There’s a saying that “scars are tattoos with better stories.” I agree, to a point. See, I’ve got quite a few scars from multiple surgeries—with more to come—so it’s clear to me that some great stories can be improved with a little editing.
That’s why I recently checked in with a tattoo artist and my hip surgeon to see if I can ink up my arthroscopic surgery scars. The answer was yes.
I’m certainly not vain and I don’t hate my scars, I just want them to be more, well, artful. I’m actually quite fond of the five-and-a-half-inch scar that runs diagonally down my bikini line from the Ganz osteotomy I had in 2005. That’s a keeper; it reminds me of my resilience from a surgery that kept me on crutches for half a year. I also like the little scars around my belly button from an emergency surgery. And there’s the subtle timeline along my arms and legs that makes me smile; it traces many playful cat scratches, frying pan foul-ups, and spills on my bike.
My arthroscopic surgery a year ago, however, left three sloppy scars at the top of my left thigh. That’s one semi-boring story that’s begging for decoration.
A future hip replacement will plant a large scar that’ll be in a whole new spot—the side of my hip—so there’s little worry that it will muck up the tattoos I’m planning. I’ll probably leave that scar in its naked state since additional replacements will follow (a fake hip only lasts about a dozen years, less if you’re young and active like me).
There are a few rules to when it comes to tattooing over a scar. Here are some guidelines I’ve gleaned from the doc, the inker, and the FAQs on tattoo pro sites like GimmeInk.com and MaluTattoo.com.
• A scar needs at least a year to heal before it can handle a tat. Some artists won’t take you on unless your scar is two years old; others won’t tattoo a scar at all since the ink doesn’t always hold or distribute properly. Hey, it’s their reputation at stake.
• If you have a keloid scar that is raised significantly above the surface it can be difficult to tattoo and very sensitive. There’s also a risk that tattooing will contribute to keloid formation. Talk to your doctor.
• The design should be busy or run through the scar so the texture of the scar isn’t accentuated. For my hip I’m thinking pixilated buttercups to celebrate my childhood, or colorful mosaic stars as a reminder to dream, or maybe a globe to keep me humble, conscious, adventurous.
I do have one other tattoo, which is identical to my best friend’s. In college we basically said eeny-miney-moe and picked a tribal sun design off of a tattoo parlor wall. I love the energy and friendship it represents, but I’ve been wanting another, more inspired tattoo. If you have any design ideas or scar-tattoo stories of your own, please send them my way.
Comments (15)
thank you so much for your contributions. i read them and love them. as an ex-dancer and long time sufferer of back injuries and arthritis i am truly inspired by your writing! keeps me going! as for whether or not to get a tattoo… whichever you decide!
Go for it! One of the most beautiful tattoos I ever saw was on a woman who’d lost both breasts to a spreading breast cancer – she turned the lines of the scars into a vine, with leaves coming off to symbolize her new lift after the treatment & surgery.
Thanks for your post! I was wonder the same thing, I have 12 inch scars on both legs from hip surgeries as a kid. One leg healed great, but I had some concern about the scar on the other leg.
Thank you so much for writing this article. My entire right thigh has scars all over it from several leg lengthening surgeries. Mu leg basically looks like a shark bit me… Which doctor should i consult? The last time i had surgery on my leg i was…12 or 13 (i’m 22 now)and i don’t feel like spending 400 bucks to see my orthopedics doctor for a question. please e-mail me scatincat@yahoo.com
Thanks for this! I have a tiny round scar from a breast biopsy I had about two years ago. It was a scary, kind of awful experience but I was proud of the way I handled it, and I really want to put something there to symbolize it rather than just letting it fade and pretending it didn’t happen.
Anyway, thanks so much for the info!
I need the same Ganz Osteotomy, who was your surgeon and how long did it take you to recuperate?
Thanks
Thanks for the article =] I’ve been wondering for a while if it is safe to tattoo a scar I obtained from childhood cancer. The only information I could find was about covering scars, which isn’t my intention. Thank you.
Thanks, everyone! Please let us know any other info you find on tattooing scars or experiences you have!
Vivianna, I’m not sure it would be proper to reveal the name of my doc, but he is in New York and is well-known for his success with Ganz osteotomy, so a little computing could lead you to him. I adore and respect him, and I think I’m his only patient to continue to have hip troubles after this surgery, but that’s only because I waited too long for it. I believe it took me three months to get off crutches and onto a cane.
I had an ankle surgery last January 2008. I hate the sight of the scar on my ankle and decided to have a tattoo on it right after 2 months of surgery. But the ink was not absorb on the area of the scar. I had that area retattoed again after another 4 months. This time some ink was absorbed but not completely. It was really a very disappointing experience to go through the pain again and again and still getting unsuccessful result at the end. After reading this article … now I understood why. This coming January 2009, the scar on my ankle will be a year older. I will wait for a few more months after that and re-tattoed it again. Wish me luck this time !!! – MARIA
that sounds pretty cool, ive got scars on my left arm through having plates from a spill on my bike and im thinking about having zips on them n turn the scar on my elbow into a smiley face for a laugh =]
Thank you so much for the info! I have a large number of scars on my shoulder by my collarbone from when I was a teenager with self mutulation problems. I hope mine take to ink!
You can but it hurts so i wouldnt recomend it.
Man, it’s always awesome to see other people have suffered through the Ganz Osteonomy. I did that last winter and I’m up for round two this summer. I have that same large scar on my hip and because I was starting to freak out a bit about doing the next surgery I decided to pretty up the scar. I didn’t tattoo anything on the actual scar but used it as a stem for a flower and the drain hole at the top is the center of the flower petals. hey, curiously, do any of the screws stick out for you? I have a one that’s totally obviously a screw jutting out. Dr. F said it’s not a problem though.
I had my reconstructed breast tatooed after surgery. Instead of a nipple, I had a gerber daisy put there. I am very pleased with the results, had no problem with the color and scars. I am now getting ready to cover my other scars from that surgery. It has been 5 years since my tattoo and I have had no problems. I would recommend it in a heartbeat – gives us the last word, so to speak.
I took a spill on a dirt bike about 10 years ago and have a nasty scar on my left elbow, is that too old or the older the better?