Anyone had tattoo on their ribs??

Question

I have decided the best place for my first tattoo would be on my side, it would only be on the ribs, not as far down as my waist.

I've heard from so many people that it is incredibly painful...is it bearable? is it really THAT bad? because its putting me off a bit!

I've only ever had piercings and cant really compare the pain.

Answer 1

Tattoo's do hurt plain and simple. But it is bearable.

Answer 2

Most artists I have met tell first time tattoo goers that they will not do a tattoo on the ribs until they have gotten a tattoo before because it is so painful but, some artists don't agree. I know someone who got in small letters "loved" on her ribs and she said it was the worst pain of her life. Everyone is different though, don't let pain scare you away from something you really want.

Answer 3

ribs hurt more that the waist in fact ribs hurt more than the back of your neck or at least it was for me.  

Answer 4

First and foremost seek out a good tattooist, word of mouth and seeing examples of their work etc, then ask them to design a tattoo that only you will have. A good artist should be able to provide you with a locally applied anaesthetic cream which is absorbed through the skin, this is normally used when giving people with sensitive skin injections etc. rec'd you contact Spike at the Art tattoist Plymouth Devon, yes it will still hurt but it is bearable.

Answer 5

Yes it will hurt,

will it be bad? yeah pretty much.

Therefore I really wouldnt reccomend

getting your first tattoo on your rib area.

I'm planning on getting mine done,

but for some reason the most

painful seeming areas are the most appealing to me.

( ex: inner wrists, my neck, and besides the one I'm planning for my ribs, I want a cherry blossom and vine design on the bone on my wrist.)

I'm not saying count your idea out,

just maybe wait on that one -

see if there just isn't another tattoo you'd want

for a first, and in probably a less painful area.

Good luck!

Answer 6

no

Answer 7

My cousin got a tattoo on his ribs and he was squeezing the h**l outta my hand. But he wasn’t freaking out or anything. He said it was pretty painful but worth it. The ribs are the most painful place to get tattoos but don’t let that stop you.  

Answer 8

The ribs is the most painful place to get a tattoo, and many tattooists refer to it as "death row" haha. However, if this is something you really want tattooed on you, the pain is worth it.

Answer 9

tatts on bones hurt more than on squishy bits

Answer 10

yes yes yes it hurts.

I have a giant jellyfish on my right side. It felt like someone was scraping the skin off of my body. But it was so worth it. afterwards I was like NO MORE TATTOOS PLZ! And now I'm saving up to get an octopus!

Answer 11

not really, tbh i found it ticklish

i'm the only one i know with a tattoo there and my friends have them everywhere else, they all say that the outline hurts the most and th coloring is fine but i found it the opposite, the lining was ok bu the coloring got sore after a while, spose it depends on how big/colorful you're having it

Answer 12

I was watching Miami Ink and the tattooist said the most painful place to get a tattoo is the ribs. Dont be put off though, It'll be worth it x

Answer 13

i have one on my ribs it hurt pretty bad but it was kind of big and had alot of colors it took three hours to get it done

Answer 14

I strongly suggest not to get your first on your ribs. I got my first on my foot and a lot of people suggested that I didn't get it there (because it's known to be more painful than a lot of areas) but I didn't listen (thank God because it was bearable pain) but I got my fourth tattoo on my ribs and it was excruciating pain.

No one can tell you if it is really THAT bad because everyone has a different level of pain tolerance. But the general consensus is that the ribs are going to hurt pretty bad and it is the worst place pain wise. I found the initial tattoo process to be really really painful...I felt like a knife was scraping directly against my ribs. I sat through a 50 minute tattoo and was done for the day. It killed. The healing was just as bad because I felt like I had been punched in the ribs for a good week or two. I want to get a piece done on my other side but I doubt it's going to happen for awhile because I am just not looking forward to a needle going anywhere near my ribs.

I'd really put a lot of thought into this and maybe find a different spot.  

Answer 15

One of my tattoos is on my ribs and yes, it was incredibly painful.  I have several large tattoos and I can honestly say that the ribs were the most painful spot I was tattooed.  It hurt considerably more and, for me, it actually took longer to heal.  

Not to put you off from getting one there - if that's where you want your tattoo, go for it.  Your tattoo is with you forever, a few hours of pain on the ribs is nothing compared to that!  Good luck!