Anyone Tattoo Over Their Scars?

I want to get a toucan on my chest. The long beak will cover both scars, and the body would go down the right half of my chest. Then I can add branches, leaves, vines.

Ah, someday. I'm only two months out of my BMX.

Hi everyone, I wanted to refresh this thread. I'm thinking of getting a tattoo. My problem is that my surgeon and I had a miscommunication. He thought I was going to have reconstruction later on so he left me all this excess skin. I wanted to be completely flat as I was planning on a tattoo. Now I have to wait to get the excess skin removed, and then start the wait to get the tattoo! Frustrating.

I've read thru all your posts and I'm wondering who was able to get their tattoo. I'm wondering how it went and if anyone had any problems with infection or lymphedema.

I too, want to have a a tattoo on my chest and shoulder, but had conflicting advice about time frame. One artist said 2 years and the other said 5 after surgery.

There is a lovely lady who posts on here named Mirmirpanda, who is a tattoo artist. She may see this thread and join in to answer some of the questions.

I saw a beautiful Peacock tattoo recently, I wonder if it belongs to the member who posted here.

I know I had reconstruction, but I'm jumping in here because I have other tattoos, and I'm working on finishing up an arm sleeve. I had multiple scars on my arm and they were flat and silver and the tattoos covered them up fine you can only see them in a certain kind of light.

edited to add:, I was originally going to do two arm sleeves but because of my removal of 14 lymph nodes I have to leave that arm and side alone.

Hi glennie19,

Opinions seem to vary about how long you should wait. You might find Denise's Story at BreastFree.org interesting. She heard various opinions and wound up waiting 2 years. She has been very happy with her result. There's a link to a photo of her tattoo at the end of the story.

I am three years out from a mastectomy with no reconstruction. I have no desire to undergo surgery but would love a tattoo. Is there anyone who had lymph nodes removed who has gotten tattoos and can comment about lymphedema? I had 4 removed and others "melted away" during chemo, so I am curious about the experiences others have had. Thanks a bunch

Thank you, glennie. I hope you are doing well!

I have a big long scar on my arm from surgery that's at least 15 years old. I've been tattooing that arm in the last few years and found that the scar didn't take ink very well. It's ok, but not perfect and you can notice "blur" there. Not as bad as blowout blur, but ink running into weird places along the scar tissue. My guy did a little scar test first to see if it was acceptable. If not, it'd end up being a blurry freckle. If I was ok with the blur, he'd go ahead. Might be a good idea to do a little test run before doing a big piece, especially if you expect perfection. I don't think it's something you could touch up if you're unhappy, just because it would double the tissue injury. Having said that, arm skin is a lot tougher than chest skin so maybe it wouldn't even be an issue on the chest??? I'd still do a test run.