When to get your first tattoo?

Pudgebrownie
Pudgebrownie Posts: 73
in Health and Weight Loss
I assume that the ideal time to get your first tattoo would be once you achieve your weight loss goal. That said, how long would you recommend "maintenance" before getting inked? Six months? A year? A year and a half? Two years? Any personal experiences or thoughts on the matter?
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Replies

  • Austin1988
    Austin1988 Posts: 243 Member
    Whenever you want.
  • nikilovesaxl
    nikilovesaxl Posts: 148
    I got my first tattoo for my sixteenth birthday. I'm twenty one now. You get your first tattoo whenever you're ready. I don't understand what you mean by maintenance,haha. There really isn't any "maintenance". There is aftercare, ofcourse, but they'll explain that to you when you get your ink done.
  • Lina4Lina
    Lina4Lina Posts: 712 Member
    I have no plans of any tattooing but if you are trying to get a tattoo where you might have 'loose' skin, you should probably wait 3 years as that is about the time it should take for things to firm up plus regain tends to happen within the first year or 2.
  • tajmel
    tajmel Posts: 401 Member
    I just tattooed my wrist to avoid deformation haha.

    It depends on where you want the tattoo. I personally would never get a tattoo in an area that frequently changes shape - stomach, low back, etc.
  • tyrantduck
    tyrantduck Posts: 387 Member
    i got mine when i was almost 19 and i was overweight then. i've gained weight over the years and have gotten two more since. my skin is still good enough to shrink back when i continue to lose weight and all my tattoos are in spots with tighter skin anyway (lower back, upper back/shoulders, inner arm under the wrist). none of them have stretched or anything... but i'm waiting to get my next one when i officially lose 40 pounds (halfway there!).

    There's really no absolutely perfect time to get your first tattoo, except when you absolutely know what you want and where. The rest really doesn't matter.
  • FeatherBoBeather
    FeatherBoBeather Posts: 255 Member
    I think it definitely depends on where on your body you're wanting it. :-)
    stomach/hips etc might be the only places I'd personally wait until I was at goal to get.. that is if I wanted a tat there xD
    Otherwise most places on the body don't stretch or change general shape when losing weight. At least in my experience.
  • chivalryder
    chivalryder Posts: 4,391 Member
    Never sounds good to me.
  • RoseAmongThorns91
    RoseAmongThorns91 Posts: 215 Member
    I think maintenance should be based on the tattoo. For example, my shoulder one can get maintenance whenever but if I had one on my ribs and I'm trying to lose weight, then maybe weight. It's up to you.


    Nikilovesaxl - maintenance is when the tattoo fades or the original artist didn't fill in all the corners and needs touching up.
  • AmyBeth719
    AmyBeth719 Posts: 184 Member
    Whenever you are comfortable with getting it. It's permanent so you want to be comfortable with it, not depending on others. It took me 3 years of thinking to get my first one. ;o) I contemplate everything...
  • jpaw1002
    jpaw1002 Posts: 322 Member
    you dont have to do it on a weightloss goal. i was going to do that for my first one, but then found something different to do it for...i have three currently, soooo be careful they are addicting! lol but my first one i got on the year anniversery of my grandmother passing away. its on my left hip/thigh area, another on my ankle and another on my wrist. but you don't have to be a certain wait to get ink, unless again thats your own personal goal. just make sure its what you want done b/c once its done its done
  • TheGuyMatt
    TheGuyMatt Posts: 5
    I think what she means is that after losing weight, and that person wants a tattoo, should they get one right away? Or should they make sure they can keep the weight off before getting the work done?

    I'd vote make sure the weight stays off, first, unless it's somewhere that a little extra fat won't make it look bad.
  • Pudgebrownie
    Pudgebrownie Posts: 73
    I got my first tattoo for my sixteenth birthday. I'm twenty one now. You get your first tattoo whenever you're ready. I don't understand what you mean by maintenance,haha. There really isn't any "maintenance". There is aftercare, ofcourse, but they'll explain that to you when you get your ink done.

    "Maintenance" referring to maintaining your goal weight (not losing or gaining).
  • Pudgebrownie
    Pudgebrownie Posts: 73
    I just tattooed my wrist to avoid deformation haha.

    It depends on where you want the tattoo. I personally would never get a tattoo in an area that frequently changes shape - stomach, low back, etc.
    Good considerations. I had a baby not too long ago, and I agree, don't get tats in those postpartum pregnancy areas..
  • Hibiscus1984
    Hibiscus1984 Posts: 49
    Not really sure what you mean by maintenance before getting a tattoo. If you're worried about stretching on the skin or anything that totally depends on the placement. I'll tell you on mine that regardless of weight gain over the years they have not really changed, the skin is very resilient. I have eight - ribs, back, ankles and tummy and I have seen little to no change in the lines. I had my ribs and tummy done when I was 21 and weighed about 115, even after gaining around 40 lbs over the years they haven't changed. The most important thing for tattoos is *take care of them* to keep them pretty. Moisturize during and after healing, always use at least a light SPF lotion when out in the sun.
  • kimberlyhaddix
    kimberlyhaddix Posts: 21
    I got mine when I was 38! It took me that long to decide what I wanted and I am very happy with both of mine. It's really a personal decision. When you feel ready go for it!
  • basslinewild
    basslinewild Posts: 294 Member
    Whenever you want. I would just be wary of getting one in an area that will change with pregnancy, weight gain/loss, etc. I recently got another one on my back. Originally I was going to get it on my stomach and I'm so glad I didn't because I'm sure it would stretch.
  • nikilovesaxl
    nikilovesaxl Posts: 148
    I got my first tattoo for my sixteenth birthday. I'm twenty one now. You get your first tattoo whenever you're ready. I don't understand what you mean by maintenance,haha. There really isn't any "maintenance". There is aftercare, ofcourse, but they'll explain that to you when you get your ink done.

    "Maintenance" referring to maintaining your goal weight (not losing or gaining).

    I see. Well, as someone stated a few posts before, just watch areas that are known to stretch (arms, thighs, stomach, hips). Other than that, mine have stayed perfect. I have one on my wrist, one on the back of my neck and on my ankle. I don't think they're going anywhere :smile:
  • stagegoddess
    stagegoddess Posts: 101 Member
    i have four tats and only the first one has had any deformation but its just kinda stretched out (on my hip bone/pelvis area). the wrist, behind the ear and middle of my back tats have all gone thru major weight gain/loss/gain and now some loss again and they're fine.

    word of advice that i don't think anyone can stress enough: make sure this is something you'll be okay with having your entire life. my bf is trying to get two tiny stars removed from his thumbs and its been a long process to have them lazer removed
  • chunkymonkey414
    chunkymonkey414 Posts: 21 Member
    I got my first tattoo when I was 17 at a tattoo party, with my mother's consent, of course. I did it there because I knew the artist.
  • Sinisi2012
    Sinisi2012 Posts: 333 Member
    There's really no absolutely perfect time to get your first tattoo, except when you absolutely know what you want and where. The rest really doesn't matter.

    This ^^
  • nlwilliamson
    nlwilliamson Posts: 225 Member
    I got my first tattoo for my sixteenth birthday. I'm twenty one now. You get your first tattoo whenever you're ready. I don't understand what you mean by maintenance,haha. There really isn't any "maintenance". There is aftercare, ofcourse, but they'll explain that to you when you get your ink done.

    OP was talking about maintenance of the goal weight, as it seems that they want a tattoo to remind themselves of how far they have come, how long into "maintenance" until you reward yourself with a tattoo.


    I would say whenever you want to, I plan to get mine mid way through my journey as a reminder of how far i've come and as motivation to keep pushing :)
  • Pudgebrownie
    Pudgebrownie Posts: 73
    Thanks for sharing your thoughts!


    I'm a control freak, and certainly won't get one until I'm 100% convinced it's right for me. I just wanted ideas on how long people have waited before getting inked. I'd hate to gain or lose a lot of weight AFTER getting a tattoo and it becoming a mess.. That's my only concern.
  • ladybarometer
    ladybarometer Posts: 205 Member
    I got mine when I was 21 on top of my foot.
    I knew there was little chance of my gaining or losing a signifcant amount of weight in that area.
  • Ely82010
    Ely82010 Posts: 1,998 Member
    I assume that the ideal time to get your first tattoo would be once you achieve your weight loss goal. That said, how long would you recommend "maintenance" before getting inked? Six months? A year? A year and a half? Two years? Any personal experiences or thoughts on the matter?

    Never, respect your skin!
  • Fictionista
    Fictionista Posts: 23 Member
    I had wanted one for a long time (like, 10 years), so I was absolutely sure of what I wanted and where I wanted it. But I didn't actually pull the trigger until I had something in my life that I wanted to commemorate. For me, it was starting my MFA program and getting serious about something I really love. That way, whenever I look at it, it reminds me of the steps I am taking to make my life what I want it to be.

    I'm itching to get a second one, but I am making myself wait until I graduate from the MFA. Same logic. I love the philosophy of connecting the act of getting the tattoo with something worth celebrating and remembering!
  • paintlisapurple
    paintlisapurple Posts: 982 Member
    I would assume once you are "of age" you could have one whenever you like! I went and got my first tattoo at the age of 40. LOL
  • tom_olech
    tom_olech Posts: 139 Member
    May 15th, 2005....i remember the exact date because i accidently got it on my ex-girlfriends bday (she was only a friend at the time)
  • tom_olech
    tom_olech Posts: 139 Member
    May 15th, 2005....i remember the exact date because i accidently got it on my ex-girlfriends bday (she was only a friend at the time)

    Oops, i totally misread the thread title....i thought it was asking when i got my first tatoo
  • MikeyD1280
    MikeyD1280 Posts: 5,257
    do you mean maintenance as your work out schedule? I got the tribal that wraps around my arm, back and my pec, and I had to cut out the workouts due to the scabbing and healing time. So if you are talking about that type of maintenance (workout schedule) what I would do is do cardio and hit up areas that will not affect the tattoo area.:drinker:
  • emkinsella2012
    emkinsella2012 Posts: 7
    i have lots of tattoos...gotten when ive been thinner and thicker. Ive been pretty lucky that none of mine have been transformed during my losses and gains...mind you none are on my stomach or thighs. but i do have them on my arms, shoulders, calves, and all over my back. if you are planning on getting one in those areas i wouldnt wait till you lose all your weight. if its a bigger piece i would start now and everytime you reach a goal, go in for a session. that would be a cool treat for yourself.

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