stretch???

im thinking about getting something done on the inside of my arm on the bicep, but im not too sure if it will stretch in the future as my arm gets bigger???

unless i'm mistaken the tattoo moves with your skin. therefor if your skin moves/stretches so will your tattoo. if i can figure out how to post pictures for you on here i can show you a before/after pic right now. one pre-preggo belly, and one currently-preggo belly as i've a tattoo there. but... my tattoo has stretched with my body/belly. (hopefully it will resize when i'm post-preggo) for example... if you had 1/2 a tribal arm band done when you weighed 90lbs, and then you got big and muscley and your arms gained a few inches (and you jumped to say 150 lbs) i can't imagine that teh tattoo wouldn't stretch. i don't know. what do the artists out there say?

Yes, as Bee stated, the tattoo will stretch if you get bigger (or shrink if you get smaller), something to think about when deciding where to get a tattoo placed. If you plan on 'body building' I'd suggest NOT getting it there as it would distort as your arm got bigger. Bee, good news is yours should go back to 'normal' after you have the baby and get back to whatever your 'normal' weight is, hopefully it's not in an area that aren't prone to 'stretch marks' as that's another issue and concern for women with tattoos on their stomach/abdomenial area and sometimes, upper thighs. Not all women get them, guess only time will tell with that part...Doc

some/most tattoos that stretch generally do no go back to thier original shape. Some will and if your lucky about the placement of yours that may be the case, but it isn't a good bet. My suggestion is to decide when your finished having little ones to see where the piece is at that point and go from there. there are alot of very talented artists who specialize in or are at least proficiant at coverup work and can better help you when the time comes.

i only say the preggo belly distors from a girl I new who had lettering around her belly in an arch above and below that after the kiddo came wrapped flat like a belt to her spine but that's definately not always the case.

i only say the preggo belly distors from a girl I new who had lettering around her belly in an arch above and below that after the kiddo came wrapped flat like a belt to her spine but that's definately not always the case.

Doc, The tattoo is actually right in the line of fire if I end up with stretch marks - JWerk & Taz can tell you as they've seen the pics. I'm so not good with computer stuff so I don't know how to post them on here. HOWEVER --- no stretch lines yet and I've less than a month to go!!!! I'm taking that as a good sign. :) I don't ever want to be my normal weight again - way too skinny - i'm hoping to keep 10-20 pounds of what i've gained. a girl needs curves. Crackbaby, i actually got this tattoo 4 years before i got pregnant. however, while i might regret the artist choice, i'll never regret the piece. even if it does end up with stretch marks/distortions. it's a very simple tattoo, that many think is overdone etc, but it has meaning to me -- the marks would just add to it i think. ;) positive thinking. gotta keep it going.

And just to let you know Doc, that the tattoo and the mama-2-be are lookin mah-velous! =P

Bee, the fact that you're so close and still not getting stretch marks is a good sign I think and not all women get stretch marks, hopefully you won't. As to not wanting to get back to your 'normal weight', nobody said ya gotta and personally I wholeheartedly agree, a girl should have curves and I'm rather tired of seeing women who are so thin it doesn't even look HEALTHY, let alone 'sexy'. And I like your attitude about 'if it does', both the tattoo and your child will always be 'part of you', good attitude and I hope that 'other problem' is clearing up and won't leave any serious flaws. How's THAT going? J, thanks for the info, good to hear....Doc

Doc, That other issue is clearing up pretty quickly. I tried explaining it to J (see your myspace kiddo)... It's like seeing someone who was really tan that has healing scabs/poison ivy and they leave white dots behind. I'm just hoping that all these dots aren't permanent. The areas where they burned (i know there is a tech. term for this, I just don't know it) aren't healing the way I'd like -- raised and all that good stuff -- they resemble keloids. I refuse to let myself get frustrated about it as it's not really within my control anymore - the meds just have to do their stuff. In the mean time I turned a pickle jar into a tattoo fund bank so I can save to get it touched up. Actually, on THAT note -- is it important to know what inks were used originally if touch up work is needed? all Bob mentioned was that at the time it was a new ink that he was excited about trying, i never thought to ask him the brand... (i feel like i've usurped this thread) ps: thanks J! :)

Bee, is there someone that you could contact at Bob's shop that would possibly know? There are some inks that are considered better than others but then again a lot of times that is the artists preference and experience with them. Surely SOME ONE out there can help out on this one.... ahem!

(ai this'll be the last post) unfortunately... the folks from his shop that would possibly know are Hoover and Buz (Hasson) -- neither of which still work there. I've no idea where Hoover is (he left a few years ago) and last I heard Buz was somewhere in Delaware. (Buz actually started this tattoo - but Bob did the colors and added a bit to it!) Bryce, the apprentice (now a full-fledged artist), wasn't even in his apprenticeship when this piece was started. I know it's very vibrant!! To the point that a lot of people ask me if it's real.... That probably doesn't help though.

Bee, as J suggested, try contacting someone at Bob's Studio to see if they could tell you which pigments were used, as there are many and knowing the exact one would definitely make doing a touch-up (if needed) much more predictable. The anology I use for that one is...get your nails done some place, mess one up and go someplace else and try to get an exact match (the reason I have for many years written the colors I use on the back of their 'registration card', if it requires a touch-up I KNOW exactly which red or whatever.) Possibly Bob did too, it's worth asking. In the meanwhile, try not to fret too much, it's still in the process of healing, wait 'til it's completely cleared up and healed before you decide whether it even needs a 'touch-up'. And thanks for the 'update', here's hoping it won't mess it up or at least, not beyond repair...Doc

...Okay, just talked to Taz over the horn. He said that as long as the artist is competant they should be able to match it. He also stated that Bob was a good friend of his and said that he would be more than happy to touch it up for ya at Tazfest. Ah ha! The 1% incentive reveals yet another facet! =)