• 21
  • Mar
  • I am going in to get quite a large tattoo down the side of my torso, but have heard from so many people that your ribs is the most painful spot to get a tattoo, does anyone recommend numbing cream for this area? If so, what type?


  • I IT one of the most painful areas (OVerall, so many people say it), but I've had that, the top of my foot, and my ankle done, and I didn't notice any real difference in pain other than the sheer length of time I took. (and I'm only 2 hours in... about 4 more to go.. Goes from my hip to my armpit). If you've had tattoos before, for me, it felt the same, but in some (VERY FEW) places, it felt like a knife blade. Those spots were my stomach, just under my boob, My armpit. The back was really easy and I have less fat there then my stomach.
    The reason, for me, that it was painful (not even really pain, more annoyance), was because of the vibration. A numbing cream cant help this, as it's not the skin thats painful, it's the fact that the needle vibrates your insides. You can feel it through your WHOLE ribcage. The worst part for me was actually just UNDER my bottom rib, not on it, because it shook my entire rib cage and my stomach, which made me feel disgustingly sick.
    The skin is not any more painful then any other tattoo, its the vibration, which a numbing cream will not fix.
    It is not that bad, it's bearable. Besides, the pain is part of the experience. (Kind of a don't do the crime if you can't do the time thing).. If you want it that bad, a few hours of discomfort is nothing. I actually found the healing worse because of how intensely it ITCHED. I always forget about the itching, and they never tell you,. but it was almost unbearable.
    Plus, some artists will not tattoo you if they know you have numbing cream, because of the way it works, it creates more of a moisture barrier, making the skin tougher, and will cause the tattoo to fade more.
    It's really not that bad, plus when people are like "OMG That must have hurt!" You can be all tough and say "Hell yeah did it ever!" than be like "Nahhh I pussied out and numbed it"..
    A couple hours is nothing.. Just make sure you eat a really solid meal before, like steak and potatoes about 2-3 hours before, orange juice, and bring a bottle of orange juice... Really helps! But don't eat TOO soon before, because of the vibrations in your stomach will make you want to throw up, but not too long before either, because you will have already digested it. 2-3 hours is prime.

    Good luck!


  • Babies don't get tattoos. Oh, I'm sorry, you're just acting like one. My mistake.


  • Honestly, I've got a large tattoo from the bottom of my shoulder blade around my torso to the top of my hip (the majority on my ribs) and.. If I can hack the 3 x 2 hr session then you can. Cup of cement dude ;) Don't put anything on there except bepanthem, when it's done.


  • heck yes thet is gonna hurt. you can get this stuff called tattoo-cain of the internet and in some shops but yes invest.


  • The artists at the shop that I go to don't even let people use numbing cream. They say that it interferes with the skin's ability to "take" the ink (or something like that) and will end up screwing up your tattoo. In my experience, touch-ups hurt even more than the tattoo. Best to just suck it up, take the pain or figure out a different location for the tattoo.


  • don't use any cream, it's just the consequences that being tattooed is a little bit painful.


  • no. your getting a tattoo you need to experience the pain!!!
    the numbing creams dont work.. they are designed for people getting injections and so only work for an injection. not a tattoo.
    i would say take some strong painkillers half an hour before you go in... that seems to work for me


  • No don't do it..... it may interfere with the ink if you want to get a tattoo in such a sensitive spot than put up with the pain


  • A numbing cream won't even work long enough. It'll start to wear off and the artist won't be able to apply more because he/she will have to wait for it to take affect and also because it will affect the ink.

    If you can't take the pain, you probably shouldn't be getting a tattoo.


  • no, it could make the tattoo fade. the only thing you should be using for the first two weeks is aquaphor... and after that use unscented lotion.


  • good idea and you can take your own ink,needles to. im sure the artist wont be offended.







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