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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask older people about their tattoos?

40 replies

Had2Be · 21/11/2022 11:29

If you are older now and your skin is starting to wrinkle/sag, do you regret your tattoos? Not the content but the appearance now your skin is changing. This is not a thread against aging or tattoos, just curious as I’m thinking of getting one.

OP posts:
hattie43 · 21/11/2022 11:32

If you are worried about sagging maybe choose an area like inside the wrist or ankle where skin droop will be minimal .

Original poster
Had2Be · 21/11/2022 11:36

Inside wrist is the place I’m thinking of, but then that means it’s always on show, though less prone to wrinkle like you say.

OP posts:
HuntingHappiness · 21/11/2022 11:42

I have 3.
My oldest one is 34 years old, youngest one 15 years old. None of them have sagged but I haven’t really changed weight in that time, they are small and they are on boney rather than fleshy areas. They have drastically faded and do look crap tbh but they are mostly covered up so no one except DH gets to see them.

CaptaNoctem · 21/11/2022 11:44

I'm over 60 and have one on my upper thigh. It's not wrinkling or sagging at all.

hattie43 · 21/11/2022 11:44

Had2Be · 21/11/2022 11:36

Inside wrist is the place I’m thinking of, but then that means it’s always on show, though less prone to wrinkle like you say.

If you go to an event and would prefer to hide it wear a watch or concealer if you choose the wrist

SingMeToSIeep · 21/11/2022 11:46

I'm 50 and had my most recent one three years ago (I've lost count of how many I have, but I had my first when I was 16).

The sagging isn't an issue for me and I regret absolutely none of them, not even the ones I probably wouldn't choose to have if I were getting a tattoo now, because they reflect how I was at a certain time in my life.

The only advice I would give re getting older with tattoos is not to have anything with small script - as you get older your skin changes, the ink 'spreads' and words become illegible (as I've found out!). This happens faster on areas exposed to the sun regularly. These areas also fade faster, even more so if the colours are bright - some red ink on my wrist from the 90s is now practically gone. Meanwhile the red rose on my ankle which I had done at 16 is perfect! Sunscreen helps but can't stop the effects of time completely unfortunately.

My tattoos are lived in and part of me, just like my skin, which is why I love them!

Bestcatmum · 21/11/2022 11:48

I'm 60 and it doesn't bother me, I have a sleeve. I can get away with it as I work in Glastonbury. If they banned tattoos and multi coloured hair they wouldn't have any staff, I'm getting the other one done next.

Original poster
Had2Be · 21/11/2022 11:55

I want just a small fine line in dark ink. I have noticed some with that blurry look, so I guess mine would go like that after a while.

OP posts:
CaptaNoctem · 21/11/2022 12:44

Yes - fine fines do tend to bleed. If you want a very detailed design it will need to be larger to allow for this or you'll just end up with a blurry mess in the future

Bouledeneige · 21/11/2022 12:49

2 people close to me with tattoos at 60. One has been going for extensive and painful laser treatment to remove his which are ugly blurry messes. They look even worse at the moment but the treatments not finished. The other has one on the back of his shoulder which is quite large and similarly a blurry blob.

But as I understand it tattoos may be higher quality now so less likely to blur but much harder to remove.

Original poster
Had2Be · 21/11/2022 13:54

Might have a bit of a re think then.

OP posts:
RightsHoarder · 21/11/2022 13:59

I have a tattoo which was once on my hip, but is now tucked firmly underneath a saggy belly. Even if I lose weight it will always have stretchmarks running through it and I don't regret it one bit. It makes me laugh as it demonstrates what I was like at 18. I just feel like my body tells the story of my life and getting a tattoo there when I was 18, and not realising the impact having a baby would have on it makes me chuckle about how I thought I would be young and wrinkle and sag and stretchmarks free forever.

StarlightLady · 21/11/2022 14:15

I'm in my 40s. I have just the one which is bespoke and was designed by someone special to me, it is about 15 years old and slightly (but only slightly) sharper than it originally was.

Heatherbell1978 · 21/11/2022 21:03

I'm 44 and have 3 all around my midriff and lower back. My mum was horrified when I got one on my midriff aged 18. Apparently it would distort if I ever had kids. I've had two pregnancies and it looks exactly like it did when I got it done!

ScruffGin · 21/11/2022 21:05

I had a ridiculous, very 1990s dolphin tattoo when I was 14/15.

My dd4 recently asked me why I had a whale on my bum.

Luckily I can't really see it 😂although to me it looks the same, maybe I should get her eyes tested...

Anapana · 21/11/2022 21:07

I’m 57 and I hate it, so embarrassing! It’s in my shoulder, is small but it’s all sort of faded and horrible. Urgh

BatshitBanshee · 21/11/2022 21:10

I have 9 tattoos and although I'm in my 30s, I've had the tattoos for the last 10-12 years. That includes losing a shedload of weight, gaining some and two pregnancies... Not much change APART from the fine line tattoos. They bleed and blur and would not recommend at all. On your ribs isn't that painful and there's less change around that area... Stay away from your wrist/hands if you really want fine line. Anywhere where there is constant exposure/frequent water use (hand washing) is never going to stay intact for long.

Feetupteashot · 21/11/2022 21:40

I've seen a lot of old tattoos and they pretty much all look blurred and grim

Nat6999 · 21/11/2022 22:09

I've put on 4 stone since I got my tattoo on my lower back, it still looks perfect 8 years on. I moisturise it religiously & my stretchmarks have managed to avoid it.

Original poster
Had2Be · 22/11/2022 06:15

Thanks all for your helpful comments. I’ll hold off for a while and try to have surreptitious looks at older womens tattoos.

OP posts:
adiosamigoo · 22/11/2022 06:16

I have 2 large tattoos, I’m young, I got them a year ago and regret both

Squeezedsquash · 22/11/2022 06:21

I saw someone the other day with a beautiful tattoo across her chest and up her neck into her chin, like tendrils growing up her.

However, she was early 20s and I just thought about how much she will regret it as she gets older.

Shlomping1234 · 22/11/2022 06:22

I had one on my hip 28 years ago. I've had 3 dc's and it still looks the same as when I had it.

LaLoba · 22/11/2022 07:05

I’ve got 2, the older one was done in my early 20s, so it’s nearly 30 years old, on my upper arm (a band). I’m religious about sun protection as I do a lot of outdoor exercise and burn easily so it still looks pretty fresh. No sagging either.
But I’ve always thought that when my skin start to get wrinkled and saggy, it will be that way whether I have a tattoo or not - can never understand what difference it will make.

KatyN · 22/11/2022 07:28

I have one on the inside of my wrist. I got it for my 40th mid life crisis!
I can not think of a single time I would want to cover it up. I work for a large law firm, I can't imagine a more corporate job and never cover it.

For me that's what's important. It will be there forever so if you are already planning how to cover it up, do you really want it?

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