Back in '07 I had major back surgery from having scoliosis. Because of this I have a long, somewhat thick scar going down my whole back. Honestly, I'm not very happy with it because when it shows, I always get negative comments on it. One of my friends even said it looks like someone slashed a knife down my back.

Now, the question for you all:

Should I get a back tattoo to cover it up?

I'm not talking about a little one. I'm talking about my whole back. Originally, I was thinking about getting an animated looking koi fish later on in life. I am still undecided and I was wondering your opinions. Yes, I do plan to have a steady career in the future and I'm willing to be able to cover it up when needed.

Seeing that I'm the curious human being that I am...

Additional Questions:
+ How much pain will the tattoo process cause?
+ Will it hurt more or less since I have a scar?
+ What are your opinions on this specifically?
+ Has anyone had tattoo experience/experience with covering up scars?
+ Any artistic suggestions?


***
Please consider that I have a low pain tolerance, but am very determined about this.
Thank you all for your responses, suggestions, and opinions. <3

it makes me sad your friends give you negative comments when they see it.
me, personally, would not say anything unless you brought it up.
i, as being your friend, would be happy you are healthy and not in pain!!!!!
whew, that being said.....if it will make you feel less self consciense about your scar then by all means get one.
do a lot of research so you don't have buyers remorse, though.

i cannot help with the others questions.
i have a needle phobia so.....
i wish you good luck with what ever you decide, Lady Vengeance!!!!!

Whether or not to get the tattoo is up to you and you only. It's something you really should think about hard because it has to stay there forever, and if it's something you will end up finding ugly and regretting then basically you're going to make yourself suffer just to regret it.

As for pain, I have a pretty low pain tolerance too, yet I decided to have a tattoo on my upper back between my shoulder blades anyway, it's fairly large so yeah. It hurt, it hurt a lot. BUT, the colouring hurts less than the outlining, a lot less. It's actually a relief when they start the colouring parts. Also, the pain goes away pretty quickly afterwards, at least, it did for me. I think the problem with tattoos is everyone's experiences are different, everyone has completely different pain thresholds and different ways of dealing with pain.

I also think it's unfair that your friends would point it out like that. ):

I second that it's your choice and no one else. Also take you time in deciding. It's going to be there your whole life so you want something that you won't grow out of.

I got a tattoo to cover up a scar on my ankle. I mean, you can still see it through the ink but it's less noticeable. Just keep in mind that you will be able to still see it.

There is surgery that can lessen a scar. I had it done on my leg to lessen a surgery scar. There's still a scar but it's not as noticeable. Either way, it's your choice.

Thank you all so much. <3

What I meant by suggestions was to give me starter ideas on my tattoo.
I agree with you all that it should be something I'll absolutely love.
However, I didn't know that you would still be able to see the scar through it...

Mystic, what surgery is that? I've never heard of it before.

with the scar being in the middle of your back, what about a butterfly or angel wings?
or a design right down the middle of your back?
do a google search and see what you like.

Alot of tattoo artists, even extreemly experienced, will refuse to tattoo over scars because it can turn out really bad, you'll have to find someone who is happy to tattoo over the scar. As for low pain tollerence it's going to be really bad for you, long lines are going to be hell.

The best way I have ever heard someone describe the pain that goes with having a tattoo is it's like having your ears pierced over and over again. For me it was more an annoyance than a pain, yet for my friend it was like the desription mentioned before.


Have a good look at tattoo designs and go talk to tattoo artists they can give great advice not only on the tattooing but on a design and really have a good think about it because it's a major choice to make. As you
are going to have a big tattoo if you have it done in one go I'd say to ask about having it done in sections so you can have a rest from the pain.

Your friend or anyone else had no right in saying things like that to you.


When you do go make sure you take a sugary drink or some chocolate and if you can find someone to go with you at least then if you do have a bit of a funny moment then you're not on your own. I know my friend was so glad that I had hard boiled sweets with me after she'd had her tattoo done.

@Lady Vengeance: It's just cosmetic surgery to remove the scar tissue then resew it up to reduce the amount of tissue in the area. In my case, it was all the way down my leg and the width of a screw since that's what I sliced my leg open on. Now it's thinner and a lot lighter so it's barley there at all. I would go with a surgeon who knows about cosmetic surgery if you go with that option though.

Since you've said you have a low pain tolerance, it will probably be pretty painful. Not that that should deter you if you really want to get it. Spots on the spine will hurt a bit more and as Him said, long lines will hurt.
The way someone described it for me was rubbing the edge of your fingernail on your arm over and over in the same spot, just back and forth. After a certain amount of time, the feeling is pretty annoying. And long lines made me feel like someone just took a hot scalpel and started slicing. But, when it's all said and done, if it's what you really want, you'll endure it and it will be fine.

I've had more than one scar tattooed over and each one was different. I barely felt a thing on some of the larger, deeper ones, but they were also pretty much numb due to the nerves dying. How sensitive is your scar? Also, keeping in mind the texture of the scar is a good idea. The smoother and flatter it is, the better the needle can navigate the tissue. If the scar is hard, bumpy or more raised, you should plan an image that could maybe utilize the texture and won't be too reliant on detail on the scar itself.

Anyway, on to the tattoo itself. What sort of things are you interested in? Any images, animals, icons or the like that mean something to you? It would make it easier for people to give artistic suggestions if you gave a general direction other than the Koi. Koi are pretty, but there are only so many things you can do with them.

Also, forgive me if I am out of line here, but have you ever thought of a design that incorporates the scar? I personally don't think you should be ashamed of your scar, but proud. It may not look pretty, but it's a testament to a battle fought and won, ne?

I think Kage has given some good suggestions, including incorporating the scar. :) HIM also has a good point: consult some tattoo artists. :)

Thank you all so much! I've really been thinking about the surgery as well (Mystic), and I'm pretty sure I want the tattoo.
However I hope I don't feel like I'm being sliced open like Ikuto said. xD
I'll remember to bring sugary treats with me too! c: (HIM)
and Kage, I'll be sure to try and incorporate it.
Thank you all for your suggestions again, I'll make sure to put an update later on! :D

Haha. Just try to distract yourself from focusing too much on the pain/annoyance! Though it hurt and I swore afterward I wouldn't do it again, I would. :lol:
As I'm sure others have said, depends on the tattoo artist as well. The second guy I had was a bit rough and seemed heavy-handed. > A>;

No tattoo can fully hide a scar. And low pain tolerance? You won't be able to do a large tattoo unless you're willing to shell out more money for multiple sessions.

If you want to have your scars tattooed over, you'll want to make sure that the tattoo artist is an experienced one. When tattooing over scar tissue, you want to be extra careful of the artist that you choose because the last thing that you want to do is make a simple scar a huge mistake that you can't really take away.

The texture of scar tissue is different than the texture of regular skin tissue, making it more difficult to successfully tattoo over, which is why if you don't already have a trustworthy and experienced tattoo artist that you regularly see, you'll want to shop around a bit.

Also, remember that when getting a tattoo over scar tissue, you want to pick a fairly simple design, as the more detailed the tattoo, the more probability that there will be flaws due to the scar.

I also have scoliosis and if I had it to the degree that I would need surgery and get a scar I'd not get a tattoo. The bigger ones look tacky. Screw the people that want to comment on it. They shouldn't say anything unless you ask.

Using tattoos to cover up scars can be very effective, HOWEVER, the ink may not react with the scar tissue well, and it might lose color so you might need to get it touched up a few times before it looks right.

As for general 'getting a tat' advice.
Whatever you want a tattoo of...put it in a place where you'll see it every day for a year.
If you like it still at the end of the year, go for it.
Also, visit several tattoo places, and talk to the artists...ask lots of questions!
And then ask to see their bathroom. If it's dirty...don't go there!

Sorry to hear about your scar, I'm actually thinking about doing the same thing. My scar is small, so a tattoo would be very easy to cover it up. I've got 2 tattoos, they didn't hurt at all, I've also got a piercing, which also didn't hurt.

If you're up for a Koi, I bet it would look really nice. I would like to see it as well.

One major thing you have to account for is money. The bigger and more detail a piece is, the more it'll cost. Also you'll have to live with it for the rest of your life.

I say go for it, I love beautiful art on beautiful women.

hummy would love to see a koi as well.
but buttefly or dragonfly is a pretty image too.

You shouldn't cover it up unless you really want too. The scar is a part of you and part of what you have over come in your life. Its an entirely personal choice though and It would be wrong of someone to influence you simply because of a cosmetic reason.

Originally Posted by Saira Bellus

You shouldn't cover it up unless you really want too. The scar is a part of you and part of what you have over come in your life. Its an entirely personal choice though and It would be wrong of someone to influence you simply because of a cosmetic reason.

She stated, "Honestly, I'm not very happy with it because when it shows, I always get negative comments on it. One of my friends even said it looks like someone slashed a knife down my back."

I really don't think she views it as a reminder of what she overcame, a tattoo can do that as well. Every tattoo should have a story to tell, not just, "I just got it just because."

Originally Posted by Lady Vengeance

Additional Questions:
+ How much pain will the tattoo process cause?
+ Will it hurt more or less since I have a scar?
+ What are your opinions on this specifically?
+ Has anyone had tattoo experience/experience with covering up scars?
+ Any artistic suggestions?
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I think I've answered most of these questions, but if I missed any, I'll do it again.

-Honestly tattoos can be painful or painless, it depends on where it's located. I've noticed that if it's a fatty area, or near a bone, you'll feel it a bit more. If it's on muscle, then you'll feel it less. I've gotten a tattoo on my chest, didn't hurt on the meaty part, but when it hit my collar bone, it stung a bit. The pain is temporary, the art (if good) is a story to tell for a lifetime.
-I still haven't gotten a tattoo on a scar, so I can't answer this question...
-I say go for it... I know I did forget to mention something... Do your homework on the artist as well as the studio. Find out how long the artist takes, how good they are, if they match the style you want, how long they've been tattooing, and how long they were apprenticing... It's basically like an interview for them. As for the studio, find out how much they usually charge, how sterile the place is, hours of availability (especially if you think there may be something wrong with your piece, so you can go to them and verify you're good), and last, but most importantly... Each artist has a certain way they'd recommend on taking care of your fresh art. This is the time where the tattoo will look vibrant and great, get infected, or somewhere in between.

Aftercare instructions should be fallowed to accordingly. Never go to an artist that says to constantly keep it covered, fresh skin needs fresh air. Fallow the recommendations of the artist on how often it should be cleaned. My first artist said 3-5 times a day, my second one (I moved) said 2-3 times a day. They will all say the same thing, never scratch it.

-Like I said, I have no experience on it covering a scar.
-I drew my own tattoo, and I also had my brother's drawing on me. Honestly, it's all on you on what you want... If you want to see my tattoo that I drew, it is here (it's fresh, 5 mins after I got it).