Tattoos

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GrandmaWolf
GrandmaWolf Member Posts: 88
edited June 2014 in Life After Breast Cancer
Tattoos
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  • GrandmaWolf
    GrandmaWolf Member Posts: 88
    edited July 2011

    It's been 3 years now since my 2nd dx with another breast cancer, and since the bi lateral mastectomy.  At my age it just didn't seem worth it to me to go through the pain of reconstruction, especially when the implant would have no more feeling than my prothesis.  I don't regret that decision a bit.  The Breast Free website was very helpful in helping me to an understanding decision.  HOwever, now I see these pictures of woman who use the blank slate of their chest for skin art.  Someof it is amazing, and I'd like to know more.  Who is reliable to go to?  Is it extremely painful? Has anyone had experience?   I haven't found any conversations on this, so I will start this as a new topic, under moving beyond cancer.    Thanks to any feed back anyone can provide.

    Dakota, aka GrandmaWolf

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited July 2011

    Hi Dakota,

    I can only tell you of my own, and friends' experiences with tattooing, but none of us have had it done on the chest area. It seems that the degree of pain is determined by both the location and one's own pain tolerance. For example, my last tattoo is across my low back and it wasn't too painful. Same with one that I have on the back of my shoulder and one on my hip. Still, there was definitely pain for each of them. If it's extensive work, you sort of get numb to it and you just feel sore. Unfortunately, the flatter surfaces (i'e., the ones with little or no fat) are the most painful. Even the arm tattoos, if done on hard muscle, are a little hard to take. So I guess I'm saying that, unless you are actually numb in the area where you had the surgery, it is likely to hurt a bit and maybe even alot. The good news, of course, is that it passes and you're left with some beautiful ink! Scheduling it in small doses and taking ibuprofen an hour before the work would make it easier, I should think.

    Good luck! I bet it will be gorgeous if you decide to go for it!

    ~Marin

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  • Laurie08
    Laurie08 Member Posts: 2,891
    edited July 2011

    I had areola tattoos after recon and can say it was not like getting a real tattoo for me.  I have a couple of small tattoos and the pain was not the same.  I lost most of the feeling in my chest so he did it with no numbing agent, I could feel it, it was uncomfortable but nothing to make you yell out or wince.  With out recon I don't know if you have more sensation or not?  But mine took about an hour and it really was no big deal pain wise.  Worth it if it is something you want.  He offered me a topical cream, I never felt bad enough that I needed it.  (I do have a high pain threshold though.)

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  • GrandmaWolf
    GrandmaWolf Member Posts: 88
    edited July 2011

    Thanks to both of you. FitChik and Laurie08.   Your responses gave me some perspective to go on.  I do have a high threshold of pain, and there is a degree of numbness on my chest but I need to consider carefully if it will be worth it.

    I think I may get a couple temporary tattoos to get a sense if the real thing will be worth it.  It just seems a tattoo will fill the void of a blank flat chest.

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