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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Tattoo artist made a mistake!

216 replies

Lezprechaun · 08/10/2014 19:01

Ok posting here for the traffic as sobbing at the mistake made on my tattoo today.

I asked for a treble clef behind my ear, watched him draw it out and it was perfect, then he tattooed it and of course I can't see but have got home and looked at a photo and it's backwards!

It was perfect when he drew it so no idea how it's ended up backwards but I'm devastated, it's in such a visible location as well that it looks ridiculous.

What can I do? I can't see anyway of fixing it :(

OP posts:
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6
divingoffthebalcony · 08/10/2014 20:00

Calaveras is right. When tattoo artists produce a transfer to tattoo over, the image is NEVER reversed. I've watched enough tattoo reality shows to know that's the case.

OP, if I were you I'd probably have to get it removed. Maybe if you complain the studio will contribute to the removal costs, as compensation?

OnlyLovers · 08/10/2014 20:01

Wigby, that sounds like a solution! I think they ought to do it for free, though, if they didn't make it clear to the OP what was going to happen.

PinkOcelot, what an unhelpful comment. Why does anyone want any tattoo anywhere? What does it matter? Confused

FindoGask · 08/10/2014 20:03

Go with what Wigby says. Laser will be a pain, and a cover up will need to be bigger, and darker, to work.

IgnoreMeEveryOtherFuckerDoes · 08/10/2014 20:03

I would go to a professional/reputable tattooist tmrw and ask their advice before going back to the other place.

Had my 1st tattoo and i was shown drawing, transfer and made sure i was ok with the position on back of my neck also about after care which included any problems to go back.

Calaveras · 08/10/2014 20:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

avocadotoast · 08/10/2014 20:04

Go to someone else and get it covered up with something better. Sounds harsh but you should have pushed to see the transfer on your skin before letting him start.

Fairylea · 08/10/2014 20:05

I'd have it removed and then have it done properly on the other side. Definitely complain to the tattoo studio. Dh is covered from the neck down and the place he goes to would be absolutely horrified at something like this happening.

cherrybombxo · 08/10/2014 20:06

I have many tattoos and I've never had a design reversed, it sounds like you went to a total hack, I'm sorry to say. My best friend is a tattoo artist and I know that she offers cover up work if a client isn't happy with her work for any reason. Call to complain ASAP.

Bearbehind · 08/10/2014 20:07

what, like a stick of rock

Unfortunately - yes.

Looseleaf · 08/10/2014 20:10

What does your partner think?
I'm not mad on tattoos but in this case actually like it .

Unexpected · 08/10/2014 20:10

I don't understand this business about the transfer reversing (although I know NOTHING about tattoos!) But surely if you ask, e.g. for a tattoo of your child's name and date of birth and are shown a design which you approve that doesn't then end up backwards when transferred onto your skin? So I don't see why it would apply here?

Calaveras · 08/10/2014 20:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BustiKate · 08/10/2014 20:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BabyDubsEverywhere · 08/10/2014 20:17

FUCK!
Could you claim its ironic? something clever about the music being within or something?

Id be looking at lazering while its fresh and starting again! and id be billing the tattooist too!!

googoodolly · 08/10/2014 20:17

Buski reputable ones do. Mine did anyway, as it was on my upper back.

Original poster
Lezprechaun · 08/10/2014 20:18

Thanks for some of the suggestions lol, I think I want it removed as it's not going to be what I wanted if I start altering it.

I'm still confused as to how it ended to reversed, it was perfect on paper when he showed me!

Oh and to the poster who asked, yes it's a reputable studio and the guy who did it is bloody amazing and well in demand for his amazing realism tattoos.

Have emailed the tattoo parlour but they will be closed as I was the last appointment of the day so most likely won't hear until tomorrow.

Does laser treatment really hurt? That's my biggest worry, especially if it takes loads of sessions.

OP posts:
googoodolly · 08/10/2014 20:21

Laser treatment is expensive and you won't be able to have it done straight away, your tattoo has to be fully healed first.

I think he put the paper on you the wrong way around, that's it. So it looked fine but when he put it on, he turned it over by mistake.

youbethemummylion · 08/10/2014 20:21

If you draw something on a piece of paper then flip the paper over so the drawn on side is now facing down the image is reversed, that is how it happened. Very amateur mistake for a tattooist to make.

hiddenhome · 08/10/2014 20:24

I had lasering done on one and it was less painful than having the tattoo done.

nannynoss · 08/10/2014 20:30

When I had my first tattoos done, they said not to ever ever pick the scab that forms as it will take the ink with it... Maybe you could just pick the scab off so that its at least faded or patchy and won't need as much laser removal?!
I realise this is probably a ridiculous suggestion but they did keep banging on about the tattoo having bits missing if I picked it...
But I think it looks fine, I've been looking at it for a while and still can't see it being wrong. But I am not at all musical.

Thcrapth · 08/10/2014 20:31

Um... I like it, I would second the idea of leaving it alone and being happy its perfect when you look in a mirror?
I know nothing about music though! But I love the quirkiness!
Sorry, not helpful.
Tattooist will be very embarrassed I would think, look after it for now and see what they suggest tomorrow.
I have a 13 behind my ear and it bugs me something chronic its wrong in a mirror! I might get it reversed on the other side.......

bottleofbeer · 08/10/2014 20:32

Hmmm if you don't look after a new tattoo properly then half the time you lose a lot of the ink (it literally peels offer with the new skin growth). Do everything against the book and hope it falls off? Schoolboy error that, it's his fault. I saw a friend post up a pic of her new tattoo on Facebook. It was writing the length of her arm and one of the words was supposed to be 'doesn't' but had been spelled 'dosen't'. You must be gutted.

bassingtonffrench · 08/10/2014 20:35

You need it removed, it looks wrong to me. I don't think it would reflect well on you professionally if you are a musician

Would've looked lovely the right way round. :(

Fairylea · 08/10/2014 20:36

Whatever you do don't pick at it or pull any scabs off as they form in an attempt to get rid of it - you could give yourself a very nasty infection.

ItWasNotYourFaultButMine · 08/10/2014 20:37

laser treatment isn't too bad, kind of like a plastic band being pinged against you, but a bit worse. but as mines is so small, it's over in 10 seconds, yours would take a bit longer obviously.
but really, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, and the guy who removed mine was very good at making sure I was ok and dealing with the pain, and would have stopped at any point if I'd asked.