I'm considering a decent sized tattoo on my outer thigh (just above the knee) and about 8 inches by 5 inches, but am curious if anyone who has a tattoo in that area has any feedback? Did that area hurt more than other areas? Was the healing progress the same as, say, a smaller design on the arm?
Anonymous
Jolene is transcunt he need to die
jake w
Luckily for you Jolene, this is probably the least painful area (save the butt) on the body to get inked on. I have a 4 x 6 piece done exactly where you're describing and I nearly fell asleep through the session. Now, I don't know you, but if you're an anemic/skinny little thing with almost no body fat, it might hurt alot worse.
Generally speaking though, thigh tattoos are one of the best places to get inked up, and I'll tell you why
1.) Meaning. I can't tell you how many people who come to me for advice about tattoos don't have an answer to the following question. My question being: "If no one but you could see the ink you're about to get, would you still get it? Most people are just in it to get attention for themselves and could care less what their piece looks like. With a thigh tattoo, unless you wear booty shorts or speedos year round, you really are committing to getting something that (most of the time) only you are going to appreciate. So the meaning almost has to be there cause you'll be dealing with it more than anyone
2.) Longevity: Since your thighs are covered by clothing most of the time, it's protected from the elements, especially UV rays from the sun. Compare it to say, a shoulder tattoo. Those pieces are usually blurred and mottled looking in a decade or so and need to get redone. Thighs retain their color and shape moderately well, unless you go through a massive body transition weight wise....then they will stretch.
3.) Location: The thigh is one of the easiest spots for an artist to work on. You can literally just sit back in the chair, roll up your pant leg (or not depending on what you're wearing) and let them do the rest. They can easily roll around in their chair to get every angle they need, and you're not bent in some awkward pose for hours on end while they struggle to reach the right area.
4.) The "regret" factor. If you get something (not saying you will) that, in a few years you start looking at and going "well darn this looks awful and the meaning has been lost and whatnot..." you're in luck because you can just start wearing jeans and no one will know the difference. It doesn't affect your job eligibility or how people view you, and you can hide it from the parents who may not approve. Also, getting them covered up or lasered off can be well hidden and done.
5.) Shave or no Shave: It's pretty common knowledge by now that you should shave the areas of your body that have tattoos. It shows them off better and allows them to be cleaned easier. Legs can be quickly shaved and don't take any specialty razors to get there.
6.) Healing Process/"Breathability": Large pieces heal longer than small ones, duh. But with a thigh, not only can you keep it aerated easier, you can easily throw some lotion on it whenever you please.
Good luck!
Sathi
My right leg is completely tattooed from above the hip down through the ankle. The first tattoo covered just the side of my calf, but it grew over time as I added to it. I think I had four artists work on it over the course of a few years. The most discomfort was on the front of my shin, where there is no cushion. Beyond that, it was no big deal. I didn't have any issues with the healing process. I remember using a thin layer of Vaseline and mild soap for aftercare. Pretty simple. Follow their instructions and you should be fine.
Katelyn Fitz
Hi! Agreed with stryder - these answers are terrible. Nothing wrong with tattoos. I just got one that’s about ten inches, on my outer thigh above the knee. It was a little painful, particularly right around the knee area, not worse than the one on my wrist but much longer to sit and deal with. Mine had SecondSkin on it so aftercare was super simple as opposed to just plastic wrap which would require more care. After about a day all I noticed was some soreness to the touch and sensitivity to heat. Hope that helps :)
L
I drive a 2020 Corvette. Paid cash. I like it, a lot. I would never consider putting a bumper sticker on it - and bumper stickers can be relatively easy to remove. I also would not consider having someone permanently etch some sort of artwork onto one of the quarter-panels or bumpers. The reason I would not put extraneous stuff on this car is because I respect the beauty and engineering that went into the build and design.
There is no reason for you to think any differently about your body... unless your self-esteem is truly so bad that you need to artificially cover that which is naturally beautiful and bury it under something that you may not even want in a couple of years...