I have a question.

[katblack]

Maybe someone can answer this, Linda or Karen.

How long after surgery does a person have to wait to get tattoos or piercings?

I had a bunch of piercings before surgery and due to my 18 days and inability to move basically, when I came home, I lost a few.
How long do I have to wait to get stuff redone?

[LindaRacine]

Kat...

Sorry, I don't have a clue. I suspect that Dr. Moreno will tell you to wait a long time, as he won't want you taking any chance of inducing an infection.

--Linda

[katblack]

Bummer.

I have this killer idea for my back scar and I don't want to wait... :D

[jsully]

I often wondered the same thing. I have a tattoo on by lower back and fear it will get messed up. I was wondering how long before I could have it "touched up".
jsully

[sweetness514]

Kat,

I read what you want done, Holy SMOKES! LOL! You're brave if you go through it, man the needle would hurt my back but then again you say you have no feeling in your back still. I guess it depends on the individual and what they like, I have a tattoo and it still itches at times, and my friend is the opposite, she likes the pain from piercings and tattoos :o

I know you have to wait a while, at least a year I think, b/c of a risk of infection. Don't risk it, you wild one you :cool:

[katblack]

Hahahah! It's a killer idea isn't it!?
I love that idea. Sis came up with the zipper part and I thought of the rest. Either staple piercings all the way down or tattoos of stitches all the way down.
I want to do it now while I still have no feeling in my back because I know if I do this at my 1 yr. anni. of surgery, it's gonna hurt because my nerves will have grown back full force.

My left leg is coming back so it's only a matter of time before my back does.
I want to do a test piercing. Go get my nipple redone, keep it super clean, make sure it doesn't get infected, and if that goes well, get the zipper pull piercing done at the top and then wait till after my appointment in November with Doc Moreno so I can go see doc? No infection! Can I do what I want now?...lmao

[Karen Ocker]

Whenever you decide to do this check with your doctor about preventive antibiotics.

Tatooing/piercings have also been known to infect a person with hepatitis B and C(viruses)--these can be fatal. They also and can transmit bacteria(staph and MRSA). :eek:

What is most important to you----- health or image will help you decide.

Here are excerpts from medical journals:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?itool=abstractplus&db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=abstractplus&list_uids=12836454

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=11794454&query_hl=4&itool=pubmed_docsum

[katblack]

I know the risk of infection. I had 9 piercings and 3 tats before I went in. I was just wondering a time limit because no matter when you get any type of body mod done (including surgery) there is always the risk of infection.
But, that is why you have to go to a clean establishment, make sure the equipment and needles, jewelry etc, are all new in plastics and sealed, before proceeding.

I have never once gotten an infection from any type of modification because I know what to look for and watch out for.

I'm not gonna be stupid though. I will ask him. I just really, really, want to do this. :D

[Karen Ocker]

You do not want germs from your skin(this includes staph found on everyone's skin) to settle in your hardware.

I can't imagine a piercing establishment being cleaner than an OR---can you???

[katblack]

They have to be certified by the health department every 90 days here, I don't know about elsewhere.

I said I was going to ask. I am not stupid enough to just go ahead and do it even though I really want to do this.
*sigh*

Thanks for the links though. :)

[sweetness514]

I have never once gotten an infection from any type of modification because I know what to look for and watch out for.

I'm not gonna be stupid though. I will ask him. I just really, really, want to do this. :D

This makes me think of when I got my tattoo. I was 19, just got dumped by the biggest jerk on this side of town(my first love :rolleyes: awww! lol ) and wanted to be rebellious, LMAO. I swear the guy who did the tattoo was stoned out of his mind and I was so dumb and naive back then I didn't even know or think about checking the place if it was clean, you know? :p At least you're a grown woman now, and you know what to look for and by now should be a pro at this :cool:

You're so bad and funny :D

[lnetzer]

katblack:

Have you ever watched the show on TLC called Miami Ink? (they might have a website) I think it was a few weeks back a woman who had scoliosis surgery in her teens had a beautiful tattoo done over her scar about 10 years later. The tattoo artist said something about using a different ink or something because of the way the scar would hold the ink, but it turned out awesome. I think your idea rocks!

[Pips]

I love Miami Ink. I hope we get an answer to your question tho' Kat as I want another tat myself and wondered how long I might have to wait.

[bbest]

Someone on the Adolescent and Teen board posted about an episode of Miami Ink involving a girl who had scoli surgery and a tattoo. Thought I would pass along to Kat, sweetness and whomever else might be interested.

[Marcia]

A couple of weeks ago I had a different type of "tatoo" done. Knowing how bad I would look without makeup for so long after surgery, I just had my eyelids and eyebrows permanently done. It was done in a doctor's office and I used antiobiotics before and after. I'm so glad that I did it! Now I wish I had done my lips as well...but ran out of money and now time! Surgery is in a little over 2 weeks.

[Snoopy]

katblack,

I think you should hold off on any tattoos (although I must say your idea is awesome!) until you are at least one year post-op. Here's something crazy for you: my daughter wanted her ears pierced so I asked for antibiotics and the doctor said NO WAY!! Not until she is at least one year post-op. My response was, okay, she can't get her ears pierced, but you okay'd her to have 4 teeth pulled and 4 teeth cut out? His explanation was this: with having her teeth removed (had antibiotics before and after oral surgery) the oral surgeon would put stitches in and therefore, the holes would be closed reducing the risk of infection. The reason why she couldn't get her ears done, well, he says that the holes remain open for 3-6 weeks and during that time, she would be open for infection. Makes sense, huh?

I know the wait seems endless right now, but I personally would suggest waiting until the one year mark. The last thing you want to do is get an infection and possibly have to go through more surgery to remove rods and replace them or whatever would come of the infection.

Besides, wait until your one year anniversary and get your tattoo that day. What better way to celebrate!

Mary Lou