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Tattoos Pre And Post T?


Guest Cricket

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Hey everyone! There is a tattoo I've been wanting to get for a very long time on my inner left arm just above my elbow for a long time now, and Puddle Jumper offered to buy it for me next month! BUT, I am planning on starting T in the future though I don't know when, and I know it's quite likely my arms will get bigger, especially if I work out regularly like I'm planning to (I have really skinny noodle arms right now). My fear is that if I get it pre-T, once I start it and my body starts changing, the picture will get stretched or warped or otherwise ruined. Have any of you guys who are on T had tattoos pre-T? How did they change? Did they even change at all? Is this a reasonable concern or am I just worrying too much? I'm just really particular about how I look and would hate to have a botched tattoo on public display. The details of it, in case that's important: It would be very simple without a lot of small detail and about the size of my fist. It would be in color. It's going to be a skull and crossbones with with a cat Skelanimals skull with two glowsticks underneath instead of bones, and the skull will be wearing a necklace with big, round beads in the colors of the rainbow.

Thanks for anything you might be able to tell me! The idea of getting it next month is really exciting but I would much prefer to wait if it means the tattoo looks better in the long run.

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I am no expert on tattoos and as a matter of fact I have never understood them.

I have never wanted to wear the same article of clothing every day and that is what a Tattoo is - a permanent article that can only be covered never removed.

I am not that positive about that many things in my life so I will leave them to those who are.

I would assume that the image would be distorted if you really do change shape with the T and working out but that is just a guess on my part.

Love ya,

Sally

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Hey, maybe I can at least try to help because I have a tattoo personally myself but never on T. You may want to do some research on it and try to see how it would affect the tattoo. I used to work out (like a dude) before I got sick. I was already have some muscular arms (which I need to get myself back in shape). Some may hurt and some may don't. You may want to suggest with your doctor about it. I am thinking about getting me a tattoo this year hopefully.

Sorry if I am not much help but I don't think it would hurt it but this would be the best bet is that ask your doctor about being on T and tattoo.

Before anyone ask me what kind a tattoo I got: (it is a femme tattoo) two roses wrap around the pink cross. red rose and blue rose repent about my faiths that I have for years.

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Guest Donna Jean

I'll go with Sally on this one!

If you get one pre-T and it's somewhere that is prone to expansion post-T it may get distorted afterwards and it may not look the way it did when you first got it.....

My vote?

Wait!

Huggs

Donna Jean

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Guest Robin Winter

I'm kinda worried about this myself. I have a tatoo of a tiger on my chest, right where it's gonna grow when I start hormone therapy. I'm pretty sure it's gonna look icky when all is said and done :(

However, I know there are tatoo artists out there who do wonders with old tatoos, either creating something new over the old one, which would likely be what I'd do, I've never been happy with it, or just reworking the old one to make it look lovely again :D

Given the opportunity to do it all again, though, I'd wait til after the fact to get any tatooing done.

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Guest joeytheman16

I would not get a tat on your arm. That's one of the places that tend to grow a lot when people start T. I got my tat on my leg on the outside of my calf. Typically, even on T, the muscles have to be worked in order to grow. If I were you, I would wait until after you have been on T to get the tat on your arm.

Joey

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Guest Donna Jean
I'm kinda worried about this myself. I have a tatoo of a tiger on my chest, right where it's gonna grow when I start hormone therapy. I'm pretty sure it's gonna look icky when all is said and done :(

OMG!

Then you'll need to wait for 3-5 years after you start HRT, because those girls are gonna be tender, trust me on that!

Besides...you will want everything to stretch out to it's final shape before attempting any repairs!

Good Luck, Honey...(made me squeemish just talking about it...Ugh!)

Donna Jean

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Guest Robin Winter
OMG!

Then you'll need to wait for 3-5 years after you start HRT, because those girls are gonna be tender, trust me on that!

Besides...you will want everything to stretch out to it's final shape before attempting any repairs!

Good Luck, Honey...(made me squeemish just talking about it...Ugh!)

Donna Jean

Yah, I kinda figured all that lol. Oh well, I doubt I'll be parading around naked much anyway.

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Guest My_Genesis
Yah, I kinda figured all that lol. Oh well, I doubt I'll be parading around naked much anyway.

:lol:

Yeah i guess it really depends where you get it.... I want one in the same spot (writing - inner left arm) but my lower arm not upper so I don't think that would be affected by T much unless it makes my already bulgy veins get bigger...that might be a problem... lol.

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:lol:

Yeah i guess it really depends where you get it.... I want one in the same spot (writing - inner left arm) but my lower arm not upper so I don't think that would be affected by T much unless it makes my already bulgy veins get bigger...that might be a problem... lol.

I agree there. I would say it is depends on everyone... I am new to this. At least I am still learning about the whole thing.

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Guest Joanna Phipps

I have thought of getting the transgender symbol tatoo'd on my left bicep... I never go out with out my shirt anymore and all of my shirts and blouses are sleeved so...

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Guest StrandedOutThere

I've got a tattoo that I got pre-T. Lots of people do. For some reason FTM's are often (but not always) fond of tattoos. Mine hasn't distorted at all that I've noticed. My shoulders are substantially larger than pre-T, but my upper arms (where the tat is) haven't grown much yet. I'm just short of 1 year on T.

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Guest Michelles_husband

I've been a tattoo artist for years and I also have a dozen both pre and during T. It would be the same as if a bio male got a tattoo and then decided to go on a workout binge, or a woman got a tattoo on her hip and then had a child. No matter where you put it, hormones or not, stuff happens. Sun exposure damages tattoos far more frequently than stretching, from my experience anyway.

Jess

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Guest Cricket

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I think I'm going to just wait, that way I can be sure and although I am very excited about this tattoo it's not like it's really an urgent thing. I know there are more important and useful things we can be using that money for right now anyway, so it's probably better financially to wait a while too. That will also give me more time to hone the design (I'm an artist and am designing it myself) so I will have plenty of time to make sure it's exactly the way I want it.

I totally get that a lot of people don't understand tattoos. To me that makes complete sense--it's something you'll be carrying around on your skin for the rest of your life and what if your worldview or interests change, you know? A piercing you can take out and let close but a tattoo is forever. Trust me, it's something that I've thought long and hard about, for years--to me the design represents my passion for music and dancing in a quirky way that reflects my personality. Both have been a huge part of my life since I was a very small child and I know no matter how old I get they are always going to be, even when I'm 90 have to use a walker to bust my moves! :P

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Guest My_Genesis
I've got a tattoo that I got pre-T. Lots of people do. For some reason FTM's are often (but not always) fond of tattoos. Mine hasn't distorted at all that I've noticed. My shoulders are substantially larger than pre-T, but my upper arms (where the tat is) haven't grown much yet. I'm just short of 1 year on T.

may i ask where exactly you got this tattoo?

yeah ftm's seem to like tattoos and piercings but it seems to be a trend with my age group for both genders anyway. i guess the same holds true for piercings. the most difference between genders is seen in what and where people want a tattoo or piercing. sometimes i feel like by telling people i want writing on my lower arm i am almost outing myself cuz how many cis-girls get tattoos like that? :huh: haha as usual im paranoid....

the one thing a lot of ftms seem to really get into that i cant is the excessive stuff like heavy gauge earring tunnels and tattoos covering 3/4 of their bodies... really not into that...

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Guest AshleeB

May i just add in that i know from second hand experience that getting a tattoo and then gaining massive amouts of weight *this person gained upwards of 150 kgs* DOES stretch the tatt and make it look kinda wierd. but could be different since you planning on expanding your arms with muscle... iuno... probably isnt though

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  • 3 weeks later...
Guest ChalenAustin

Cricket: I hope you post a pic after you decide to get it!

Eventually I want to get a tat from the top of my shoulder going down my back to my manly busness and maybe a touch just before my leg but only on the left side. And have the batman symbol on my upper arm thrown in the design just for fun.

Will I ever do it? Maybe maybe not.

I do however want the rainbo flag on the small of my back right bellow a quote that roughly says "The things we want to do are the things we are meant to do". Or something to that effect- gotta look it up again. :P

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I think it depends on how good you think it's going to look pre T. I want one on my arm but my arm shape isn't right yet, so I think ima wait it out personally.

But if you really want it, doesn't sound like it's in a place that'll be too problimatic. Skin moulds around shape so you can lose or gain fat or muscle without changing the tattoo too much i should think as long as there's nothing too drastic.

Only other point to consider is, is it in a place that's likely to be used as a skin graft in the event that you would ever in the far off future want a phalloplastry? If not, your allright.

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