Tattoos, Tattoos, Tattoos?

[eagerinsight]

One of my fathers friends is an ex-adcom and a retired MD, he id the nicest guy in the world and one of our families closest friends. He now lives 1000 miles away and visits he and our families during the holidays. Ever time I talk to him I pick his brain, ask for insider tips, how can I make my self stand out, etc.. The funny thing is, he has never seen me in a short sleeve shirt. Well I have a few large tattoos, all of which are on my arms and shoulders. Mostly on the lateral portion of my upper arm (nothing below my elbow), most continue on to my traps. When he saw a part of one he gave this weird look and asked me to show him the rest. After he saw them he had a strange look on his face and his tone changed. Long story short he told me to wear long sleeves through med school and avoid reveling my art work to the adcom or in any text when I apply. Should I just try hiding them until I'm accepted somewhere, then find out the repercussions of them when I'm in med school? Or should I start having them removed. Do you think a patient would be offended by a doctor with visible tattoos? FYI all my tattoos were done before I decided to head do the medical pathway.

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[Jolie South]

For now, you should do what you can to hide them at interviews. This shouldn't be too hard if you wear a suit with a buttondown shirt underneath.

As for the future, I would wait until you get to med school before you start considering removing them. However, from what I understand, medicine is a fairly conservative profession and I doubt that tattoos would be highly regarded.

Maybe some others, who are further along in their studies, can offer suggestions in that area.

 

[tulane06]

One of my fathers friends is an ex-adcom and a retired MD, he id the nicest guy in the world and one of our families closest friends. He now lives 1000 miles away and visits he and our families during the holidays. Ever time I talk to him I pick his brain, ask for insider tips, how can I make my self stand out, etc.. The funny thing is, he has never seen me in a short sleeve shirt. Well I have a few large tattoos, all of which are on my arms and shoulders. Mostly on the lateral portion of my upper arm (nothing below my elbow), most continue on to my traps. When he saw a part of one he gave this weird look and asked me to show him the rest. After he saw them he had a strange look on his face and his tone changed. Long story short he told me to wear long sleeves through med school and avoid reveling my art work to the adcom or in any text when I apply. Should I just try hiding them until I'm accepted somewhere, then find out the repercussions of them when I'm in med school? Or should I start having them removed. Do you think a patient would be offended by a doctor with visible tattoos? FYI all my tattoos were done before I decided to head do the medical pathway.

As a general rule, tats are fine as long as they are not visible if you are wearing normal clothing. If they are close to the elbow or below the part where a short sleeve shirt ends, that may be a problem. The stuff on your shoulders and back is fine because nobody knows it's there. I have seen a couple of docs in the ER and medics with forearm tattoos, but that's about it. Good luck.

 

[Textuality]

I wouldn't get them removed unless the school you matruculate too has a strict policy against them. The removal process is very painful and expensive.

Also, your tattoos sound pretty concealable, it will probably be ok. I know quite a few current med students who have tattoos. While medicine is very conservative, tattoos are becoming more and more mainstream and losing their taboo. I don't think it's anything to freak out about.

 

[Paulz]

It depends what kind of tattoos you have.

If you have a tattoo on your bicep of something sentimental or on your chest or leg, it won't be that big of deal.

If you have tear drop tattoos under you eyes, writing on your neck, or an entire sleve of the grim reaper and flames going down your entrire arm, that could cause some problems.

I have one on my back and am planning to get a big one on my stomach/back, and on my chest. I am not worried since I can cover them all up when I need to and none of them are too extreme.

 

[Beau Geste]

at this thread

 

[sunny1]

I think it will all depend on where you end up practicing in terms of having to always keep them covered or not. I only have an anecdote...but yeah, the medical field tends to be conservative.

For your interview to get into med school, most definitely keep that stuff covered up. And in general, I think it would be good to keep them covered up at work or in front of patients by simply wearing longer sleeves. I don't see any reason to have them professionally removed however!

 

[Maxprime]

Many schools have a dress code for med students that includes no visible tattoos. Hide them during interviews and ask them after acceptance - cross the laser-burning-ink-off-skin bridge when you get to it. 🙂

I always thought it'd be kind of cool to get a small Caduceus on a shoulder blade or something when you graduate med school. I assume everyone else will hate the idea, but tattoos are a personal thing (when hidden).

 

[Bond8204]

Many schools have a dress code for med students that includes no visible tattoos. Hide them during interviews and ask them after acceptance - cross the laser-burning-ink-off-skin bridge when you get to it. 🙂

I always thought it'd be kind of cool to get a small Caduceus on a shoulder blade or something when you graduate med school. I assume everyone else will hate the idea, but tattoos are a personal thing (when hidden).

Haha! I've actually thought the same thing. I would get a Rod of Asclepius (single snake), though. I wouldn't want it to be much bigger than an inch, 1.5 inches as well and would go on my ankle or shoulder or something. It's never something I'm going to do, but if I HAD to get a tattoo and was in medical school I would do that. 😀

 

[Maxprime]

Haha! I've actually thought the same thing. I would get a Rod of Asclepius (single snake), though. I wouldn't want it to be much bigger than an inch, 1.5 inches as well and would go on my ankle or shoulder or something. It's never something I'm going to do, but if I HAD to get a tattoo and was in medical school I would do that. 😀

I also thought it'd be cool to get a tattoo of the Netter/Grey image on top of your favorite anatomical structure. Either that or go all out - do it to your full body and never miss another anatomy question.

 

[LaMusicienne]

... avoid reveling my art work to the adcom...

Did you plan to anyway?

"Hey doc, check this out!" *rolls up suit sleeve*

 

[eagerinsight]

Originally I got my first tattoo, because of a misinterpretation of the general solution for phobias. My psychiatrist told me "you have to face your fear in order to adapt or overcome your normal reaction". My phobia is called [SIZE=-1]Coulrophobia, the fear of clowns. When I was younger whenever I saw a clown, I would sometimes faint on cower and become very rigid. It was bad enough that my doctor had to medicate. In high school my solution was to tattoo the most evil picture of a clown on my body, so I would have to see it often. So I have an evil clown like the clown in "IT", with sharp teeth and fire for hair, its looks good. My fear is now at the point when I see clowns I get goose bumps, thats about it. PS I was the victim of an attempted robbery by a clown on Halloween, I fought back and the clown was taken to the hospital before being arrested!
[/SIZE]

 

[eagerinsight]

Did you plan to anyway?

"Hey doc, check this out!" *rolls up suit sleeve*

Not reveal it in that manner, the background behind some my tattoos will probably find their way into some portion of my application. I guess I worded the question incorrectly.

 

[Maxprime]

Originally I got my first tattoo, because of a misinterpretation of the general solution for phobias. My psychiatrist told me "you have to face your fear in order to adapt or overcome your normal reaction". My phobia is called [SIZE=-1]Coulrophobia, the fear of clowns. When I was younger whenever I saw a clown, I would sometimes faint on cower and become very rigid. It was bad enough that my doctor had to medicate. In high school my solution was to tattoo the most evil picture of a clown on my body, so I would have to see it often. So I have an evil clown like the clown in "IT", with sharp teeth and fire for hair, its looks good. My fear is now at the point when I see clowns I get goose bumps, thats about it. PS I was the victim of an attempted robbery by a clown on Halloween, I fought back and the clown was taken to the hospital before being arrested!
[/SIZE]

Wow - that could be the scariest sounding tattoo ever. Getting a tattoo like that with a fear of clowns requires a pretty big pair - you didn't have nightmares of it taking over your body or anything? :squirm:

 

[Law2Doc]

Many schools have a dress code for med students that includes no visible tattoos.

Yep. Keep your self expression under your clothes and you are fine.

 

[Law2Doc]

In high school my solution was to tattoo the most evil picture of a clown on my body, so I would have to see it often. So I have an evil clown like the clown in "IT", with sharp teeth and fire for hair, its looks good.

Should come in handy if you go into Peds.🙂

 

[Textuality]

FOr those of you (like me) who are considering tattoos. Check out the soon to be released FDA approved ink: Freedom 2 tattoo ink 🙂 It's safer to use , and safer to remove.

 

[Blade28]

Hmmm...what are you going to do when you wear scrubs? Sometimes the sleeves end just above the elbows.

 

[XerxesOfPersia]

Hmmm...what are you going to do when you wear scrubs? Sometimes the sleeves end just above the elbows.

i have a tattoo on my bicep that could show when i wear scrubs. aren't there some with extra-long sleeves?

i also got another on my forehead that says "trust me, i'm a doctor." no use in covering that one up

 

[SigurRos]

HAHA xerxes that was the best episode ever

 

[Law2Doc]

i have a tattoo on my bicep that could show when i wear scrubs. aren't there some with extra-long sleeves?

Sure long sleeved scrubs exist (although not the most sanitary -- you are supposed to wash your whole forearm when scrubbing in), but are you going to want to buy and clean your own rather than use the free ones everyone else in the hospital is using?

 

[XerxesOfPersia]

Sure long sleeved scrubs exist (although not the most sanitary -- you are supposed to wash your whole forearm when scrubbing in), but are you going to want to buy and clean your own rather than use the free ones everyone else in the hospital is using?

this isn't something i've thought a lot about, but i would probably use the ones provided for free for the reasons you just mentioned. i was just curious if they exist and if people use them. i suppose i'll cross that bridge when i get there

 

[eagerinsight]

I'll wrap it in a bandage(sterile) and tell patients it was a golfing accident.

 

[pakbabydoll]

i also got another on my forehead that says "trust me, i'm a doctor." no use in covering that one up

Hey I have that shirt! No one thought it was funny at the hospital. I wore it once when I went to see when I was working next and this nurse said, "you are too young to be a doctor" so I was like yea, but its a joke and she says, " then how are we suppose to trust you if you are lying now".


OP they are your tats, just keep them if you like them. Don't remove them just because of med school. Most of the time you'll be wearning a lab coat so they won't show. Unless you plan on showing them your art work, I don't think patients will care.

 

[gobears2007]

this may sound lame, but in my opinion, if you have gotten a tattoo for the right reasons, and it means something to you, then it becomes a part of you. the only reason i've never gotten one is that i can never come up with something significant enough to me to become part of my body. you can always cover them up, or hide them if you end up working in a conservative area or with a conservative patient population. but don't give up a tattoo if you don't want to.

 

[onslaught61]

That's why I got one on my back! lol. Once you get into med school you should be fine. I doubt there's people who are gonna look down on you cause of that. As long as you personally come off as a nice person, most people won't focus on some ink.

 

[Bre]

You could just wear a long sleeved shirt under the short sleeved scrubs, right? I guess that would still be a problem when it comes to scrubbing in for surgery but that is only for one rotation.

 

[smq123]

You could just wear a long sleeved shirt under the short sleeved scrubs, right? I guess that would still be a problem when it comes to scrubbing in for surgery but that is only for one rotation.

If you plan on setting foot inside the OR suite without getting your head ripped off - no. No long-sleeved shirts under scrub tops!

 

[Blade28]

i have a tattoo on my bicep that could show when i wear scrubs. aren't there some with extra-long sleeves?

Scrubs tops (and bottoms) come in different sizes, so longer sleeves means a bigger top. 🙂

You could just wear a long sleeved shirt under the short sleeved scrubs, right? I guess that would still be a problem when it comes to scrubbing in for surgery but that is only for one rotation.

Don't forget OB/GYN!

 

[Bre]

If you plan on setting foot inside the OR suite without getting your head ripped off - no. No long-sleeved shirts under scrub tops!

That's why the second part of my post said it wouldn't work during ones surgery rotation.

 

[smq123]

That's why the second part of my post said it wouldn't work during ones surgery rotation.

As Blade28 pointed out - it also won't work during your OB/gyn and surgical elective rotations.

When else are you going to wear scrubs? You can't wear them during family med, peds, or psych. You can only wear them while on-call during internal med - but my school doesn't let you wear scrubs when you're post call. You have to bring real clothes to change into before rounds the next morning. You might wear scrubs during your SICU/ICU elective (maybe - I wouldn't necessarily bet on it), but, even then, you have to cover it up with your white coat anyway.

 

[JAG to Doc]

Here is something not quite on point but involves a tattoo and a surgical resident:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071220/ap_on_fe_st/odd_tattoo_photo;_ylt=AuPd_Oz4VHwm.5.aVXv_qfGs0NUE

 

[VelaenOscuridad]

I'm assuming you're a guy from the tone of these posts, but maybe this style is okay for men too. There are three-quarter length sleeves that go just past the elbow, so they won't be a problem for scrubbing in and will just barely cover your tattoos. I have a ton of them, though again they may not be the fashion for men (if that is indeed who you are!).

Definitely don't remove them, unless you dislike them for some other reason. Once you become a full-fledged doctor, you may choose a specialty or location that is less conservative, and maybe some of your patients will even feel more at ease that their doctors have tattoos. A doctor who can identify with his/her patients in such an obvious way could be pretty valuable for those who have the conception that physicians are just stuck-up rich people who don't care about the "everyman."

I'd still recommend covering them up for interviews, though, just because people tend to have prejudices about tattoos. You wouldn't want an extra-conservative interviewer to assume you are a delinquent and spend the entire half hour defending yourself.

 

[LikeClockWork]

...[SIZE=-1]When I was younger whenever I saw a clown, I would sometimes faint on cower and become very rigid...So I have an evil clown like the clown in "IT", with sharp teeth and fire for hair, its looks good. [/SIZE]

"Can't sleep. Clown will eat me. Can't sleep. Clown will eat me..."

 

[Blade28]

I'm assuming you're a guy from the tone of these posts, but maybe this style is okay for men too. There are three-quarter length sleeves that go just past the elbow, so they won't be a problem for scrubbing in and will just barely cover your tattoos. I have a ton of them, though again they may not be the fashion for men (if that is indeed who you are!).

There are? 😕

Wait, are those sleeves the three-quarter-length style similar to capris instead of pants? Those extend too far down your arm, IMHO.

Normally, a scrub top's sleeves don't even get to the elbow! That's why undershirts tend to stick out.

 

[Law2Doc]

There are? 😕

Wait, are those sleeves the three-quarter-length style similar to capris instead of pants? Those extend too far down your arm, IMHO.

Normally, a scrub top's sleeves don't even get to the elbow! That's why undershirts tend to stick out.

Lots of hospitals are pushing to ban the undershirts (or any form of street clothes) other than scrubs going into the OR. And lots of pushing to ban wearing scrubs outside of the surgical suite. Expect attire to get more and more regulated as MRSA becomes a bigger and bigger news story. Which may make it harder and harder to hide the scary clown tattoos.

 

[AsclepiusI]

During medical school I plan on getting a full back piece done (an asclepius where the rod is the length of my spine), and I can't imagine anyone seeing that unless one day I crack under the pressure, decide to disrobe completely and go sprinting across campus cackling like a mad woman and reciting the different bones of the foot in alphabetical order. At that point, though, I think the fact that I have visible ink will be the least of my worries.

 

[indiamacbean]

first of all don't have them removed. no one will give a crap about them when you are in med. school and beyond. a whole bunch of my residency classmates at UCSF have tattoos and good friends from med. school went such crappy places as harvard/hopkins for residency with full sleeves and the like. I think you should take it to the next level and get knuckles: DONO HARM. now that would be something...

 

[Geekchick921]

Lots of hospitals are pushing to ban the undershirts (or any form of street clothes) other than scrubs going into the OR. And lots of pushing to ban wearing scrubs outside of the surgical suite. Expect attire to get more and more regulated as MRSA becomes a bigger and bigger news story. Which may make it harder and harder to hide the scary clown tattoos.

Um... aren't undershirts underwear? Are they going to be banning bras as well?

I'm sure anyone on the other side of the bed from a female caregiver leaning over a patient will be all broken up about that. 😉

 

[McPoyle]

people keep bringing up the OR, aren't people generally in gowns in the OR? If so this issue would only arrise when scrubbing in, in which case you are theoretically out of sight of the pt correct?

 

[Blade28]

Lots of hospitals are pushing to ban the undershirts (or any form of street clothes) other than scrubs going into the OR. And lots of pushing to ban wearing scrubs outside of the surgical suite. Expect attire to get more and more regulated as MRSA becomes a bigger and bigger news story. Which may make it harder and harder to hide the scary clown tattoos.

Yeah, some hospitals here have already banned undershirts.

Um... aren't undershirts underwear? Are they going to be banning bras as well?

I think tank tops and bras for females are OK. It's the sleeves that are causing the problem.

 

[smq123]

people keep bringing up the OR, aren't people generally in gowns in the OR? If so this issue would only arrise when scrubbing in, in which case you are theoretically out of sight of the pt correct?

You're not always going to be gowned in the OR. As a student, there might not be room for you, or you might not be needed. But you will still have to be there - sitting in the corner, watching the action.

Plus, you should physically be in the operating room when the patient is brought in - and it's a good idea to help the nurses get the patient settled in and ready. So you'll be standing around in short-sleeved scrub tops for a fair amount of time.

While patient opinion is important, resident/attending opinion is equally important. If your resident or attending doesn't "approve" of people with tattoos, you'll never hear the end of it.

I think tank tops and bras for females are OK. It's the sleeves that are causing the problem.

Tank tops are okay as long as they're pretty low cut and stay tucked in - and as long as the nurses at your institution aren't crazily strict. One of the sharper-eyed charge nurses saw one under my friend's scrub top, and flipped out.

 

[Textuality]

"Almost a fourth of men and women between age 18 and 50 currently sport a tattoo, and almost 15 percent have at least one body piercing, according to a survey from Northwestern University. Survey results were published in the June issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology....36 percent of people aged 18 to 29; 24 percent of those aged 30 to 40; and only 15 percent of those aged 40 to 50 had tattoos. Sixteen percent had obtained their first tattoo before age18."

I feel like the trend is that tattoos are becoming more acceptable, which I think is great. I've always like the personal, spiritual side of having a tattoo that means something to you. Haha, I also love to do artwork (painting, sketching, etc) and would love to have a design that I've put a lot of thought into tattooed (I've actually designed a few of my friends' tattoos). My only problem is that I'd want it somewhere where I can see it...which means I don't really want it on my back. I would preferably want to get it on the inside of my forearm, and this would make it obviously visible in short sleeves (still hide-able in full suit attire), but the design's small, tasteful, and somewhat cultural (not sure if that matters to them, but it has meaning for me) so hopefully it wouldn't piss off my attending that much.

I'll probably ask the med school and their associate hospital about the tattoo policy before I get any work done. I think it's a shame to have to give up something that means something to me, and that I've been planning and designing for the last 4 years at least, but these are just some of the sacrifices we make I suppose. 🙁

 

[Drogba]

I've always thought the genitals were a prime locations for that rod of asclepius tattoo so many pre-meds want to get in med school. I don't know... that's just me. Just don't get your last name tattooed across your back.

 

[TexasTriathlete]

I was thinking about just getting the snakes tattooed on my wang, making my wang itself the rod of asclepius

 

[Drogba]

I was thinking about just getting the snakes tattooed on my wang, making my wang itself the rod of asclepius

Very inventive. Kudos.

 

[Law2Doc]

"Almost a fourth of men and women between age 18 and 50 currently sport a tattoo, and almost 15 percent have at least one body piercing, according to a survey from Northwestern University. Survey results were published in the June issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology....36 percent of people aged 18 to 29; 24 percent of those aged 30 to 40; and only 15 percent of those aged 40 to 50 had tattoos. Sixteen percent had obtained their first tattoo before age18."

I feel like the trend is that tattoos are becoming more acceptable, which I think is great.

Bear in mind that medicine is a rather conservative profession and the percentage of folks who go the professional road and have tattoos is likely much lower than the national trend. So if 25% of folks have a tattoo but only, say, 5-10% of premeds, it still is a very small minority. Also I think there's a big difference between the folks who get a small tattoo on their back during their college years because they are drinking and want to seem cool/trendy and the folks who get lots of ink or scary clown faces in more visible parts of their anatomy. The latter is a tiny tiny minority in the medical profession. In med school you pretty much have to hook up with someone to ever know if they have a tattoo.

Almost every hospital I'm familiar with has a handbook which frowns on visible tattoos, certain piercings, and hair colors not seen in nature. At some med schools they actually lecture to the students what is and isn't acceptable when you wander into the wards. If you already have a tattoo, figure out a way to keep it covered. If you don't have one, have it placed someplace that is invisible when clothed. That's the price you pay for joining a conservative profession. Years from now when you are in charge you can try to change the rules. Bear in mind that what folks in their 20s are doing these days don't filter into the rules and handbooks for about 30 years. Right now the folks who went to med school decades ago are making the rules and the patients are even older than them on average.

 

[Textuality]

Haha, I know, I certainly don't expect tattoos to be that prevalent among attendings and what not. The increase in tattooing is just a trend that I'm enjoying, and I feel like if the new F2 ink is a success, you'll be seeing more and more of it.

 

[pagemmapants]

I also thought it'd be cool to get a tattoo of the Netter/Grey image on top of your favorite anatomical structure. Either that or go all out - do it to your full body and never miss another anatomy question.

Some guy in my class actually did this over his right scapula. Muscles and everything, with names.

 

[pagemmapants]

Haha, I know, I certainly don't expect tattoos to be that prevalent among attendings and what not. The increase in tattooing is just a trend that I'm enjoying, and I feel like if the new F2 ink is a success, you'll be seeing more and more of it.

Are you referring to "Freedom-2" ink?

My PI for next year is one of their "Scientific Advisory Committee" members. 👍