Tattoos and Doctors?

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rmaximus

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Hey guys!

Alright so I know there are a few other threads about this topic but I have a pretty specific question that I wanted others' input on (just for kicks). I have been thinking for a while now about getting a tattoo on my forearm, all the way up the forearm. Now, before you all freak out and say IT'S VISIBLE THAT'S A TERRIBLE IDEA.. the tattoo would just be the word 'survivor'. I had cancer two years ago (I'm a sophomore now in college) and that's what the tat would be about- me surviving cancer. Added to this is the fact that the reason I want to be a doctor is because of my whole cancer year and everything that happened.

So, what do you all think? Is it a bad idea regardless or is it maybe not as bad as getting some Japanese symbol or other typical tat?
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It sounds like an awesome idea for a tattoo!

Still, I think medicine is still a conservative enough field that visible tattoos, no matter what their content or intention are frowned upon, but I don't know for sure.
 
I think it's a good idea. Just make sure its not too big or cluttered. A nice font, straight to the point. It could be something that brings you close to patients if they know you've gone through something similar or as bad etc...
 
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Doctors frown upon tattoos. Some will tell you, some won't.

Don't do it.

When I see a tattoo, I see poor judgement or someone who is not thinking about the future because tattoos never look good when your skin starts to sag.
 
I would not recommend a visible tattoo. Many doctors in positions of power at hospitals and schools are extremely conservative. Even if the message is a great one, and the person getting the tattoo is mature, I can see times when you will not be taken seriously.
 
armorshell said:
Are you married to the idea of having it on your forearm?
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I agree with this, is there anywhere else you might consider placing it? While your tattoo would be significant and the experience behind it has given you a rare dose of empathy, tattoos are controversial and may make your journey through medical education more difficult. Some professors/patients/people you work with may not take the time to ask about the significance of your ink, and make a negative judgment about your capabilities/skills/personality/etc. from the get go. It may not be fair, but it's real. I would put the tattoo somewhere more private, and perhaps consider wearing the ribbon of your specific cancer type on your white coat as a marker of your survival. That shouldn't be controversial to anyone.
 
I don't think there's anything wrong with it, but consider getting it in a less visible location. Shoulder blades are nice if you want people to see it sometimes, but is easily covered up in professional settings. I have three tats myself (and am getting a fourth soon) and don't think I'll have a problem as a doc because you can't see them when I dress professionally. Like it or not, medicine is a relatively conservative career and you have to dress accordingly when at work, otherwise you won't be taken seriously and it's just more of a hassle. Get the tattoo, but put it somewhere not always visible.
 
I have a tattoo on my forearm covering the whole thing (a complete sleeve). While it serves to remind me of my path and where I came from in my early twenties, I know that it will be an obstacle in my career path. Would I get it again right now? The answer is no.
 
wow this is the fastest responding community ever! Thanks for all the input everyone.

I totally agree with all of you, and in fact have been feeling similar (getting it somewhere not as visible, not getting one at all). It's always good to hear what other people think about it rather than wrestle with the idea all on my own.
 
So I turned 18 last year and decided to get a tat.

BUT BECAUSE I'M STUPID, I got a tat of the word "enlighten" writen in Sanskrit on THE SIDE OF MY NECK!! -__-

Now I'm freaking out about how med school would react to this by the time I apply :scared:

I love my tat but I'm afraid of it might jeopardize my acceptance 🙁

When the time come should I just buy some make up foundation and cover it for the time being?

BTW sorry to hijack the thread OP. I didn't want to start another one of the same thing.
 
torshi said:
i wouldn't do anything visible.
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Agreed. If you are going into medicine, a visible tatoo is a really bad idea. That is a reality sandwich you are just going to have to eat.
 
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Unless you have a face tattoo, you can hide it whenever you want to.

Neck tattoo? Wear a turtleneck or a scarf

Forearm tattoo? Wear longsleeves on important days (or with a conservative boss)

Foot tattoo? Wear socks/shoes all the time (probably not a problem in the hospital, lol)

... but I would choose something more easily covered. Inner upper arm? Hip? Thigh? Back?
 
My tatoo didn't hurt my application cycle. Its really embarrassing though.

I have two, one on each wrist. The first says "courage" in a stylized cursive. The next is the embarrassing one. I meant to have it say "patience" but because I wasn't paying attention when I wrote it for the artist it reads "patients"

...at least its medical related right?
 
halethsonofhama said:
My tatoo didn't hurt my application cycle. Its really embarrassing though.

I have two, one on each wrist. The first says "courage" in a stylized cursive. The next is the embarrassing one. I meant to have it say "patience" but because I wasn't paying attention when I wrote it for the artist it reads "patients"

...at least its medical related right?
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This has to be a joke...😱. If it's not wow, I am so sorry!

But I'd like to add that I think you should get it, just not as visible as putting in on your forearm. I have two myself, one on my back and one on my ankle...the ankle one can be visible depending on the shoes, but I covered it throughout the interview trail and have yet to get one post-interview rejection. Do what makes you happy, just think about its positioning.
 
halethsonofhama said:
My tatoo didn't hurt my application cycle. Its really embarrassing though.

I have two, one on each wrist. The first says "courage" in a stylized cursive. The next is the embarrassing one. I meant to have it say "patience" but because I wasn't paying attention when I wrote it for the artist it reads "patients"

...at least its medical related right?
Click to expand...


can't you get another tattoo over it? or is it not that simple hah
 
So I've got a buddy in his third year and he's got a full sleeve. I asked him about it since I want a tat also and he said it hasn't been a problem at all for rotations. Either he can just cover it with a long sleeve shirt and even when he's in scrubs he hasn't been asked about it. There's other threads that have thoroughly discussed this topic so try a search, but honestly if you want one don't let what other people think of you stop you from doing it. People forget that doctors are people too and just cause we have to be serious and professional about our work that we don't have to be that way in all aspects of our lives.
 
... You guys know make-up can cover up tattoos, right? Works better for like, a neck tattoo than an arm tattoo, but works.
 
I noticed that many of the doctors in the ED have tattoos.

Kind of funny, reminds me of that comic of specialty stereotypes (I think the ED doc has some type of tattoo in there too).
 
I got my second tattoo a few days ago. It covers just under half my back. I cannot wait until it heals and I can get color added to it.
 
halethsonofhama said:
My tatoo didn't hurt my application cycle. Its really embarrassing though.

I have two, one on each wrist. The first says "courage" in a stylized cursive. The next is the embarrassing one. I meant to have it say "patience" but because I wasn't paying attention when I wrote it for the artist it reads "patients"

...at least its medical related right?
Click to expand...
...please tell me this is a joke.
 
If having the tattoo would mean something to you, then by all means get it. It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks.
 
halethsonofhama said:
My tatoo didn't hurt my application cycle. Its really embarrassing though.

I have two, one on each wrist. The first says "courage" in a stylized cursive. The next is the embarrassing one. I meant to have it say "patience" but because I wasn't paying attention when I wrote it for the artist it reads "patients"

...at least its medical related right?
Click to expand...
:laugh: Tell me that's the hand you shake with :xf:
 
I have three tattoos, but I've tried to get them all in places where they could be easily hidden - both of my feet and my right side/ribs. I personally wouldn't risk something visible, but I also would like to hope that the medical field will someday be less conservative.
 
HSUReddie said:
I have three tattoos, but I've tried to get them all in places where they could be easily hidden - both of my feet and my right side/ribs. I personally wouldn't risk something visible, but I also would like to hope that the medical field will someday be less conservative.
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Second.
 
While I agree with everyone who said getting a visible tattoo is not the greatest idea, I can't imagine any realistic situation in which a forearm tattoo would be difficult to cover up. Most doctors are going to be wearing professional attire, and even doctors that need to wear scrubs will typically have a lab coat over them (or a surgical gown). If there were ever a time when you would need to be in just scrubs with nothing else over them, I can't see how anyone would care at that point.
 
I want to get a tattoo on my leg, but I plan on keeping it small enough that I can slap a knee bandaid over it. There are a million ways to hide a tattoo, but having it in an area typically covered by clothes is your best bet.
 
After reading all these responses I feel even stupider for getting it on my neck.

I mean, its not big its like 14 font I would say and most people can't read or understand what it says. How many people read sanskrit these days? lol

I was also planning on going back to my country and have the monk do a protective spell down my back on my spine.

If you've seen Angelina Jolie's tattoo on her back its very similar. And I believe she went to a monk for that too. oh and Beckham has it too.
 
OP is obviously really creative and wants to express his/her individuality.
 
AsianPersuasion said:
After reading all these responses I feel even stupider for getting it on my neck.

QUOTE]


I wouldn't worry about it, there are a million ways to cover a tat up if you need to. Besides something like that is a conversation piece.
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AsianPersuasion said:
After reading all these responses I feel even stupider for getting it on my neck.

I mean, its not big its like 14 font I would say and most people can't read or understand what it says. How many people read sanskrit these days? lol

I was also planning on going back to my country and have the monk do a protective spell down my back on my spine.

If you've seen Angelina Jolie's tattoo on her back its very similar. And I believe she went to a monk for that too. oh and Beckham has it too.
Click to expand...

It could be worse..
martin.jpg
 
I'd agree with everyone else and get it in a less visible location.

I have 3 and none are visible in a tshirt + jeans.

Personally it wouldn't be an issue for me to see a doctor who has a tasteful visible tattoo, but sadly there are a lot of people with stupid unjustified prejudices you'll have to deal with, both patients and doctors. Sadly medicine adapts to social change at a glacial pace.
 
If it's on your forearm, you'll have it covered for all clinical activiites (white coat). It isn't a problem if it shows during class or out with your classmates. If it's somewhere else, it probably won't matter for some specialties (seen them on ER docs, psychiatrists, and, of course, pathologists who aren't seeing patients face-to-face too often). I think it would probably make you seem more relatable to some patients (your inner city ER or drug treatment facility).
For what it's worth, I will have some more-visible tattoos by my clinical years (still hidden by a white coat, long pants, and shoes). It wasn't a problem for friends on the wards who cover theirs' up (or even have tasteful ones showing)...
 
toff4l said:
Doctors frown upon tattoos. Some will tell you, some won't.

Don't do it.

When I see a tattoo, I see poor judgement or someone who is not thinking about the future because tattoos never look good when your skin starts to sag.
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Most doctors frown upon tattoos. For the most part, doctors will be interviewing you for acceptance into medical school.

Perhaps wait until you get into medical school until you get your tattoo?

Just a suggestion. I would play it safe and wait until I was a practicing doctor to get the tat.
 
AsianPersuasion said:
After reading all these responses I feel even stupider for getting it on my neck.

I mean, its not big its like 14 font I would say and most people can't read or understand what it says. How many people read sanskrit these days? lol
Click to expand...

If it means something to you, don't regret getting the tattoo. Yeah, being out of sight is obviously better, but I have an extremely conspicuous facial tattoo. It's not large, but conspicuous nonetheless.

Not one of my interviewers commented on it though I am 100% certain everyone noticed it. Even still, I do not feel it handicapped me, so to speak, during the application cycle--7 acceptances, 1 WL, no post-interview rejections.
 
I have 5 tattoos but, as most everyone has said, they are in locations where they can all be hidden while even in short sleeve scrubs (though my short sleeve may poke out a bit if I don't pay attention). If you love the idea, get it. Looks like people are doing fine in school with them. I've had a lot of doctors who were utterly shocked that I even had covered tattoos though... and my earrings as well.
 
Do what you want.
Just don't whine when a little old lady complains to your hospital's PR dept. that her doctor is a HepB+ biker.

There've been complaints launched for way stupider reasons- women in pants, men with scruff, bad breath.

On a different (and less snide) note, I know that cancer survivorship is huge to you and your identity right now, but do you want to have to explain your story EVERY TIME someone sees your forearm? You're going to get crazy and mildly offensive follow-up questions every time.
 
you guys cant be serious....well hope you guys get into a school and have luck in recruiting a patient base in the future
 
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