Just how tough are tattoos???

Hey guys, I got another hard question for yall. Its in reguard to just how tough tattoos are. There isnt much information out there on the market reguarding this subject. I believe if tattoo magazines and websites would take more time to research and put out detailed articles with pictures and examples, there would be a higher standard of knowledge out there. For example, lets take myself.... I had acne real bad as a kid. It left big keloid scars on my chest, shoulders and back. Well until I met the right tattoo artist, I never thought they could be tattooed over. When he told me they could, I was skeptical, but it turned well. We had to put the ink in twice, but they were covered up none the less. It turned out so well, I started on a chest piece, which was where most of the scarring is/was. Sometimes, rarely the acne still flares up, but I dont to seem loose much ink. Luckily I havent had a terribly big spot come up on the linework, because it seems like it might push it, smear it, or blur it some. I've been happy so far. I then learned tattoos can be pretty tough. Meaning, all that jazz about how to not tattoo on top of scars is sometimes incorrect. So back to my original question: Just how tough are tattoos? Are they built to last? Because Im in the process of getting two sleeves now, and Im a pretty rambunctious guy. (Im scared that this stuff might hurt my hard-earned tattoos) I ride motorcross, and I can take some high speed spills that literally scrape and burn my skin off. Or say I got in a fight and slammed somebody on the concrete, and happen to get really scrapped up in the process? Or say Im working on some mechanic stuff and my beautiful tattooed arms stay constantly getting scraped, or cut? Or say Im a wing chun master, and I stay constantly doing arm slapping, bruising excersizes and constantly bang my arms against the wooden dummy?? Or what if I broke my arm and they had to open it up? Or what if I lift weights and add like 3 inches to my arm?? Or what if I stay out in the sun? What determines how tough the tattoo is? I know how the artist puts it in has something to do with it. I guess how much voltage the machine uses is another factor? Question: If you basically did the whole tattoo twice, including the linework and coloring, wouldnt it be much more resistant to all forms of removal, including fading from sun, or damage from scraping and burns????? Because if so, maybe cats who want real good looking sleeves should get the ink put in twice. I've heard of people doing that for elbows. But....whatabout for other places. For example, if I get a tattoo by Joe Capobianco, with one of his sexy, beautiful women, Ima definitely get him to go over the whole thing twice if he doesnt mind. I know it'll be much more $$$.....but its built TWICE as tough. Right??? Ive seen some guys go out in the sun, and their shit fades......then some guys go out in the sun for years (with no sun-block) and the color stays popping.....so it must be the ammount of ink they put in, and skin type. If my theory holds true, and in my experience,generally ink is pretty tough but after being put in twice....should be damn near to erase. Life is so unpredictable, and to have good tattoos, and to get em when your young and wild......you just want them to look EXACTLY the same when your 50.......Now thats damn near impossible, but there has to be some knowledge out there that will give you insight on situations that people have been through before and how they're work held up through tough punishment. Any stories and experience??? Somebody really needs to do a lot of research and maybe start collecting pictures to put together an article on this subject. Thanks yall!!!! Peace

I practice martial arts including the Mook Jong wooden dummy, I have also grappled with "new healing" tattoos and knocked scabs off, I work in a mechanical job and have cut my self quite badly and deeply on my tattoos, I have even burnt a tattoo. With cuts only one of mine is marked and that was one on my leg which was gashed so has a clear scar line running through the centre of it, on my forarm which was burnt once the scarring healed that portion of the tattoo was more faded, the ones on my hands and feet have faded more than all of the others, some of my 27 year old tattoos are now being recovered with new art work because of fading, so overall tattoos are very resilliant to what ever you throw at them.

Thanks for the reply, it is encouraging. I practice grappling as well as a very high combat effecient form of wing chun. I will say a lot of wing chun doesnt work in the street, but you can be assured that Duncan Leungs style (private disciple of Ip Man, and Bruce Lees childhood friend) is tough to beat. Sounds like your tattoos have withsttood the test of time. I still wonder would it make a difference if the ink was put in twice altogether?? Thanks again.

Sounds like a REALLY good marketing strategy for tattoo artists actually...pay extra...have your ink done twice...get it FORD tough! lol...sorry...just couldn't resist! I'll take the money from the government to do the research study by the way! roflmao