Neck tattoo?

[Z_C]

Ok so, long story short, I am a nontraditional applicant, I am applying to medical school after grad school but I spent some time before grad school being kind of a burnout. During that time I got a neck tattoo. It's relatively small and tasteful as far as they go but noticeable in professional headshots. I'm having to upload photos for some of the secondary applications and am concerned if this will affect my chances of being interviewed. If I otherwise look professional, will this make programs not interview me? I can take another photo with a scarf or whatever but like they'll find out eventually.

I discuss working with low resource populations and my personal experience in my application, and my tattoos are something I'm proud of, is there a chance I can just submit a regular photo and it will be ok?

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[wysdoc]

Unless it's in the center of your neck, can you turn slightly to one side to minimize it? Can you edit your photo?
Wearing a scarf might work if you present as female.

Tattoos are so commonplace now I doubt this will hinder you except at super conservative schools like Loma Linda.

 

[Z_C]

Glad it may not be too big of a deal! I'm not trying to apply anywhere too conservative, I doubt I'd be a good mission fit at LL.

It sort of goes all the way around so there isn't much of a way to hide it with angles. I doubt photo editing would work just because it does cover a lot of ground plus I feel like that would be a shocker if they see me without it in the photo and then with it for a potential interview. (I'm trying not to give too many details since it's pretty identifiable)

I am a woman and I'm pretty used to wearing like a silk scarf or some such when I Absolutely Need to cover it, but I really prefer not to since it's part of my past, but I do get comments occasionally as an academic

Is it something I should give an explanation for or would that be a bit "the lady doth protest too much"

 

[wysdoc]

Glad it may not be too big of a deal! I'm not trying to apply anywhere too conservative, I doubt I'd be a good mission fit at LL.

It sort of goes all the way around so there isn't much of a way to hide it with angles. I doubt photo editing would work just because it does cover a lot of ground plus I feel like that would be a shocker if they see me without it in the photo and then with it for a potential interview. (I'm trying not to give too many details since it's pretty identifiable)

I am a woman and I'm pretty used to wearing like a silk scarf or some such when I Need to cover it, but I really prefer not to since it's part of my past, but I do get comments occasionally

Is it something I should give an explanation for or would that be a bit "the lady doth protest too much"

No, don’t over explain.

 

[LunaOri]

I think I would cover it for your headshot and interviews, unless it is so subtle that it would be mistaken for a necklace. Many of our medical students have tattoos,, but not on the neck.

 

[Z_C]

unless it is so subtle that it would be mistaken for a necklace

definitely not quite that subtle...

would it maybe depend on research focused vs service focused institution?

 

[LizzyM]

definitely not quite that subtle...

would it maybe depend on research focused vs service focused institution?

I think, in part, it is going to depend on how visible it is at the interview (many adcoms don't look at the pictures except when the applicant arrives for the interview, or to jog an interviewer's memory of the applicant after an interview) and whether or not the interviewer, and those with whom the interviewer communicates, can see this being an impediment to good patient care. How do you expect patients to react to your tattoo? In particular, the elderly, the parents of young children, the uptight? Will they be able to take you seriously and respectfully or will the tattoo be a distraction or something that causes them to have preconceived notions about your competence?

While you prefer not to cover it, you may want to consider scarves and other clothing choices, Dermablend concealer, or permanent removal if you want to be a clinician.

 

[wysdoc]

definitely not quite that subtle...

would it maybe depend on research focused vs service focused institution?

I'm picturing Sirius XMU DJ JennyLSQ now...
Classy scarf for the win.
It will be visible in scrubs for sure later, so you will have to decide if you care, or if you will choose an undershirt.

 

[Z_C]

How do you expect patients to react to your tattoo? In particular, the elderly, the parents of young children, the uptight? Will they be able to take you seriously and respectfully or will the tattoo be a distraction or something that causes them to have preconceived notions about your competence?

While you prefer not to cover it, you may want to consider scarves and other clothing choices, Dermablend concealer, or permanent removal if you want to be a clinician.

That's a fair point, it might be very practice dependent (I can imagine a difference between addiction medicine [my ideal practice long-term] and a peds rotation), but worth covering at interviews, I definitely cover it in the classroom much more than I do in the lab, I can imagine a similar clinic/lab split longer term? definitely not planning on laser removal but clothes and concealer are things I use on occasion

I'm picturing Sirius XMU DJ JennyLSQ now...

haha, maybe think somewhere between there, Ethel Cain and a choker necklace, it's on the neck proper for most of it

 

[Goro]

Don't forget turtlenecks!

 

[RangerBob]

As a general rule, as an attending you can do whatever you want--we have a IM subpecialist who wears shorts, chain, boots, and big earring gauges. Old women actually seem to love him the most. One of our ortho docs dressed so casual/sloppy (old shorts/t-shirt) I legitimately though he was a homeless guy who found is way into the physician lounge.

As a student, you should look about as conservative as you can get.

I consider myself a fairly open-minded Californian. But face/neck/hand tattoos truthfully will affect my initial impression with someone. It may give you more street cred if you do addiction medicine (you clearly won't be a "normal uptight doctor"), but I do think it could hurt you in essentially any setting in medical school--particularly clinical rotations. Probably less of an issue in the pre-clinical years when you're in a classroom all day.

If it's not extremely sentimental because of the location or what you were going through when you got it, I would advise you to consider copying it to another more discreet location and doing laser removal.

You can ignore all of the above if it's something like just a tiny start right behind your ear. The impression I'm getting is it's on the front/front-side of your neck since it comes out in headshots.

 

[Hollow Knight]

Unfortunately some people will care about this in your interviews or when you're on clerkships. Make of that information what you will. I'd definitely cover for professional headshots and interviews.

Once you're in residency I assume it won't matter that much (silly thing to remove a resident over)

 

[LizzyM]

Unfortunately some people will care about this in your interviews or when you're on clerkships. Make of that information what you will. I'd definitely cover for professional headshots and interviews.

Once you're in residency I assume it won't matter that much (silly thing to remove a resident over)

Not to remove a resident, but it could result in biased reviews of one's performance.

 

[Z_C]

If it's not extremely sentimental because of the location or what you were going through when you got it, I would advise you to consider copying it to another more discreet location and doing laser removal.

You can ignore all of the above if it's something like just a tiny start right behind your ear. The impression I'm getting is it's on the front/front-side of your neck since it comes out in headshots.

It is pretty personally important to me so I’m definitely keeping it, but hiding it in interviews and clinic aren’t going to be that hard at least. I teach in a couple of nontraditional settings where all tattoos are prohibited, let alone a neck piece. I’ve had it my whole professional career so I have some practice concealing it at least

It’s classy as neck pieces go, but it does go all the way around my neck and is on like the middle of throat. It’s not like a “NO RAGRETS” sitch but I have gotten comments in like fac senate and stuff

Not to remove a resident, but it could result in biased reviews of one's performance.

I guess that’s what i’m worried about like i’m definitely not getting it off permanently, but is it the kind of thing that if it’s concealed in clinic would be enough or would I want to sort of hide it full time at work/med school?

 

[LizzyM]

I'd suggest hiding it full-time for at least the next 7-8 years.

 

[Z_C]

hmmm the consensus seems to be a lot more conservative for medicine than I’d even expected, way more so than on the basic science/research side…

Are there any other places I should cover tattoos other than face/neck/hands?

 

[wysdoc]

hmmm the consensus seems to be a lot more conservative for medicine than I’d even expected, way more so than on the basic science/research side…

Are there any other places I should cover tattoos other than F/N/H?

we're pretty tattoo tolerant in Texas.
It's common to be asked to remove facial piercings at work unless you're a Starbucks barista or hipster restaurant server

 

[Z_C]

It's common to be asked to remove facial piercings at work unless you're a Starbucks barista or hipster restaurant server

no unusual piercings, so that won’t be an issue at least 😅

Is it notably less tolerant in other places in particular?

 

[LunaOri]

We see arm, leg, torso tattoos all the time. When you begin your clinical rotations, you should ask the supervisor for each rotation whether you should cover your tattoos in clinic and on the wards. It is very geographically dependent; some hospitals are much more tolerant than others.

 

[RangerBob]

no unusual piercings, so that won’t be an issue at least 😅

Is it notably less tolerant in other places in particular?

More conservative areas in general. Utah...

I was expected to wear a shirt and tie for many rotations as a med student in the midwest.

When I came to CA people made fun of me for showing up to the hospital in a tie...

I would agree medicine is more conservative than basic science/research labs because we're patient-facing. I've met people with all sorts of interesting tattoo/piercing/clothing styles in the labs... Granted I was in SF at the time.

I agree with the above that arm/leg/torso tattoos are so common that depending on size/amount/style they're often nothingburgers, even in a field as conservative as medicine. But I'd still recommend covering up tattoos as much as possible until you can ascertain the culture of the instructors/physicians you're working with.

 

[chssoccer7]

hmmm the consensus seems to be a lot more conservative for medicine than I’d even expected, way more so than on the basic science/research side…

Are there any other places I should cover tattoos other than face/neck/hands?

In my experience it's more risk-averse, playing it by ear than conservative. I have a full sleeve and nobody has cared yet- but I also play it safe and ask whatever attending i'm with, volunteer coordinator, etc if I should keep it covered or not. In EM they laughed and pointed at their own tattoos, in Peds they were okay but mentioned staying cognizant of anyone (parents) who might be bothered, in the OR nobody acknowledged I existed with or without tattoos anyways. Just be smart and read the room first before going crazy with it, especially with the people who could evaluate you.

I did conceal it for interviews (not really a difficult task for a sleeve on zoom interviews), but I didn't conceal it for second looks where I went to the schools. Anyone who would've taken away an A because I had visible tattoos wasn't a school I would've been happy attending anyways, but none cared. It was never brought up.

 

[Z_C]

We see arm, leg, torso tattoos all the time. When you begin your clinical rotations, you should ask the supervisor for each rotation whether you should cover your tattoos in clinic and on the wards.

Definitely that’s the plan, honestly that’s typically my SOP for any time I’m invited to a place i’m unfamiliar with just because some people automatically think of gangs with stuff above the shoulders.

when you say torso, does that include stuff that might show with a lower neckline? (strictly tasteful material in that area above any work appropriate neckline ofc) I suppose it’s still a “just ask” situation but should i be prepared to get a lot of pushback for that area?

More conservative areas in general. Utah...

That makes a ton of sense! Honestly I’m not even applying anywhere outside of cities in blue states, I’m not the kind of person that would fit in at the Loma Linda’s or even the Vanderbilts of the world, like abortion care is pretty important to me and honestly you can probably infer from this thread that i might not hold values compatible with some of the most strictly traditional settings

Just be smart and read the room first before going crazy with it, especially with the people who could evaluate you.

I’m not exactly champing at the bit to get any more tattoos haha, but your point is well taken that it may be more situational than conservative across the board!


As a side thought, I’m primarily applying to research-focused institutions just because that kind of makes the most sense for me as an applicant and kind of fits my career goal of academic medicine. Do you think institutions with more of a bench science focus might be more understanding? the opposite?

 

[Z_C]

As a coda: I just submitted with a concealer over it and probably will do that for interviews, as far as rotations I'm planning to just ask what is acceptable for each individually. Most places with a dress code allow it, but I'd rather be a little extra cautions. Thanks all for the advice!! : )

 

[Z_C]

Hi all, sorry to revive a dead thread, but I have a new specific question on this topic: An interview portal asked for a "passport style photo" is it acceptable for a relatively small/tasteful neck piece to be visible in this? thank you!

 

[LunaOri]

Yes. All we need is a clear view of your face.

 

[Moko]

Yes. All we need is a clear view of your face.

Or wear a neck ruffle! Nothing says classy like neck ruffles! *woof* (I'm a dog, please don't follow this advice)

 

[Lost in Translation]

Dunno how helpful this is, but similar to the turtleneck comment maybe you could find an Under Armor-type breathable sportswear that has a higher cut neck (that's not an Elizabeth Holmes look) to wear? That way when you're wearing scrubs it doesn't look out of place.