Go Back  Airline Pilot Central Forums > Pilot Lounge > Hangar Talk
Five Painful Places For A Tattoo >

Five Painful Places For A Tattoo

Search

Notices
Hangar Talk For non-aviation-related discussion and aviation threads that don't belong elsewhere

Five Painful Places For A Tattoo

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 02-08-2008, 10:54 AM
  #1  
Administrator
Thread Starter
 
vagabond's Avatar
 
Joined APC: May 2006
Position: C-172
Posts: 8,024
Default Five Painful Places For A Tattoo

Last year, there was a thread about pilots with tattoos and whether that served as a hindrance to getting hired. I believe the general consensus was that if the tattoo was tasteful, not overpoweringly (is that a word??) big and distracting, and can possibly be covered up with clothes during the interview and at work, then it was probably fine to have one.

This article provides insight into five places for a tattoo that won't be too visible. What's a little pain?


From Newsweek:

Part of the experience of getting a tattoo is not knowing in advance how much it will hurt. For some it can be a terribly painful procedure. Others describe it as simply irritating, a "hot scratch" that is easily forgettable compared to the pleasure of wearing a work of art. If you want a tattoo but have a low threshold for pain, opt for fleshy spots like the thigh or bicep. The most painful places are generally the areas with a dense concentration of nerves or wherever the skin and bone are close together, without a layer of fat in between. Unless you go to a doctor for "permanent makeup" tattoos (like eyebrows) rather than a design, you won't get much help with the pain, says Charles Zwerling, a Goldsboro, N.C., eye doctor who specializes in permanent makeup (he uses local anesthesia). Only a doctor can give you a shot of painkiller, and tattoo artists often avoid numbing creams because they require 20 minutes or so to take effect and can prolong the procedure. Like the tattoo itself, pain is personal. What one person finds excruciating might be quite bearable to another. But since you may not know what your tolerance level is until you actually go under the needle, here's a short list of the most potentially painful places for body ink:

1. The eyeball. Believe it or not, some people do get permanent makeup inside the eye, says Zwerling About once a year, a patient asks him to put pigment into a disfiguring blind eye to make it look like a normal one. The many nerves going into the front of the eye would make this an excruciating procedure without anesthesia. (Two other popular spots for permanent makeup—the eye brows and lips—are also painful, the lips especially so because of the many nerve endings located there.)

2. The mons pubis. The pain of getting a tattoo down under runs a close second to the lips, says New York laser surgeon Bruce Katz, who specializes in removing tattoos. There are a lot of nerves, which provide pleasure (as opposed to pain) under different circumstances. If you try this in a tattoo parlor, ask for a cream, advises Katz.

3. The top of the foot or ankle. Lots of women opt for tattoos in this area so the eye-catching designs will be visible when they're barefoot or wearing sandals during the summer months. But it's also ouch-inducing because of the absence of fat.

4. Behind the ear. A tattoo here can be endearingly sexy. Just remember ladies, there's nothing in this spot but skin and bone—and nerves (though not as many as on your lip surface).

5. The rib cage. If you're thin, this might be one time you'd be grateful for a layer of fat around your middle.The absence of padding makes this one of the most painful places for men to get a traditional tattoo.

Some other tips: Don't take aspirin before getting a tattoo, as it can increase bleeding (though other pain-killing pills can help). Schedule a time when you won't feel rushed, advises Karen Hudson, editor of "Chick Ink: 40 Stories of Tattoos—and the Women Who Wear Them." An average-size tattoo takes about two hours; ask the artist beforehand for an estimate of how long yours will take. If you're afraid of needles, consider a spot where you can't see the needle go in, or resolve not to look. Another option: a henna tattoo painted on the outer layer of the skin. There are no needles involved. As the skin exfoliates, this kind of tattoo slowly disappears. If you miss it, you can replace it with permanent body art. If not, you'll be relieved you only got a temporary tattoo. Removing an inked tattoo is painful, too.
vagabond is offline  
Old 02-08-2008, 11:01 AM
  #2  
With The Resistance
 
jungle's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Burning the Agitprop of the Apparat
Posts: 6,191
Default

I just can't understand paying for pain, I got all I ever wanted for free.

"Who woulda thought we'd see people runnin around Texas with green hair and a bone in their nose....." No Country for Old Men
jungle is offline  
Old 02-08-2008, 12:00 PM
  #3  
Gets Weekends Off
 
Toejam's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Jan 2008
Position: 320A
Posts: 158
Default

As far as your article Vagabond, I can not even contemplate the first place. Eyes? The second one will give me nightmares, thankyou very much...

I can see the ankle and rib cage, but behind the ears.

The real question is are you looking for insight into our tats, or are you planning on telling about yours? I'll show you mine if you show me yours...

Last edited by Toejam; 02-08-2008 at 01:37 PM. Reason: still thinking...
Toejam is offline  
Old 02-08-2008, 12:12 PM
  #4  
Gets Weekends Off
 
Joined APC: Sep 2005
Position: Any, usually behind the wing
Posts: 382
Default

The biggest problem with tats is they don't wear well. They fade, they go out of style, "Well um yea, I loved Marlene, but you're the one for me now Betty..." You get the picture.

An artful tattoo, discreetly positioned,...intriguing... Lizard skins and spider webs on the arms with mutliple piercings all over kind of makes you want to make them have an MRI just so you can watch.

Then again, art and beauty are in the eye of the beholder...
OldAg84 is offline  
Old 03-10-2008, 05:49 PM
  #5  
Line Holder
 
Fileater55's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Dec 2007
Posts: 41
Default

Now call it stupid but I have always wanted a pair of wings tattood on my chest.. What do you think?
Fileater55 is offline  
Old 03-10-2008, 06:04 PM
  #6  
Gets Weekends Off
 
Senior Skipper's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Jan 2008
Position: the correct seat
Posts: 1,422
Default

I wonder if you can remove the eye tattoos...
Senior Skipper is offline  
Old 03-10-2008, 09:05 PM
  #7  
Gets Weekends Off
 
Joined APC: Jul 2006
Position: XJT CA
Posts: 528
Default

I was told by one of the artists that did my work that right across the Adam's Apple. He said, and I quote, "If you ever see anyone with a tattoo across their throat, that is one of the baddest M..F..'s you'll ever see." He told me his most painful was his shin.
Bloodhound is offline  
Old 03-11-2008, 10:44 PM
  #8  
Line Holder
 
Skylane's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Aug 2007
Position: 182
Posts: 29
Default

Well speaking from experience, the first thing when your booked into a holding faciclity is checking for tats and scares. Then logging them into LEDS and NCIC. From then on you're in the system.

Oh! I was on the enforcement side

C ya, Bub
Skylane is offline  
Old 11-25-2010, 04:41 PM
  #9  
Gets Weekends Off
 
SuperPilotJesse's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Dec 2007
Position: EX - OHJFKCRJFO
Posts: 836
Default

Originally Posted by Fileater55
Now call it stupid but I have always wanted a pair of wings tattood on my chest.. What do you think?
I have had the same urge. Saw a guy that had a really realistic sheriff badge on his chest. Looked BA for sure.

Just have to find the right ones... I was thinking second issue Air Cal. Open to new ideas though!
SuperPilotJesse is offline  
Old 11-26-2010, 05:18 AM
  #10  
A Second Past V1
 
Outlaw2097's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Feb 2007
Position: Assumed
Posts: 743
Default

Originally Posted by Fileater55
Now call it stupid but I have always wanted a pair of wings tattood on my chest.. What do you think?
id say go with a eagle or something else winged. gotta be able to show that you can be out of pilot mode every once in a while. but hey, thats just my .02
Outlaw2097 is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
CloudPilot57
Regional
35
12-15-2007 06:49 AM
SongMan
Flight Schools and Training
2
09-09-2007 10:02 PM
LeeFXDWG
Major
15
03-05-2006 02:26 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On



Your Privacy Choices