How to Get a Medical Tattoo

 Do you want to draw a tattoo on your body? So think long before doing this, as tattoos have many harmful effects. Follow the article for more.

Over the past few years, people have become increasingly interested in the subject of tattoos of various types and for various purposes, but before making the decision to draw a tattoo, especially a permanent one, you must know the most important information about it in the following:
Types of tattoos

There are several special types of tattoos that differ according to their purpose, which are:

Permanent tattoos
Permanent tattoos are drawn by using a needle that inserts ink into the skin. This type of tattoo is permanent and lasts for life.
 

Temporary tattoos
Temporary tattoos are drawings prepared on coated paper, which are applied to the skin using water over them to be adhered to the skin.
Temporary tattoos usually last between 3-4 weeks, while adhesive temporary tattoos only last for several hours to several days.
 

Temporary tattoos (make-up)
This type of tattoo is used for makeup purposes, and a needle is used to insert colored ink into the skin in order to draw eyeliner above the eyes, define the lips, or draw the eyebrows.
 

Henna
Henna is a type of plant used to dye and paint the skin, and it has an orange color.
Henna was developed by adding some dyes to it to make it a black color that is more desirable to apply on the body than the original color of henna.
Risks of tattooing
Before deciding to get a tattoo, especially a permanent tattoo, it is worth knowing the health risks associated with it, which include:
 

Infection
The use of unsterilized needles in tattooing may expose the body to the risk of various infections, and for this very reason the American Association of Blood Banks has prohibited accepting blood donations from those who have received a new tattoo for up to a full year.

It is worth noting that the place where the tattoo was drawn needs great medical attention during the first week or so of its placement. To ensure that you do not get any possible infection, which often does not happen, so infection increases among people who wear tattoos.
 

Exposure to tattoo removal problems
Making the decision to remove tattoos on the body requires a lot of effort and perseverance. This requires undergoing one of the following options:

• Undergo several laser sessions.
• Exposure to grafting.
• Dermabrasion procedure

The occurrence of scars
Unfortunately, there are some types of tattoos that do not disappear completely and leave behind some scars, and the skin in the place of the tattoo does not return to its normal appearance after removing the tattoo, no matter how hard the person tries. Therefore, before making the decision to place a tattoo, one must be well aware that this will be present for life.
 

Exposure to allergies
An allergic reaction to tattoo pigment and ink is rare, but it may occur and may be very annoying. This is due to the difficulty of removing and disposing of the ink.

Allergy may appear in the form of granuloma, which is an allergic reaction that results when a foreign substance, such as tattoo ink, enters the body.

It should be noted that this allergy may appear in the tattooed person a year after applying the tattoo.

Experiencing complications during magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Several cases have been recorded in the world in which a person wearing a tattoo suffered burns in the area or swelling after undergoing an MRI. However, these cases are rare and there is no explanation yet for their occurrence, so it is worth informing the doctor if there is a tattoo on the body before undergoing an MRI.
Tips to reduce tattoo complications.

 

Planning Your Tattoo

Brainstorm a design: With the exception of radiotherapy tattoos (which will be small dots), you will need to select a design for your tattoo. Even if you want something simple (such as plain text for a medical alert or meat tag tattoo, or the replacement of an areola), you will still need to make some decisions (such as selecting a font, size, and/or color). If you want your tattoo to be more elaborate, begin by doing some internet searches to get ideas. Then, meet with a tattoo artist to discuss details. Many artists will do a custom design for you, though some may charge a fee for this service.


Choose a location on your body: The location of your tattoo will vary depending on the type of tattoo you need, and how large you want your tattoo to be. A tattoo artist can help you to make this decision. Be aware that some areas of the body are more painful to tattoo than others (such as the rib cage).

• A post-mastectomy tattoo will appear on the chest.
• Meat tag tattoos are traditionally done on the upper rib cage, although sometimes these appear on the chest.
• Work with your doctor to determine the proper placement of radiotherapy tattoos.
• Medical alert tattoos appear on a variety of bodily locations. To increase the likelihood that a medical professional will see and recognize your tattoo, consider placing it on your wrist or forearm, where you’d normally wear a medical alert bracelet.

Talk to your doctor: Getting any kind of medical tattoo is a big decision. As such, it is good to discuss it with your doctor. If you have a disease or have recently had a medical procedure (like a mastectomy), your doctor can determine whether or not you are well enough to have a tattoo done. 

Here are the following tips that may help you reduce the complications of tattooing on the body:

•      Do not apply tattoos while under the influence of alcohol.
•      Get the tetanus vaccine before getting the tattoo if you have not received the vaccination within the previous ten years.
•      Choose a specialist who uses sterilized paws and clean tools, and there is no harm in asking him some questions about how he sterilizes these tools.
•      Check the area before tattooing and make sure it is clean.
•      Choose dark colors for tattoos, such as: black, dark blue, and red, as they are easier to remove compared to light colors, such as: green and yellow.
•      Stay away from using henna on the skin, as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has prohibited the use of this henna except on the hair, as some types of it may cause burns and severe inflammation on the skin.