I have many scars on my forearm, that unfortunately are very noticeable and make me self conscious. After years of wearing long sleeves all summer, I decided it was time I did something that wouldn't make me feel as ashamed of the scars.
At A Glance Author anonymous Contact anonymous@bme.anon When A year ago Artist Liz Studio Urban Ink Location Southend-On-Sea, Essex I went for a consultation with a tattoo artist, who was very understanding. She told me she had been wanting to use an arm piece she'd designed a while a go on someone and hadn't had the chance. She told me it would take 4 hours-ish. This was my first tattoo and she recommended I did it in two sittings. But i was determined to have it done and out of the way as quickly as possible. I decided I'd sit through all 4 hours in one go.
The scars are quite deep, and I had been told that ink doesn't tend to stay well on the scarred skin. As she tattooed over the deepest of the scars, I couldn't feel any sensation. They were all numb, and I was glad of that. The skin just before the scars was quite sensitive compared to other places, so the sensation of the numbness and the sensitivity was strange. I had also been warned that the scars would probably bleed more than the normal skin, but as she tattooed them, they turned out to be the parts that bled the least.
Once the outline had been completed, I got used to feeling and it didn't feel as weird as I had thought. It was quite easy to get used to, and once you start seeing it develop into the bigger picture, you forget that you have a needle going in and out of your skin. When it was almost at the end, and after 4 hours of tissue being wiped over the already sore skin, my arm felt raw. The skin was blotchy and hot, but the tattoo looked brilliant.
You can still see the scars underneath the tattoo as they are raised, but it's not the first thing people notice or comment on anymore if they see it. The tattooist also drew the design herself, as a one-off. I feel quite proud of it and grateful that she wasn't too scared to tattoo over scars like some tattooists were.
I have another tattoo on the back of my neck, and both experience were extremely different. The sensation and pain of the one on my arm was completely fine compared to the one on my neck. I wouldn't say either were 'comfortable' or 'enjoyable' but they are worth it in the end.
The time goes by quite quickly when you're watching your skin be permanantly drawn on. Trusting one person to do that to you in itself is quite nerve wrecking, but with the added pressure of solving all the issues that had been keeping me wearing long sleeves all summer, was even more terrifying and exciting. The tattoo is quite detailed, and there was lots of colouring in and shading.
It was exciting and satisfying seeing the scars slowly disappear under the tattoo. I don't regret the tattoo at all, but I still don't generally show off the tattoo like I thought I would but I do feel more comfortable with them. The tattoo was a tiring experience, but it wasn't half as painful as i had imagined. The only parts that made me wince were the sides of my wrist, and fleshy parts on the inside of the elbow. The ink on the scars are still perfect, and haven't faded at all.
For a week after, my arm was wrapped in clingfilm. Some of the ink comes back out of your skin as it's healing. It was tender and hurt to bend my arm at the elbow. I had to tape round the edges of the clingfilm for showers.
Once i removed the cling film and the air got to it, it started scabbing round the wrist and the elbow. None of the scars got scabs on them at all. It's hard not to pick off bits of the skin that seem to be stripping away. I picked one bit and it pulled off more than what it seemed it would. Once it was healed completely, the part that i had pulled away had faded slightly. So i had to go back and get it tattooed over again. I didn't have to pay as she expected more to be needed to re-done on the scars. But none of them needed any.
I put vaseline and a cream on my arm for a few weeks. I was told not to put too much on as that can be as bad for your tattoo as not putting anything on it.
All in all it was one of the best things i could have done.