Frequently Asked Questions About Tattoos
Tattoos and MRI
Of course you can get an MRI if you have a tattoo. MRI stands for Magnetic Resonance Imaging. It’s a big magnet. Occasionally, especially with Jewelry, or implants, the magnetic waves from the MRI will bounce off of metal objects. You should always remove jewelry before getting an MRI. When the waves bounce off of certain metals, especially Ferrous (containing Iron), they cause the metal to move and possibly heat up.
There is generally a very low, if any, level of Iron in any tattoo pigment. Some people have reported a slight burning sensation, and others have noted tightness where the tattoo is. I have not found any substantiated reports of bad imaging, severe pain, or permanent damage. If I do, I will update. Surprisingly, the one customer I have had reports of tightness during an MRI scan was affected by his black tribal armband, rather than his brown eagle.
I have mentioned that Iron Oxide is present in most commercial permanent cosmetic pigments. Permanent cosmetics are usually not dense enough to cause these effects.
White Tattoos
Q: I am thinking of getting a white tattoo, but I have heard that white tats can sometimes turn out to be a cream color or even light brown. Shannon of BME fame says that one of his is even a bluish shade! Is this because of the transfer color, the speedstick (used in transferring the design -ed.), inferior quality inks, or what? Does anyone know? I don’t mind if mine comes out a light cream color, but I would prefer it to stay white if possible . I am very light-skinned, btw.
Is there such a thing as a white transfer, or could the artist draw the design in white ink, like a white gel pen?
Zokbar
A: I would love to see Shannon’s white, that is the first I’ve heard of such an anomaly. As for your other questions, there is nothing in the application of a stencil that would cause discoloration, at least by most standard types of application. The Gentian Violet in the stencil and the blue in the speedstick are non permanent, non lightfast colors.
The discoloration in white tattoos is either caused by the skin’s own natural color, or from scarring due to the fact that many artists accidentally overwork lighter colors, leaving a scar. These colors are on the top of your skin, where the pigment rests between the layers below. You always have to look through your own pigment to see the tattoo.
My best advice is to choose an area of your body with very smooth light and tender skin, such as the inside of your arm. Also choose a design that does not require shading. An outline provides a denser and more consistent field of color. Shading with white or using a solid white will cause your tattoo to look blotchy, with bright spots and spots of bare skin.
This does not apply to white highlights in a tattoo. When done properly, the white looks brighter because of the contrast with the colors surrounding it.
Also, there are two whites on the market for tattooing, always choose the brighter titanium whites, the other one (zinc, I believe) has a higher tendency to turn brown. Laser removal also causes certain whites and any colors mixed with it to turn brown.
Tattoos and Medications
Q: I am getting a tattoo soon but I have to have my wisdom teeth removed by an oral surgeon. I’ve heard the antibiotics from that can have a negative affect on a new tattoo. Does anyone know how long I should wait after getting the tattoo to have my teeth removed?
Sleopard81
A: The antibiotics would more likely be beneficial to your healing tattoo, providing further protection against infection. Although something can be said about trying to heal two processes at the same time. I still say there’s no risk.
Albert
Q: My husband wants to get a tattoo but he takes 3-4 mg. Of Coumadin a day. Coumadin is a blood thinner that keeps the blood from clotting properly. The tattoo artist who does my work is worried that that the tattoo won’t heal properly, of course. My husband cannot go without his meds for even a day or too. Hope you can help.
Steve…..:~)
A: Well, Steve, Coumadin will not likely interfere with a tattoo, but there are limitations. Having a large boomer clientele, I have tattooed lots of people on blood thinners and they have no problems in healing. They cannot, however, take long sessions, I usually have to call it quits by the first 60-90 minutes. People who drink large amounts of alcohol or take blood thinners bleed a little more than most people. Generally the longer someone is being tattooed, the more the skin is irritated and they bleed more after a long session, pushing the pigment back out in spots. This does not apply to small tattoos (under 1 hour) or to black and gray tattoos.
Albert
Another note I would like to make is that many people on blood thinners may have heart problems. Magnetic fields have been shown to affect pacemakers and even kill people wearing them. A tattoo machine is an electromagnet and I do not recommend anyone with a pacemaker be tattooed.