The level of pain can also vary depending on the thickness and density of the muscle, with larger and denser muscles often resulting in a more intense experience. The sensation of getting a tattoo over muscle is often described as a deep, throbbing pain.
Generally speaking, the most painful places to get a tattoo will be on the boniest areas of the body or placements that sit over concentrated hubs of nerve endings. It will hurt less to get a tattoo on the areas where there is less body fat, more muscle or fewer nerve endings.
The Least Painful Spots for Tattoos
Forearms and arms are mostly muscles and some fat and tattooing on them isn't very painful in comparison to rib tattoos. They generally remain in good shape for a very long time. Thigh and calves are similar and made of muscles and fat in different ratios depending on gender.
Spots where the skin is much thinner or where there is significantly less underlying muscle mass – collar bones, ribs/sternum, your neck, spine, the foot, and of course, the head – are more likely to carry higher levels of pain and discomfort.
Myth: In reality, getting tattooed does hurt -- but it does not produce the same type of pain as childbirth. The pain of getting a tattoo feels more like scratching a bad sunburn.
Contrary to what you might expect, many people report that the shading hurts significantly less than the outlining of the tattoo. If you've already made it through your line work, pat yourself on the back. You've likely conquered the most painful part already.
Tattoo flu explained
So while you might be super chill mentally, your immune system might charge in like there's a four alarm fire. When the needle hits your skin, your pain receptors go into overdrive, giving you a nice jolt of adrenaline which then makes your ticker beat a bit faster.
“You can take things like over-the-counter painkillers, but the sharp pain you have at the surface of the skin will still likely be felt during the procedure.” You can take acetaminophen (like Tylenol) or ibuprofen (like Advil) can help with any soreness that occurs in the hours after you get your tattoo, but there's ...
If you have high pain tolerance, you'll likely sail through the tattoo process with an expected cringe or two, but without any intense pain. If you have a low tolerance for pain, on the other hand, our experts advise that your first tattoo should be small and located in a relatively pain-free spot.
You must always ask your artist first before using a numbing solution. Some artists advise against using numbing creams because it can affect the tattoo process. It is possible that the cream or gel can temporarily alter your skin texture, making the artist's job much harder.
When tattoos are placed over a muscle, the tattoo may stretch if you subsequently increase the muscle mass in that area. Moderate muscle growth should not have any noticeable effect upon a tattoo. However, sudden or significant muscle growth may damage the design and ink of the tattoo.
Jerry Brainum also points to a study that shows extensive tattoos can decrease your sweat rate by 50%. For bodybuilders, this can be a more damaging issue. Less sweat might make workouts more difficult.
It's not uncommon for people to shiver during a tattoo because your body may be in shock so consider bringing a sweater, hoodie, or blanket to keep you warm.
If you have a medical problem such as heart disease, allergies, diabetes, skin problems like eczema or psoriasis, a weak immune system, or a bleeding problem, talk to your doctor before getting a tattoo. Also, if you get keloids (an overgrowth of scar tissue) you probably should not get a tattoo.
Indeed, some studies have found that tattoo ink creates a sort of "priming effect" for your immune system, whereby the body, on high alert from the pesky tattoo ink, is supposedly better able to detect other infections, noted Lynn, the anthropologist.
With that said, don't take painkillers before getting a tattoo either. Painkillers like Advil and Ibuprofen also thin the blood, which will lead to similar issues that alcohol has. Acetaminophen may potentially be fine to take, but should be discussed with the artist beforehand.
SKIN PREPARATION FOR YOUR TATTOO
Please do not shave the area; we will do it for you at your appointment. Avoid aspirin or blood thinning medication at least 24 hours before your tattoo; ibuprofen, acetaminophen, & other NSAID pain relievers are OK. Antibiotic treatments must be finished at least 1 week beforehand.
Here are the most and least painful spots to get inked. Tattoo pain will vary depending on your age, sex, and pain threshold. The most painful spots to get a tattoo are your ribs, spine, fingers, and shins. The least painful spots to get a tattoo are your forearms, stomach, and outer thighs.
Small does not equal less pain. That's right when it comes to getting a new tattoo fine lines are more painful than bold traditional. Upside is, most fine line tattoos are smaller. And smaller needle sizes are used mostly for the outline at the beginning of the tattoo, when you are fresh and ready for the pain.
Realistic And Portraiture
The most difficult form of realism in tattooing is probably portraiture, because it requires the artist to capture both the likeness and character of a real person. Realistic tattoos can be created using colour, or in black and grey form.