To ask anyone who's had a rib tattoo..

[ouchgoestheweasel]

How awful is it, really? I have a high pain threshold but I'm not sure if I'm mentally prepared for the pain 🤣 it's going to be quite large and stretch round my side and underboob. I'll attach an image.

1. is it really awful?

2. any tips for managing the pain, staying in the chair!?

It varies. For some people it's a hugely sensitive area, other people don't seem to have any problem. Do you have other tattoos?

I have two small tattoos on my ribs..one of which is a significant name and even if that went to hell I would never get a cover up as all I can say is OUCH I love them dearly but I’d say take ibuprofen before going (maybe even a diazepam!) and be prepared that it’s a very very sensitive area!

Oh sorry just to say I was lying down for both, so possibly that made it more sensitive as well. Perhaps sitting would be better!

My sister and BIL are both tattoo artists and have always talked me out of rib tattoos. They've both said the majority of people end up in tears from the pain.

It hurts quite a bit, my sternum and ribs were some of the worst.
There's not much advice except gritting your teeth and telling yourself it'll be worth it.

I have a rib tattoo in the exact same place as the one you're having. I was v worried about the pain. Honestly? It was like a cat scratch only less painful. I was lying on my (other) side for the duration and just chatted happily with the artist.

Tattoos hurt most anywhere you find ticklish. It's natures way of protecting your vulnerable parts. So if you have ticklish ribs it'll hurt like fuck.

I haven't personally but a friend of mine had a sternum (underboob but centered, still partially over her ribs) tattoo as her first! She didn't have too much pain with it, especially because it's relatively fine line and without colour so there weren't huge areas to shade in all at once. It also depends, excuse the bluntness but when it comes to body modification it's pretty important, on how much fat you have over your ribs. The more padding, the less pain directly over the bone. If your artist uses numbing foam that could help, otherwise I'd second taking painkillers beforehand- paracetamol if possible because ibuprofen thins the blood.

I’m an absolute wuss and had 2 x 3 hour sessions on my rib tattoo and in all honesty is wasn’t as bad as I expected.

I've got writing on my foot and tattoos on both wrists. None of them bothered me. I'm also a size 16 so not skinny, not sure if that makes a difference? I won't talk myself out of it but I do want to be prepared. What about numbing cream? Do they provide it? Do I buy it myself?

My tattoo artist prefers not to work on numbed skin.

I'm a size 8 btw with fuck all fat on my ribs so was doubly worried. Still didn't hurt really. Bit stingy at worst.

Honestly, it was fine

I have a full Rob piece, goes from under my boob to my hip, wraps round the entire rib cage.

It wasn't too bad, got a bit thought at some points, but mainly from the skin being worked not necessarily pain as such. The only bit I really remember hurting was one bit right in a intercostal muscle no idea why just really hurt there.

Ribs are fine, hurt less than my foot (although I’ve got awfully boney feet)
Sternum was AWFUL

Are you sure this is what you want? I feel like it’s the new version of lower back tattoos

My ribs were fine, but I found the sternum area really painful. I always kept breathing weirdly as I was stupidly worried my chest moving would become a problem.

I have a tattoo the full length of my left side, basically from just below armpit, ribs, down to hip
Ribs were the least painful part to be honest, the side skin hurt worse, but I'm sensitive there
Was laid for a good 3 hours, at no point was it unbearable
I'm a size 12, but a pear and am quite slim around the waist
Loads of line work too and heavy shading, stung for a good week afterwards, but not enough to put me off another tattoo

@ouchgoestheweasel

I've got writing on my foot and tattoos on both wrists. None of them bothered me. I'm also a size 16 so not skinny, not sure if that makes a difference? I won't talk myself out of it but I do want to be prepared. What about numbing cream? Do they provide it? Do I buy it myself?

Don't take numbing cream with you without discussing it with your tattooist. Some creams affect the skin and make it harder to tattoo.

Better to go in with the right mental attitude - try to relax, think of the end result. I have had a lot of long tattoo sessions and the best advice I can give for when it gets tough is try not to tense up, keep breathing (easy to find yourself holding your breath), and remember that pain is temporary, the day will be over soon enough and you'll have your tattoo.

(also - remember that even if it does hurt like fuck for the first ten minutes or so, when the endorphins kick in it will be much easier. Every tattoo I have, I intensely question all my life choices for the first ten minutes and then it's fine)

I’ve got a rib tattoo and it wasn’t too bad, I found the most difficult bit was trying not to breathe (and therefore move) at a crucial moment!

To me it was still less painful than my foot. But definitely one of the worse areas to get tattooed. Make sure you ask for a break if you need one.

I have a rib tattoo. I have a decent pain threshold. It was ok a little uncomfortable. Just as it started to get to the point where I was thinking ouch, it was all done.

My rib tattoo was supposed to be coloured in. I couldn’t face any more after the outline!

Bloody agony. My whole body was sweating by the end of it.

If you're that worried then why have it done?