Tattoos

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Bill M

I enjoy tattoos and am wondering if it is possible. Has anyone gotten a tattoo while on anti-coagulation.
 
Well........ I can honestly I haven't, but if I were you I'd check with your doctor before getting one. He may want to put you on antibiotics before you go.
 
Last week a girl I know got a good sized tattoo on her shoulder....about 3 x 4 inches.
She said even on the second day while it was slathered with antibiotic cream, it just started oozing blood all over the place.
 
I read that the tattoos can be blurry because the extra bleeding doesn't allow the ink to stay in place as well.

I love tattoos - don't have one of my own. But would love to get a small one.
If I did (which I probably won't) I'd definitely take antibiotics. I think any "valver" should, regardless of type of valve.
 
Thanks for all the advice, my concern was that the bleeding would effect the tattoo; don't want a funky looking tattoo. Another thing I like that will have to be put to rest..
 
This got me thinking.... hmmm.

My Dad had a Navy emblem tattoo on his forearm. He acquired it in the typical Navy manner - drunk on shore leave. I've seen several other Navy tattoos on older men and they look blurry. I attributed it to age. But maybe it was the alcohol?
 
Bill M said:
I enjoy tattoos and am wondering if it is possible. Has anyone gotten a tattoo while on anti-coagulation.

I had one removed. the pain of 10 laser treatments removing the tattoo isn't fun. it burns like heck, and you can still see the tattoo. $5000 later and pain for a couple of years, I'd say don't waste your time.
definitely, take antibiotics if you are going to.
 
Tattoo Advice

Tattoo Advice

My cardio warned me against getting a tattoo even with pre treatment antibiotics. He said although the risk was low, I could wind up with an infection in the valve that would require significant long term antibiotic treatment our worst case, another replacement ! YIKES ! And I have a tissue valve and have been off warfarin for two months. I am going to ask him in a couple of weeks when I'm in for a 6 month check up whether a tattoo is really more risky than your typical dental procedure?

Anyway, if this is what I worry about after almost five month my recovery must be going quite well :) Time for the little things again :)

Dan
 
My local tattoo shop won't do a tattoo on anyone that's been drinking or taken aspirin, so I doubt a responsible tattoo parlour would do it if they knew you were taking something like warfarin. This particular place is pretty uptight though. I'm sure you can find someone who's willing to do it. They probably won't even think to ask you if you're on blood thinners. I'm betting the ink won't stay very well either.
 
Coincidentally the tattoo on my bicep is raised and irritated today. It's either a reaction to the ink being too deep, or the ingredients in the ink. It's always in the same spot on the outside of the bicep. I have others, but this one is raised/irritated alot more. Caveat emptor...

In hindsight I would've had a test patch done. Just a small spot in an inconspicuous area with the ink I was planning on using.
 
I got my first and only tattoo, DEATH BEFORE DISHONOR, prior to shipping out as a navy corpsman with the Fleet Marine Force in 1944. Over the years I gradually became sort of ashamed of it and tried to conceal it at swimming pools and locker rooms. Now tattoos are making a comeback and becoming more respectable. Mine is a little faded now but when I showed it recently to my youngest grandson, Martin age 9 ,and asked for his opinion he said "cool"!. By the way, I do not recommend tattoo for folks on warfarin.
 
Marty:

Has the tattoo spread over the years?
Friends have had tattoos put on their butts, boobs & elsewhere, and I wonder if those beautiful little dragonflies and butterflies will be distorted with time.
 
Marty:

Has the tattoo spread over the years?
Friends have had tattoos put on their butts, boobs & elsewhere, and I wonder if those beautiful little dragonflies and butterflies will be distorted with time.

Nope, its on the shoulder. Still sharp. Its lost a little of its original bright blue color.
 
I got a tattoo while on a blood thinner and didnt have much of a problem. I did have to take antibiotics before.
 
Hi Bill, I've had three tattoos since my valve replacement, all with antibiotic cover the same as a trip to the dentist. I guess it is an added risk of infection so choose your tattooist carefully.I didn't have any significant bleeding/bruising. btw one is a rather lovely tattoo of a heart!
Peter
 
Back when I had my surgery in a teaching hospital, I had dozens of residents/students come to check me out. When trying to figure out the cause of my problems, they each asked if I'd had a tatoo among other possible sources for infection.
 
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