I hate to be the one to bring this up..

[TrickMcJanky]

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I've been accepted to a US MD school, and I have tattoos.
Before you refer me to previous threads, know that I've read them all. None of them mention my situation - hand tattoos. Yes, like a prisoner. I'm exaggerating, they aren't that bad. Very minimalist. Think of the hand tattoos of Jemima Kirke from HBO's Girls.

My question is, now what? I concealed them during interviews but I truly cannot imagine slathering concealer on my hands (which fades pretty quickly throughout the day) for the rest of my career. If I decide to keep the ink, how will this affect my rotations, getting recommendations from faculty, and ultimately, landing a spot in a residency where I'll be happy? I'd appreciate any insight you have to offer.

 

[Chubbs Peterson]

I've been accepted to a US MD school, and I have tattoos.
Before you refer me to previous threads, know that I've read them all. None of them mention my situation - hand tattoos. Yes, like a prisoner. I'm exaggerating, they aren't that bad. Very minimalist. Think of the hand tattoos of Jemima Kirke from HBO's Girls.

My question is, now what? I concealed them during interviews but I truly cannot imagine slathering concealer on my hands (which fades pretty quickly throughout the day) for the rest of my career. If I decide to keep the ink, how will this affect my rotations, getting recommendations from faculty, and ultimately, landing a spot in a residency where I'll be happy? I'd appreciate any insight you have to offer.

You have one option: get them removed.

Arms can easily be covered but your hands can't. Sorry man, there really is nothing else you can do.

 

[operaman]

I would also vote for having them removed if possible.

Maybe the culture of your med school will be such that it won't matter, but medicine as a whole tends to be a more conservative/traditional field. Nobody can tell you how exactly it may or may not affect you, but I believe it could. I know it would impact my own personal view of someone and make me question both their judgment and overall mental health. I would worry especially about underlying substance abuse issues. Yes, I know these are wholly unfair generalizations and I hope I would be able to see past them as I got to know the person. Realize that many faculty are older than me and will probably be even less open minded and may not be around you long enough to work past their first impression.

 

[deleted289061]

You have one option: get them removed.

Arms can easily be covered but your hands can't. Sorry man, there really is nothing else you can do.

Ha. I wouldn't listen to Chubbs. You NEVER have only one option. While I tend to agree with operaman's view of a more traditional profession, this kind of thinking is also detrimental to medicine on a grander scale. Tattoos are much more prevalent today than they were 20 years ago. Maybe a patient with tattoos that sees your ink will feel more comfortable with you than say a more traditional, country club type of physician. What type of physician do you want to be? A radiologist? A pathologist? An anesthesiologist? This is one perspective to consider. Where do you plan to practice? If you're in the Bible Belt, maybe it will be less accepted. Another consideration is that hand tattoos, or any tattoos really, are small in comparison to your work. If you are world renowned doctor for X procedure someday, people would choose your procedure and expertise over a hand tattoo. Also, remember that there is shortage of doctors and it is estimated that this isn't changing anytime soon. So if you see a patient that has a problem with something as superficial as a tattoo, then they are likely better off with a different physician. You will still have other patients to see. Worry less about this stuff and more about your board preparation.

 

[Doctor Bob]

My question is, now what? I concealed them during interviews but I truly cannot imagine slathering concealer on my hands (which fades pretty quickly throughout the day) for the rest of my career. If I decide to keep the ink, how will this affect my rotations, getting recommendations from faculty, and ultimately, landing a spot in a residency where I'll be happy? I'd appreciate any insight you have to offer.

You've already been accepted. The tattoos won't have much affect during the first two years. Perhaps in subjectively graded classes, but otherwise no effect. And even in those classes the effect would be minimal.
During third and fourth year... well... perhaps wear concealer on the rotations in the field you are considering.
Then wear it for interviews.
Once you're in residency, just don't give them another reason to get rid of you (otherwise it'll be used as a supporting reason).

Or get them removed.

I guess I never quite get these threads on how much effect tattoos will have. We can really only project our own biases. We can't say with any certainly how other people are going to react to you. Tattoos also aren't viewed in a vacuum. Put a wrist and hand tattoo on a well groomed, well mannered person and people may view it as a foible of youth. Put the exact same tattoo on someone with a wonky haircut and a acerbic disposition and people may regard it as confirmation that the person is a ne'er-do-well.

I have never had any problems with my tattoos... but mine are easily hideable.

 

[Rocher]

I agree with everything Calvangri says above.
If you are in a more progressive place and the tattoos are small I don't think it'll be a big deal. People may look at you funny at first but if you are smart and are a genuine person I'd like to believe most people would ignore the tats.

 

[TrickMcJanky]

You've already been accepted. The tattoos won't have much affect during the first two years. Perhaps in subjectively graded classes, but otherwise no effect. And even in those classes the effect would be minimal.
During third and fourth year... well... perhaps wear concealer on the rotations in the field you are considering.
Then wear it for interviews.
Once you're in residency, just don't give them another reason to get rid of you (otherwise it'll be used as a supporting reason).

Or get them removed.

I guess I never quite get these threads on how much effect tattoos will have. We can really only project our own biases. We can't say with any certainly how other people are going to react to you. Tattoos also aren't viewed in a vacuum. Put a wrist and hand tattoo on a well groomed, well mannered person and people may view it as a foible of youth. Put the exact same tattoo on someone with a wonky haircut and a acerbic disposition and people may regard it as confirmation that the person is a ne'er-do-well.

I have never had any problems with my tattoos... but mine are easily hideable.

So is that a rule? The part about rotations & no visible tattoos.

 

[TrickMcJanky]

Ha. I wouldn't listen to Chubbs. You NEVER have only one option. While I tend to agree with operaman's view of a more traditional profession, this kind of thinking is also detrimental to medicine on a grander scale. Tattoos are much more prevalent today than they were 20 years ago. Maybe a patient with tattoos that sees your ink will feel more comfortable with you than say a more traditional, country club type of physician. What type of physician do you want to be? A radiologist? A pathologist? An anesthesiologist? This is one perspective to consider. Where do you plan to practice? If you're in the Bible Belt, maybe it will be less accepted. Another consideration is that hand tattoos, or any tattoos really, are small in comparison to your work. If you are world renowned doctor for X procedure someday, people would choose your procedure and expertise over a hand tattoo. Also, remember that there is shortage of doctors and it is estimated that this isn't changing anytime soon. So if you see a patient that has a problem with something as superficial as a tattoo, then they are likely better off with a different physician. You will still have other patients to see. Worry less about this stuff and more about your board preparation.

Anesthesia.

 

[fancymylotus]

I've been accepted to a US MD school, and I have tattoos.
Before you refer me to previous threads, know that I've read them all. None of them mention my situation - hand tattoos. Yes, like a prisoner. I'm exaggerating, they aren't that bad. Very minimalist. Think of the hand tattoos of Jemima Kirke from HBO's Girls.

My question is, now what? I concealed them during interviews but I truly cannot imagine slathering concealer on my hands (which fades pretty quickly throughout the day) for the rest of my career. If I decide to keep the ink, how will this affect my rotations, getting recommendations from faculty, and ultimately, landing a spot in a residency where I'll be happy? I'd appreciate any insight you have to offer.

I would hope it wouldn't be an issue, but it probably will be. Just make sure you don't plaster pictures of yourself on the Internet hashtagged with your full name and future doctor attached to them. And make sure your tattoo "artiste" has more than one functioning neuron in her largely empty head, and doesn't do that either.

(Brb punching a wall, can you tell that this topic brings out a **** ton of rage for me??)

 

[TrickMcJanky]

I would also vote for having them removed if possible.

Maybe the culture of your med school will be such that it won't matter, but medicine as a whole tends to be a more conservative/traditional field. Nobody can tell you how exactly it may or may not affect you, but I believe it could. I know it would impact my own personal view of someone and make me question both their judgment and overall mental health. I would worry especially about underlying substance abuse issues. Yes, I know these are wholly unfair generalizations and I hope I would be able to see past them as I got to know the person. Realize that many faculty are older than me and will probably be even less open minded and may not be around you long enough to work past their first impression.

I wouldn't call it unfair...Would you be worried if a woman was your doctor too? Idk, irrational is probably the better word. But thank you for the response.

 

[TrickMcJanky]

I would hope it wouldn't be an issue, but it probably will be. Just make sure you don't plaster pictures of yourself on the Internet hashtagged with your full name and future doctor attached to them. And make sure your tattoo "artiste" has more than one functioning neuron in her largely empty head, and doesn't do that either.

(Brb punching a wall, can you tell that this topic brings out a **** ton of rage for me??)

Hah. I'm off the grid, won't be doing any of that.

 

[fancymylotus]

Hah. I'm off the grid, won't be doing any of that.

I wish more people would understand the value of staying the **** off the grid.

 

[fancymylotus]

I have patients freak out when they see my hands covered in henna from weddings or religious events. And get super judgey till they realize what it is...

 

[fancymylotus]

As long as you don't fall asleep on your face the night before...

It doesn't transfer like that 🙂 the paste wohld get smushed and the design wouldn't be a copy, haha. More like a blob

 

[fancymylotus]

TV lies to me yet again

It's a plant based paste that they draw on you with, it comes out of something that looks like a pastry icing bag, the paste dries pretty fast, the longer you leave it on the darker the color will appear(bridal henna is meant to be left on overnight), then you take olive oil or some other kind of oil and use that to remove the now dry paste, and the designs are left on your skin. Fades over like 1-2 weeks

 

[LoveIR]

The dress code at one of my rotation hospitals directly states that tattoos must be covered during work hours.

 

[slopes23]

The dress code at one of my rotation hospitals directly states that tattoos must be covered during work hours.

Time to start rocking some isotoners! Just say you wear them for compression, hah

 

[Doctor Bob]

So is that a rule? The part about rotations & no visible tattoos.

That will be institution dependent.

 

[tantacles]

I wish more people would understand the value of staying the **** off the grid.

It's the best.

 

[chasm-e-baddoor]

If I decide to keep the ink, how will this affect my rotations, getting recommendations from faculty, and ultimately, landing a spot in a residency where I'll be happy? I'd appreciate any insight you have to offer.

I would bet the farm that they would negatively effect those chances to some extent. Even if the times are changing and there are many attendings, residents, and program directors who wouldnt judge you based on tattoos, there are still those that do, meaning the tattoos wouldnt negatively affect you only if youre very lucky and run into only the open-minded ones.

 

[Xerology]

It doesn't seem worth the professional risk to have hand tattoos. Too many negative connotations from colleagues and patients. Society is ever so slightly moving towards a more accepting attitude, but not so much in medicine

 

[touchpause13]

My tattoos are all easily hidden, but I know med students with visible tattoos (arms, legs, hands, neck, etc)

Just try and hide them the best you can for rotations, but I wouldn't worry about it too much. There are some really nice heavy duty concealers you can get that I would probably look into.

Other than that I pretty much echo everything bob said

 

[EMDO2018]

Yes conform to the old white guy standards of what most lay people think a physician shoud be/ look like and cover your tattoos or get them removed.

 

[fancymylotus]

Yes conform to the old white guy standards of what most lay people think a physician shoud be/ look like and cover your tattoos or get them removed.

Wow, and you call us racist and narrow minded.

 

[Mad Jack]

I worked with an ED resident that had UCB tattooed on his hand. No one ever said a word, and he never had it lasered.

 

[FrkyBgStok]

I have sleeves. Never had an issue. My right arm goes ever so slightly onto my hand. Some patients feel more comfortable with it. ive been considering getting something on my ring finger to replace my wedding band. it is way nice not wearing that.

And anesthesia does have to make the patient feel instantly comfortable, but it is also a field where one can say, "i am your doctor, if you don't like it, too bad." and i think a good doctor with tattoos can make a patient feel a lot more comfortable than a bad doctor without.

 

[jdh71]

You've already been accepted. The tattoos won't have much affect during the first two years. Perhaps in subjectively graded classes, but otherwise no effect. And even in those classes the effect would be minimal.
During third and fourth year... well... perhaps wear concealer on the rotations in the field you are considering.
Then wear it for interviews.
Once you're in residency, just don't give them another reason to get rid of you (otherwise it'll be used as a supporting reason).

Or get them removed.

I guess I never quite get these threads on how much effect tattoos will have. We can really only project our own biases. We can't say with any certainly how other people are going to react to you. Tattoos also aren't viewed in a vacuum. Put a wrist and hand tattoo on a well groomed, well mannered person and people may view it as a foible of youth. Put the exact same tattoo on someone with a wonky haircut and a acerbic disposition and people may regard it as confirmation that the person is a ne'er-do-well.

I have never had any problems with my tattoos... but mine are easily hideable.

QFT

Who knows OP. Who knows. Until they invent a time machine . . . there is no way for me to go back in time and not do any number of things I've done. And some of those things I think are, on balance, much more "stupid" (in quotes for a reason) than hand tats, and I like made it through, got trained, and am working. And I figure if I can make it to this point, why not you with your "stupid" hand tattoos. Ya feel me? Any doors that get closed because of them are not opporutnities you'd want anyway. Think about. Also. Don't cross bridges until you come to them. Good luck.

 

[Flamen04]

I hear getting hand tattoos is a characteristic of someone with Cluster B type traits..

 

[RicinBranCrunch]

..

 

[PikminOC]

First get thru the first two years and pass Step 1.
Then we can have a discussion.
Forest for the trees.

 

[TBMcGee]

I've been accepted to a US MD school, and I have tattoos.
Before you refer me to previous threads, know that I've read them all. None of them mention my situation - hand tattoos. Yes, like a prisoner. I'm exaggerating, they aren't that bad. Very minimalist. Think of the hand tattoos of Jemima Kirke from HBO's Girls.

My question is, now what? I concealed them during interviews but I truly cannot imagine slathering concealer on my hands (which fades pretty quickly throughout the day) for the rest of my career. If I decide to keep the ink, how will this affect my rotations, getting recommendations from faculty, and ultimately, landing a spot in a residency where I'll be happy? I'd appreciate any insight you have to offer.

In my opinion, I think if you have great grades/board scores/LOR/work ethic, those should be enough to judge what kind of physician you will become (not what you look like/gender/tattoos/etc.). Unfortunately, we don't live in a perfect world. Generalizations may be made by patients/faculty/colleagues, etc. If this were me, I would probably have them removed. I'm not much of a risk-taker, and if you have worked really hard to get into medical school, etc., I am not sure if keeping them is worth it. Plus, I think some facilities have rules on piercings/makeup/tattoos. I hope this helped! Best of luck.

 

[cbrons]

Jemima Kirke from HBO's Girls.

Who?

 

[Kaustikos]

Just keep them for now but be ready to remove them if truly necessary. You'll find out in third year how the ink will impact your life as a physician.
Also, I can't be the only one who's noticed how many people in medicine have ink. Anesthesia, surgery, fm, etc. Not everyone gets ink because it's the cool thing to do or be edgy. I still wear my "professional" tramp stamp with pride. ..and the staff have commented on how much they like it.

 

[Whats up Doc!]

All im sayin is if a surgeon walks in the room with tattoos on his hands then im walking out! Some tattoos are really meaningful and I get that but having a meaningless tattoos permanently in visible places does'nt spell professional to me

 

[fancymylotus]

All im sayin is if a surgeon walks in the room with tattoos on his hands then im walking out! Some tattoos are really meaningful and I get that but having a meaningless tattoos permanently in visible places does'nt spell professional to me

Brb tattooing "more money more problemz" on my hands 😀

 

[Kaustikos]

All im sayin is if a surgeon walks in the room with tattoos on his hands then im walking out! Some tattoos are really meaningful and I get that but having a meaningless tattoos permanently in visible places does'nt spell professional to me

How are you gonna do that with that propafol and versed running in your veins?
In the words of Dave Chappelle: Gotcha, bitch!

We aren't talking meaningless. Though I guess you wouldn't care and ultimately judge all tattoos as meaningless.

 

[fancymylotus]

How are you gonna do that with that propafol and versed running in your veins?
In the words of Dave Chappelle: Gotcha, bitch!

We aren't talking meaningless. Though I guess you wouldn't care and ultimately judge all tattoos as meaningless.

 

[Kaustikos]

 

[touchpause13]

You're not exactly helping your case there bucko

 

[Kaustikos]

You're not exactly helping your case there bucko

I'm making a point.

 

[Whats up Doc!]

Do you think different? The fact that most (if not all) places are going to make you cover up your tats just shows people dont want to be treated by a guy/girl with that type of appearance. Im not trying to say people with tattoos are worse doctors than those without but it does not look good bottom line.

 

[Psyche Estrelle]

Literally every job I've had as a physician explicitly stated that all tattoos must be covered during work hours. Be prepared to cover them on demand. I know Kat Von D makes an excellent transfer-resistant concealer.

Edit: Just occurred to me that washing your hands repeatedly (which is of course not optional) will be an issue... but I'm sure a solution can be found. My advice would be to not let this stop you in any way from going to med school, but you will need to be very resourceful and creative depending on the setting (i.e. have waterproof concealer and/or gloves on hand constantly... something like that...). Concealer will be an issue if your hands need to be truly clean and/or sterile for procedures, but luckily you'll be wearing gloves in those situations.

For the record my back is entirely tattooed, and I adore them. But it's best not to sugarcoat the fact that you will be judged daily for visible tattoos, especially as a doctor. I suspect the issue may possibly be that tattooed hands don't look "clean" to patients, but I may be wrong. The fact that you felt the need to cover them in order to GET into medical school suggests that you are already aware of this, and that the need won't change now that you're in.

 

[NickNaylor]

Literally every job I've had as a physician explicitly stated that all tattoos must be covered during work hours. Be prepared to cover them on demand. I know Kat Von D makes an excellent transfer-resistant concealer.

Edit: Just occurred to me that washing your hands repeatedly (which is of course not optional) will be an issue... but I'm sure a solution can be found. My advice would be to not let this stop you in any way from going to med school, but you will need to be very resourceful and creative depending on the setting (i.e. have waterproof concealer and/or gloves on hand constantly... something like that...). Concealer will be an issue if your hands need to be truly clean and/or sterile for procedures, but luckily you'll be wearing gloves in those situations.

For the record my back is entirely tattooed, and I adore them. But it's best not to sugarcoat the fact that you will be judged daily for visible tattoos, especially as a doctor. I suspect the issue may possibly be that tattooed hands don't look "clean" to patients, but I may be wrong. The fact that you felt the need to cover them in order to GET into medical school suggests that you are already aware of this, and that the need won't change now that you're in.

One of my classmates and good buddies has a big tattoo on his bicep from when he was a volunteer firefighter. Obviously this wasn't a concern 90% of the time as normal clothing covered everything up, but he did say that he felt like he received some glares and generally negative judgments when people were able to see them (i.e., in scrubs in the OR). He's going into anesthesiology and will simply wear long sleeves underneath his scrubs.

Point being, OP, that it may be an issue and, as others mentioned, is something you should be aware of. I'm not sure if getting them removed ASAP is necessarily the best course of action, but I would expect to have to cover them up or otherwise do something once you get on the wards.

 

[inmyslumber]

I have sleeves. Never had an issue. My right arm goes ever so slightly onto my hand. Some patients feel more comfortable with it. ive been considering getting something on my ring finger to replace my wedding band. it is way nice not wearing that.

And anesthesia does have to make the patient feel instantly comfortable, but it is also a field where one can say, "i am your doctor, if you don't like it, too bad." and i think a good doctor with tattoos can make a patient feel a lot more comfortable than a bad doctor without.

Perhaps the second paragraph is not entirely serious. Just so facts are clear, patients can request a new anesthesiologist if they are offended by the assigned anesthesiologist. If you are the only one there, it is too bad for the patient. If it is during normally-staffed hours, you can be removed from the case.

Anyway, I vote for Pathology.

 

[TrickMcJanky]

Literally every job I've had as a physician explicitly stated that all tattoos must be covered during work hours. Be prepared to cover them on demand. I know Kat Von D makes an excellent transfer-resistant concealer.

Edit: Just occurred to me that washing your hands repeatedly (which is of course not optional) will be an issue... but I'm sure a solution can be found. My advice would be to not let this stop you in any way from going to med school, but you will need to be very resourceful and creative depending on the setting (i.e. have waterproof concealer and/or gloves on hand constantly... something like that...). Concealer will be an issue if your hands need to be truly clean and/or sterile for procedures, but luckily you'll be wearing gloves in those situations.

For the record my back is entirely tattooed, and I adore them. But it's best not to sugarcoat the fact that you will be judged daily for visible tattoos, especially as a doctor. I suspect the issue may possibly be that tattooed hands don't look "clean" to patients, but I may be wrong. The fact that you felt the need to cover them in order to GET into medical school suggests that you are already aware of this, and that the need won't change now that you're in.

Yeah the frequent hand-washing is the first thing I think of that makes me think concealer is pointless in the end. Are there similar policies prohibiting hand jewelry? I've used that to cover some of the tattoos. Thanks for the response.

 

[TrickMcJanky]

All im sayin is if a surgeon walks in the room with tattoos on his hands then im walking out! Some tattoos are really meaningful and I get that but having a meaningless tattoos permanently in visible places does'nt spell professional to me

Dude, get real. You're gonna walk out? You'd only be giving yourself a problem, not anyone else.

 

[TrickMcJanky]

In my opinion, I think if you have great grades/board scores/LOR/work ethic, those should be enough to judge what kind of physician you will become (not what you look like/gender/tattoos/etc.). Unfortunately, we don't live in a perfect world. Generalizations may be made by patients/faculty/colleagues, etc. If this were me, I would probably have them removed. I'm not much of a risk-taker, and if you have worked really hard to get into medical school, etc., I am not sure if keeping them is worth it. Plus, I think some facilities have rules on piercings/makeup/tattoos. I hope this helped! Best of luck.

Yeah thanks, I definitely am considering laser removal as an option when clinical years come around haha.

 

[TBMcGee]

Yeah thanks, I definitely am considering laser removal as an option when clinical years come around haha.

You've already made it this far, so I am sure you will find your way for the future 🙂 good luck
Btw, congratulations

 

[hmockingbird]

Yeah the frequent hand-washing is the first thing I think of that makes me think concealer is pointless in the end. Are there similar policies prohibiting hand jewelry? I've used that to cover some of the tattoos. Thanks for the response.

In my experience hand jewellery is ok outside the OR. I have been wearing bracelets with scrubs on call nights for non-surgical specialties because I get bored with the scrubs haha. This is from multiple hospitals in one city.

Eta: while possibly this is getting more acceptance than tattoos, I have my nose pierced and it's technically against the rules at all the hospitals here but nobody cares. I'm thinking of not even taking it out for residency interviews because it's been such a non-issue. I know lots of residents and surgeons who had sleeves you could see when they wore scrubs in the OR, but one of my friends has a foot tattoo and had to cover it up (had to wear socks with flats basically).

 

[nap$ter]

I have sleeves. Never had an issue. My right arm goes ever so slightly onto my hand. Some patients feel more comfortable with it. ive been considering getting something on my ring finger to replace my wedding band. it is way nice not wearing that.

And anesthesia does have to make the patient feel instantly comfortable, but it is also a field where one can say, "i am your doctor, if you don't like it, too bad." and i think a good doctor with tattoos can make a patient feel a lot more comfortable than a bad doctor without.

i'm an anesthesiologist, and no you can't say that. bad communication like that is what leads to LAWSUITS.

a good doctor without visible tattoos is the best option of the three.