoodoo]

it's about 6inx4in...got it recently after waiting for years. love it, never regretted it

 

[scowdeva]

I have one, black and grey, low enough on the front of my hip that it does a peek out only if I wear super low jeans or a bathing suit. I waited until I was about 20 to finally decide what I wanted, and I loooove it, my only regret might be that I wish it was a bit bigger 😛

Don't get something that's a fad (think tramp stamp or asian letters that you can't read, and in my opinion any cartoon character), don't get something that is easily visible, don't get something that doesn't hold strong meaning for you. If you can avoid those pitfalls, you'll probably like the tattoo long enough to keep it for awhile. Almost everyone I know has at least one tattoo, and the people that love theirs followed my first three rules up there. The people that strayed from the rules...I know 3 that have already had tatts removed, and that is supposed to hurt like a biatch. Good luck with your decision!

 

[BigJuicyWart]

Cons:
1. You will look like white trash.
2. You will deface your body.
3. You may potentially catch a dangerous infection.
4. You will probably get tired of it eventually and regret it (tattoo removal is a HUGE thing now).
5. Most men/women find tattoos a turn off.
6. You will look like an idiot.

Pros:
I have yet to hear a legitimate reason.

 

[Textuality]

You might also be interested in the Freedom 2 tattoo ink under development (you can google it).

So while debating to where to get my tattoo, these are the thoughts i had:

1) I'm a girl, who plans to get pregnant: so nothing on the tummy/hips/boobs because it'll get stretched beyond recognition

2) I want to be able to see my own tattoo without resorting to a mirror or weird acrobatics: so no back/butt tattoos

3) Nowhere visual in formal attire: so nothing on the face, and probably not the neck or hands

Haha, so I've pretty much exhausted most of my body, so as of now, I'm thinking of doing it on my inner forearm, either near the elbow or 3 inches above the wrist.

 

[Jolie South]

i got one on my lower back a few years ago (what some people might calll "the tramp stamp"). anyways, it's hidden and nothing scary. i don't regret it. i think the most important thing is to get something that matters to you, not just something that looks "pretty" or "cool" (i.e. something that you pick off the wall of the shop). that way it will always have meaning and even when your life changes or you move on, it'll be a reminder of who you were. that sounds kinda dumb, but that's the way i look at it.

more and more people are getting them these days, so i think the stigma associated with tattooed people is less than it used to be. just make sure you can hide it for work.

 

[167649]

Cons:
1. You will look like white trash.
2. You will deface your body.
3. You may potentially catch a dangerous infection.
4. You will probably get tired of it eventually and regret it (tattoo removal is a HUGE thing now).
5. Most men/women find tattoos a turn off.
6. You will look like an idiot.

Pros:
I have yet to hear a legitimate reason.

THEY LOOK SICK (Sick meaning awesome).

 

[thebeatgoeson]

My brother has one on his upper left pec. It's four vertical bars side-by-side staggered in height. For him, there is great symbolism and meaning behind it, and he loves it. I think it looks bad *** as well.

 

[dwilber]

I have three large, colorful tattoos on my back. I plan to get more (to fill up my back, but that's many days and dollars away), probably staying away from the arms as I'd like to be able to be a bit more flexible with my clothing in professional settings.

 

[LunderKind]

Personally, I don't have any because I can't think of anything that I'd want on my body for the rest of my life.

However, it seems apropos to mention on this thread that at one medical school interview a couple of current students were talking about their classmate who had tattoos of all of the amino acids. So, I'm curious, who else out there has nerdy, science tattoos?

 

[shiftingmirage]

Last week for some reason I had this new found interest in tattoos. I have no interest in getting one, but was interested in what drove others to do so. Anyway, while googling, I found something about a science teacher (middle or high school) who had a periodic table on his forarm.

 

[armybound]

the major con I've had is once you've gotten one, you want more.

 

[lilnoelle]

No, but I'd like to. I'd also like to pierce my tongue. Unfortunately, my hubby is ultra conservative and I would've had to do it prior to marriage in order to do it at all.

 

[Jolie South]

the major con I've had is once you've gotten one, you want more.

i can see that. i'm kinda feeling the itch, but i don't know what else to get.

 

[Phenol312]

If I get accepted I'm getting a tattoo of the staff of Asclepius around my wrist...my friends designing it. It's supposed to wrap around like a bracelte kinda and its small enough that i can cover it with my wrist watch. 🙂

 

[XerxesOfPersia]

I was curious about how many pre-meds and medical students have tattoos. I'm interested in getting my first and would love to hear about the pro's and con's. It'll also be helpful if anyone from the NYC area recommended a really good tattoo parlor.

I have handful of tattoos and each one either symbolizes something specific to me or reminds me of a time in my life that I don't want to forget. As long as it's personally meaningful to you, in whatever terms that may be, then I think you should go ahead and get one. Just remember to keep in mind the career you're going into before you decide where to get one. Mine can all be covered by a t-shirt too, so business and formal situations aren't a problem.

 

[Cegar]

Uncle Fester made up for his hideous face with hideous tattoos.

 

[XerxesOfPersia]

Uncle Fester made up for his hideous face with hideous tattoos.

hahaha that's pretty funny

 

[Cegar]

I think the red shirt says, "Danglin' ***".

 

[Jolie South]

I think the red shirt says, "Danglin' ***".

i think you're right.

 

[spilledmilk]

I was also considering a Rod of Asclepius tattoo for the top of my foot. In addition probably a treble clef and a bass clef on opposing wrists, ankles, or something of the sort. I can't decide because they seem so meaningful to me, yet also so generic. Plus, I'm not sure I'm really the type that can handle the pain. We'll see.

 

[nick_carraway]

Just keep in mind that nothing improves with age and every inch of you will eventually sag and wrinkle. Things inked onto your aging skin will likewise sag and wrinkle.

 

[Textuality]

My new avatar is my tattoo design that I want to get 🙂

The lotus is a spiritual symbol (kind of a mind over matter, always reach for the sky kinda thing), and it's sitting on the chinese character for heart (made of 4 strokes, representing the 4 chambers of the heart, cool eh?). It's a nod to my Chinese heritage, a reminder of both the spirituality/ethics I strive for but also that I'm only human and made of flesh and blood. The lotus is to remind me of mercy, empathy, and discipline, and the heart is to remind me never to lose my "heart" and passion and enjoyment of the simple, worldly things like the taste of my favorite candy. I also really like the heart anatomically and medically, heh.

So yeah, those are a few reasons I made the design I made. Also, I used to have issues about body image, and felt like my "body" was an obstacle to the kind of person I wanted to be, instead of a part of me. And so I really liked the idea of a tattoo in trying to take "ownership" of my own body and to be proud of it. I'm over my body drama now, but I still want the tattoo. 🙂

 

[coralfangs]

It'll also be helpful if anyone from the NYC area recommended a really good tattoo parlor.

invisible nyc, it's in LES
quite a few now famous rockers got their tats there
just a couple blocks south of the F train 2nd ave on orchard st

planning to get one there myself b4 school starts in the fall

 

[ChubbyChaser]

I got a 12" ruler tattooed in an inappropriate place just so I could prove ppl wrong.

 

[Cegar]

I got a 12" ruler tattooed in an inappropriate place just so I could prove ppl wrong.

Did you maintain an erection for 3 hours or what?

 

[Moshe Rabbenu]

I have a few tattoos. I got them a while ago before I became religious. I don't regret them though. I would get more if I had money. The potential for infection is there, but I'd wager that you have a higher chance of getting an infection in a hospital than at a legitimate tattoo place. I don't know a single person that has ever gotten an infection or known someone who has.

The only cons I can think of: 1. Once you get one, you want more, and 2. What you think is cool when you're 17 may not agree with what you think is cool 7 years later.

 

[callherpetrol]

My brother has one on his upper left pec. It's four vertical bars side-by-side staggered in height. For him, there is great symbolism and meaning behind it, and he loves it. I think it looks bad *** as well.

you mean the black flag symbol?
i hate henry rollins, but the band before him was good

 

[puchi]

I have three tattoos: My avatar is on my inner right ankle (the symbol in the middle is a West African symbol meaning, "I fear nothing but God", my zodiac sign (cancer) on my back between my shoulder blades, and a tramp stamp of a ying yang. Im looking to get two more, another West African symbol near my left clavicle, and a cluster of stars on my left foot. I think I may get the clavicle tattoo first though...

I have no regrets. I make sure to get tattoos that do not have names, and the symbolic meaning will never change.

 

[sunnyskies]

2. What you think is cool when you're 17 may not agree with what you think is cool 7 years later.

Absolutely! I have a tattoo I hate. It held meaning, but I realize how dumb it is. It's on my lower from hip. and you can't see it in a bathing suit. even though I am one of the few who see it, I absolutely wish I never did something so dumb that I have to live with forever.

 

[Cegar]

Absolutely! I have a tattoo I hate. It held meaning, but I realize how dumb it is. It's on my lower from hip. and you can't see it in a bathing suit. even though I am one of the few who see it, I absolutely wish I never did something so dumb that I have to live with forever.

You could always amputate your leg.

 

[majik1213]

I was curious about how many pre-meds and medical students have tattoos. I'm interested in getting my first and would love to hear about the pro's and con's. It'll also be helpful if anyone from the NYC area recommended a really good tattoo parlor.

no but i'd like one though!

 

[Drogba]

I think the red shirt says, "Danglin' ***".

I'm pretty sure it says "haulin' ***" complete with two 18 wheelers in the background.

A friend of mine stabbed me in the arm with a pen in 8th grade. There is a black spot there to this day. Does that count? It's very discrete, no one has ever doubted my professionalism because of it.

 

[189362]

I have one at least 6 by 6 its my family's royal code of arms and seeing as how I will be the last male to carry out my family last name I consider it a GOOD reason.

Pros:
I have yet to hear a legitimate reason.

To quote someone with the handle "bigjuicywart"

 

[Cegar]

I'm pretty sure it says "haulin' ***" complete with two 18 wheelers in the background.

A friend of mine stabbed me in the arm with a pen in 8th grade. There is a black spot there to this day. Does that count? It's very discrete, no one has ever doubted my professionalism because of it.

Oh. So it does.

Danglin' *** was way better.

 

[URHere]

I have three fairly large tattoos - all on my back. I plan to get a fourth as soon as I'm finished with interviews. I have never regretted them, and I doubt I ever will.

 

[Moshe Rabbenu]

Absolutely! I have a tattoo I hate. It held meaning, but I realize how dumb it is. It's on my lower from hip. and you can't see it in a bathing suit. even though I am one of the few who see it, I absolutely wish I never did something so dumb that I have to live with forever.

I have a tattoo I hate, but I don't regret getting it. When I look at it, I wish that I had picked something that meant more to me, but it reminds me of the time in my life, so I'm okay with it. I would get it covered up with something else, but it's enormous.

 

[Zorrix]

My brother has one on his upper left pec. It's four vertical bars side-by-side staggered in height. For him, there is great symbolism and meaning behind it, and he loves it. I think it looks bad *** as well.

uhh u mean like the cingular network bar?

 

[DredPiratRobrts]

uhh u mean like the cingular network bar?

Damn beat me to it.

 

[Dienekes]

2) I want to be able to see my own tattoo without resorting to a mirror or weird acrobatics: so no back/butt tattoos

There's another very good reason for a girl not to get a tattoo on her lower back. If she does, it might as well be in the shape of a bullseye or dartboard.

 

[KittycooMD]

I have one, black and grey, low enough on the front of my hip that it does a peek out only if I wear super low jeans or a bathing suit. I waited until I was about 20 to finally decide what I wanted, and I loooove it, my only regret might be that I wish it was a bit bigger 😛

Don't get something that's a fad (think tramp stamp or asian letters that you can't read, and in my opinion any cartoon character), don't get something that is easily visible, don't get something that doesn't hold strong meaning for you. If you can avoid those pitfalls, you'll probably like the tattoo long enough to keep it for awhile. Almost everyone I know has at least one tattoo, and the people that love theirs followed my first three rules up there. The people that strayed from the rules...I know 3 that have already had tatts removed, and that is supposed to hurt like a biatch. Good luck with your decision!

I completely agree with everything Scow says here! Mine seems to be in the exact same place as hers, and can only be seen in the above two situations. I went to get it when I was 17, and brought my mom, but they wouldn't do it, even with parental consent! I waited a year and STILL wanted it, so I went ahead and got it and have never regretted it! I'm 26 so it's been almost 10 years; I love mine! It's also a special tattoo with personal meaning, so that is probably why I don't regret it...

 

[Heyeon]

I dont hv one but plan on getting one on my right hip on my birthday. You can neva be too sure if u will regret it or not but at this moment if ur really comfortable with it..go for it! Just make sure ur careful about the parlour you go to

 

[dizzyorange]

_

 

[Timmythemic22]

If I get accepted I'm getting a tattoo of the staff of Asclepius around my wrist...my friends designing it. It's supposed to wrap around like a bracelte kinda and its small enough that i can cover it with my wrist watch. 🙂

After I got my acceptance, I designed an asclepius tattoo that is on my right tricep and loops around my elbow. Great minds think alike I'm sure.

I have 7 tattoos, with only one visible in what may be labeled as medical attire. I have no regrets thus far, and fellow students as well as instructors have yet to comment on it. I would not recommend visible tattoos for everone, but I do believe your attitude and how you carry yourself are the first things people notice, and if your tattoo creates a bias, it is up to you to change the minds of those offended through your actions.

And yes, armybound, once you get one they are highly addictive.

 

[XerxesOfPersia]

After I got my acceptance, I designed an asclepius tattoo that is on my right tricep and loops around my elbow. Great minds think alike I'm sure.

I have 7 tattoos, with only one visible in what may be labeled as medical attire. I have no regrets thus far, and fellow students as well as instructors have yet to comment on it. I would not recommend visible tattoos for everone, but I do believe your attitude and how you carry yourself are the first things people notice, and if your tattoo creates a bias, it is up to you to change the minds of those offended through your actions.

And yes, armybound, once you get one they are highly addictive.

I couldn't agree more.

 

[Kraazy]

Thinking of getting one on the inner side of my foot, which would not be visible with any type of closed-toe shoes or wide-strapped flip-flops. Thought about it for yeeeaaars and definitely want something that I can hide very easily.

 

[RapplixGmed]

For those of you with lots of experience with tatoos, do they blur with age or is that a myth? I dont' know any older folks with them who got them at a young age so I can't really tell.