tattoo???

[kiwi44]

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(removed)

 

[indya]

why do you want a tattoo?

 

[MCAT guy]

a tear for each of my fallen hommies.

 

[kiwi44]

(removed)

 

[gettheleadout]

It depends on the school. I know with 100% certainty of at least one school that will not allow you to do clinical rotations with a visible tattoo. If its not immediately important to you and you don't want it to limit your options, wait until you can check with the school that you decide to matriculate to.

 

[334961]

FWIW, an easy solution would be to have the tattoo in a place where it is naturally covered by clothing. This way, no one will know unless you show them. A properly placed wrist tattoo could work in an area where people wear long sleeves all the time (i.e. in cold weather). Similarly, a wristguard (like tennis players), bracelet, or watch could cover up the tattoo if it's necessary in hot weather.

All you need to do is plan ahead. 👍

 

[andrewnwi]

The only advice I can give is what I try to go by:

If you can help show others that there is no correlation between tattoos and your ability to make coherent and responsible choices (ironic, yes), do well in life and school, being a very passionate and caring individual, and being an all-around well adjusted person ...

then you have nothing to worry about.

Sadly, some people still frown upon this. We all know this, I know this. I knew this even when I got my first one, and my next, and until my arm was half sleeved and my legs are both reaching that. However, like I said this plays no part in who I am. Yes, it is a lifestyle for me, but so is being a father, a student, and somewhere in the near future, a husband.😍

The tattoos will not define who you are - only you can. If you can get others to see it this way you'll do good, but it is tough. Good luck. And remember give serious thought about this. It can be "removed," but you'll be investing a lot of money in nothing. Take care. 😀

 

[DaisyBuchanan]

Just to be safe, you should probably go with a tramp stamp. Or a tribal armband.

 

[red10]

buy a bracelet or watch to wear over it in a professional setting. or invest in makeup that will cover tats. Something so small shouldn't be hard to cover

 

[runrunrudolph1]

i wanted to do the same thing and I actually asked one of the doc's i shadowed if tattoos were ever a problem (she has like 4, all pretty visible) and she told me that if I want to get them, keep them in a place where they cannot be seen when wearing scrubs (so no arms etc) and/or when wearing a skirt (no leg... so on). She said that she really regrets getting the tattoos she has in visible places because she has seen her patients react negatively to them (on multiple occasions, particularly the older ones who make up most of the patient population) so she has to be extra careful to always wear dress pants to work, and to always have a lab coat on when going in to talk to a patient. Long story short, I would get it in a place where it isn't visible.

 

[DrDrummer]

I'll +1 what everyone else said re: visible ink. Just move it a cm or two around on your wrist until it's possible to cover it up with a watch if you want... or put it on your ankle, or something along those lines.

It'll be there forever, and if you're getting it for yourself, it doesn't really matter where it is.

(That said, I've met anesthesiologists with half sleeves-- he told me it's a pretty tattoo-friendly specialty because of all the ex-military folks in it. 🙂)

 

[Parts Unknown]

I am applying to med school next year, and i really want a tattoo. It would be a small heart (less than 1cm X 1cm) on the outside of my right wrist. Could this small tattoo be a problem for me at any point in my medical education or career (interviews, residencies, etc.)? Please reply, esp. if you have a tattoo. thanks!

I personally love tattoos. Usually it takes time to ascertain if a person is 1.) a sociopath, 2.) shortsighted/immature, or 3.) just not that bright. When I see that ink a lot of the guesswork has been removed.

Seriously, tattoos are so 1997.

 

[estradiol9]

Just an FYI that such a small tattoo will probably just look like a blob many years from now once it starts to fade, become less defined, gets exposed to the sun, and skin starts to age. :[

 

[PremedGunner]

v

 

[avion321]

I also would put it somewhere that it is easy to cover. I currently have one piece on my right shoulder and will probably be adding a piece to my shoulder blade this fall. My rule is that it must be coverable in shorts or a t-shirt. I do not want to be trapped in pants and long sleeves the rest of my professional life.

 

[HealthHare]

I personally love tattoos. Usually it takes time to ascertain if a person is 1.) a sociopath, 2.) shortsighted/immature, or 3.) just not that bright. When I see that ink a lot of the guesswork has been removed.

Seriously, tattoos are so 1997.

There is so much truth behind this post👍

 

[mitchlucker]

I personally love tattoos. Usually it takes time to ascertain if a person is 1.) a sociopath, 2.) shortsighted/immature, or 3.) just not that bright. When I see that ink a lot of the guesswork has been removed.

Seriously, tattoos are so 1997.

I would say you're #2 and I don't even know if you have tattoos or not. Seriously, grow up. For being as far along as you are in your education it certainly seems like you've been under a rock for most of it.

Why are tattoos so 1997? Because of the huge tattoo boom in the 1990s? Cell phones got huge then too, when you see someone with a cell phone do you shout "Come on bro, cell phones are so 1999"?

Tattoos are an experience, it's not her fault for wanting to try something new in her life. I'd much rather go spend the $50 she will on that tattoo than you will taking someone out on a small date with you.

If you're not married or seeing someone, I hope you meet someone absolutely fantastic really soon. Someone better than you could ever imagine, and I hope that when you get in bed with them, they're covered in tattoos. According to you they're either a sociopath, stupid or immature so you'd be dumb to NOT break up with someone like that...so you do and end up having to marry the most boring, plain person who will put up with you.

 

[morning]

 

[bravofleet4]

wear a watch or a long-sleeved dress shirt...next question

 

[FrkyBgStok]

I am applying next summer and I have made a number of threads addressing this issue. I love tattoos but I had to make sacrifices with mine some people don't want to make. I have a full sleeve and understand that in a professional setting, I may never get to wear short sleeves again. I plan on covering it up however I have to in the hospital. Removable sleeves that I can shed without taking off my scrubs are going to be a must in surgical rotations as sleeves aren't allowed in the O.R.

The point is, I am aware that until I am an established physician where people see me because I am skilled, I have to play the game. There is no way around it. People will look down on me and I will have to fight to prove to them I am qualified. But that's ok.

 

[huskerdye]

I am applying to med school next year, and i really want a tattoo. It would be a small heart (less than 1cm X 1cm) on the outside of my right wrist. Could this small tattoo be a problem for me at any point in my medical education or career (interviews, residencies, etc.)? Please reply, esp. if you have a tattoo. thanks!

Search function for the win, buy a watch and cover it up in a setting where you need too?

problem solved in my opinion, I have a cross on my back, but obviously wont be seen with "normal clothes" on.

I don't think there's anything at all wrong with tattoos, besides whoever posted the one with the tears.. hahahha

 

[nycfuture2013]

I think from an admissions perspective it would be best to cover it to be on the safe side, but from a career perspective that's less practical.
I would also caution you to consider the area(s) of the country where you would like to someday practice. In many large cities (New York, Chicago, even Austin) or on the West Coast where the culture is less conservative a small, subtle yet visible tattoo might just raise an eyebrow or two, but in the South and other more traditional or socially conservative parts of the country you might be judged more harshly for it.

 

[Overmjnd]

I'm going to be frank. Your going to regret it.

 

[RTP424]

While volunteering at my hospital I've met quite a few interesting characters. There was a physician with full sleeves and another one with hair that looked exactly like Albert Einstein's except more curly. Both told me the same thing when I asked them about their tattoos and/or long hair.

Sure they got a lot of **** from people, and compliments from others. But they didn't let it get to them. And once they began their private practice it was smooth sailing for them.

I currently have my whole right forearm done, and plan on getting sleeves in the near future. The way I see it, I'm here to help people, regardless of what I look like. And I'm willing to bet money there are a TON of more doctors with things a patient COULD judge them on, but they don't because they cannot see it. i.e alcoholism, drugs, domestic violence issues, etc. Not to sound selfish, but I'm becoming a physician because I want to help people by using my knowledge, skills, and passion for this field. If someone is going to so quickly discredit me because I have ink on my arms, then I'm just going to move right along and help the next patient in line, because there will always be someone who needs help.

 

[unhappytnt]

Morning, I can't believe you beat me to it for posting that picture. The first thing I thought of when I saw this thread was that Cracked article. 🙂

 

[Parts Unknown]

I would say you're #2 and I don't even know if you have tattoos or not. Seriously, grow up. For being as far along as you are in your education it certainly seems like you've been under a rock for most of it.

Why are tattoos so 1997? Because of the huge tattoo boom in the 1990s? Cell phones got huge then too, when you see someone with a cell phone do you shout "Come on bro, cell phones are so 1999"?

Tattoos are an experience, it's not her fault for wanting to try something new in her life. I'd much rather go spend the $50 she will on that tattoo than you will taking someone out on a small date with you.

If you're not married or seeing someone, I hope you meet someone absolutely fantastic really soon. Someone better than you could ever imagine, and I hope that when you get in bed with them, they're covered in tattoos. According to you they're either a sociopath, stupid or immature so you'd be dumb to NOT break up with someone like that...so you do and end up having to marry the most boring, plain person who will put up with you.

I am all grown up, Mitch, even depressingly so. When you reach my advanced age you will find yourself with something a lot of would-be human canvases don't yet have: perspective.

Go out and find a high school yearbook from 1990 and look at all the dorks dressed up like In Living Color. Would you really want to still be carrying around Fire Marshall Bill on your left calf? Sure, it's an experience. Getting a Sno-Cone is an experience. Climbing a mountain is an experience. Getting raped in prison is an experience. Not all experiences are worth having.

P.S. I did actually find someone better than I could ever imagine, and I married her. Incidentally, she has a tattoo. I don't mind it, but she wants it gone. Something about being immature at the time...

 

[andrewnwi]

I wish we could all meet in person one day. Maybe then our opinions(advice) would be more constructive, of for that matter, ...well, matter.

 

[paper love]

This is hilarious!

 

[once]

Get a 1x1 tattoo of your exact skin pigment, nothing else.