Just had my first tattoo (and on my ribs no less)

[GunsAndShips]

I've been putting it off for ages and spent hours googling how painful a rib tattoo would be, worrying if I should have chosen somewhere else for my first one. The tattooist assured me that it would be nowhere near as bad as I was imagining and a doddle compared to childbirth.

Honestly? It didn't even hurt. Slightly scratchy but not even a 2 on the pain scale. I thought I'd share as I spent so much time worrying and reading horror stories of unbearable pain but it was absolutely fine.

Already designing my second one

@GunsAndShips it's beautiful x

Also like the original comparison to childbirth. I gave birth 2 weeks ago and i can also confirm that tattoos are a tickle in comparison 😂

@GunsAndShips So what are you planning next?

I'm going to get some birds (a robin, blue tit and a jay) next.

The tattooist said that women often sit better than men as they seem to consider the pain level in greater detail first (and it's usually less painful than we imagine) and given that we often have pain on a regular basis from our teens, sometimes increasing as we have children, we are used to managing it or ignoring it. She said she sees the same with regular migraine sufferers for example. You have coping mechanisms and are surprised when it's manageable or more manageable than previous experiences of pain.

I'm going to get some birds (a robin, blue tit and a jay) next.

The tattooist said that women often sit better than men as they seem to consider the pain level in greater detail first (and it's usually less painful than we imagine) and given that we often have pain on a regular basis from our teens, sometimes increasing as we have children, we are used to managing it or ignoring it. She said she sees the same with regular migraine sufferers for example. You have coping mechanisms and are surprised when it's manageable or more manageable than previous experiences of pain.

I spent hours googling rib tattoos and pain for months prior to getting my rib tattoo in July I booked it in March and luckily lockdown was lifted the weekend before I'd booked in. I was so stressed when I got there expecting the absolute worst but it was fine! My lovely tattoo artist gave me a can of full fat coke as she's worried i looked a bit panicked, arriving on my own in an area I didn't know and I'd got a bit lost after parking my car. I left feeling amazing with some photos on my phone so I could show it off. I would absolutely book another one if DH wasn't completely against it!

Love your tattoo OP 😍

I know this is a thread from last year but I'm impressed it didn't hurt.
My rib cage didn't hurt at first.....but I had the entire of my rib cage done- back side and front and by the end of that I thought I may actually be dead.

As it goes I've never given birth naturally, 2x c sec, but I do have chronic pain and a ridiculously high pain threshold...but my rib tattoos was my absolute undoing!

Very pretty! I love the style of handwriting, I want something in that style down my spine.

I'll still get the other side done though!