hello..
So i'm 19. I was a fat little kid (stil rather curvy lol) and i have stretch marks on my tummy - not the "oh so white you can't see me" kind, but the "lets take a glaring red marker and doodle on this girls poor stomach" kind. I would like to get tats to cover them up, but 1) how well does this work? 2) when i eventaully want kids, would the new pregnancy stretch marks destroy my new lovely ink? or 3) any ideas on how to get rid of stretch marks? i hear that i cold do a laser removal for scar tissue, but the idea was rather vague..
So i'm 19. I was a fat little kid (stil rather curvy lol) and i have stretch marks on my tummy - not the "oh so white you can't see me" kind, but the "lets take a glaring red marker and doodle on this girls poor stomach" kind. I would like to get tats to cover them up, but 1) how well does this work? 2) when i eventaully want kids, would the new pregnancy stretch marks destroy my new lovely ink? or 3) any ideas on how to get rid of stretch marks? i hear that i cold do a laser removal for scar tissue, but the idea was rather vague..
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Re: strech marks and tattoos?
Tue, May 6, 2008 - 3:12 PMFrom what the artist who did my hand was saying, stretch marks are difficult to tattoo, because of the texture of the skin. I don't think it's impossible, but sounds like it is difficult.
As for how pregnancy stretch marks would affect a tattoo, I'm thinking it probably would be noticeable. If it's a concern, I'd say hold off on getting your stomach tattooed.
Fyi, I've had a fair amount of stretch marks in my day, from developing too fast, and gaining weight quickly, and they do start out red, but the color fades over time.
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Re: strech marks and tattoos?
Tue, May 6, 2008 - 3:33 PMAgreed with Principessa...I don't know how old your stretch marks are, but they do tend to fade to that silvery color with time. I first got mine on my hipsdue to some random growth spurt when I was 12, and they were bright red...even my mom was shocked. Fortunately they faded :)
Not sure how to get rid of them though :( -
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Re: strech marks and tattoos?
Wed, May 7, 2008 - 9:39 AMThere's no getting rid of stretch marks, but mine are barely noticeable now. they are the same color as the rest of my skin, but the texture is always going to be different.
An aside-the guy who tattooed my palm-he had a sticker on his machine that said, 'I'd rather be whipshading stretchmarks".
He said it was an inside joke, because stretchmarks are so hard to tattoo over.
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Re: strech marks and tattoos?
Tue, May 6, 2008 - 7:15 PMfirst, you are 19, your body is going to go through tons of changes even yet.
Let the stretch marks fade to white or normal skin tone before doing anything, cause like Wendy said, they are difficult to tattoo, cause the skin is thinner.
It can be done but allow your body do what it is going to do naturally and make an assessment when you are a bit older and your skin becomes a bit more settled in the stretch mark areas.
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Re: strech marks and tattoos?
Wed, May 7, 2008 - 2:34 AMi too agree with all said above...
also have stretch marks on thighs/hips from the first time i went to a summer sports camp... they were bright red at first but now are just rather palish marks... visible if you look for them but not from far.
give it some time ;) -
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Re: strech marks and tattoos?
Wed, May 7, 2008 - 6:37 AMNow that you all say it, I remember that my marks were purple-ish. Now they're white.
Btw, how about tattooing birthmarks or scars? I've got a big old scar on my side, and a more fresh one on my hand. -
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Re: strech marks and tattoos?
Wed, May 7, 2008 - 9:31 PMI have a scar coverup. Again, scar tissue changes constantly, sloughing off skin, morphing, and changing color too.
Allow the scar to heal for at least 18 months before considering a tattoo to cover it.
Scars take ink differently, much like stretch marks, however, scar tissue is more dense instead of thinner. Plus sensations of the scar will vary.
The biggest things with stretch marks (which is a form of scarring) and actual scar tissue from an incision or trauma must be allowed to heal fully before doing anything else, cause ink will lift out or bleed under. Again, that skin is constantly changing until it is full stablized and healed.
I cannot speak for a birthmark cause those vary, based on the blood flow in them and the clustering of the blood vessels, so you might need to contact an expert tattoo artist that specializes in this type of tattooing (scar, tattoo, birthmark coverups).
My artist was one of the speakers at National on this very subject, but there are others too. So, if you wish to contact her, www.gypsyjill.com and if she can't answer she may well know who you would need to speak with on the birthmark issue.
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Re: strech marks and tattoos?
Wed, May 7, 2008 - 1:17 PMI'm no expert, but I was curious about this as well. I've read that people are just prone to getting stretch markes or they aren't - so if you've got them (as I do:-), we are more likely to get them during pregnancy. And I have also heard that it is possible for the stretched skin to go back after pregnancy leaving the tattoo the same as before - unless you get stretch marks through them, which can mutiliate the tattoo. Everyone here seems to say they fade so hopefully soon they won't even be noticeable:-) -
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Re: strech marks and tattoos?
Fri, May 9, 2008 - 11:44 AMi hope they fade, but it's been awhile and they're still fugly lol. oh well, it just means i have to wait anoth10 years...kinda like being a minor again lol. oh man! thanks for the input tho =D -
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Re: strech marks and tattoos?
Sat, May 10, 2008 - 9:42 PMHow long *have* you had them? I only had a few after having my son...but more after my daughter...and they are now just silvery...I wear low cut jeans and of course, I show my belly when I dance...and I used to be very self conscious of the marks...but they faded after just a few years and now, I really don't think about them, much...
I'm planning on a tattoo on my belly, too...and I just hope that they won't interfere...the biggest part of it will be above the area where I have the marks, but part of it will have to go across some of them...but then, I'm not going to be having any more babies...all done with that...I had my boy and my girl, so I'm happy with just the two...and I'm a grandma...!!!
But, I digress...I'd say if you were going to get a tattoo before pregnancy, limit the area to mostly above the belly button...cuz most of the stretch marks would be on the lower belly...happens, usually, towards the end of the pregnancy, when the baby drops... -
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Re: strech marks and tattoos?
Sat, May 10, 2008 - 9:51 PMOh...and I will give you one piece of advice that may help the marks to heal a bit faster...pure vitamin E oil...I used it and it seemed to help...I started using it after I had a hysterectomy almost 10 years ago...had to have the hip-bone to hip-bone incision, cuz I had uterine cancer and couldn't do the laproscopic surgery...after I'd healed enough to have the staples taken out, I started using the E oil and now, my scar is barely visible...and it certainly won't hurt to try it...also a good idea to use during pregnancy, cuz it will keep the skin supple and maybe prevent more marks from appearing...I do say MAYBE...no guarantees... -
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Re: strech marks and tattoos?
Sun, May 11, 2008 - 5:49 PMI've had mine for a couple o' years now, and i've been sing the vitamin E jell tabs, pinch 'em open and spreading it all over.. ~sigh~ by the time i have kids and ready for a tat im going to be like 30..lol. it's a pity because i already have a design picked...2 huge star gazer lilies on either side of my belly button with the stems pointing down, and tribal that goes up my hips to my waist and back down with a tram stamp of to mirrored sided Oms. =D
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