Fainting doesn’t have to have anything to do with psychology, it may as well just be physical.

I’ve never had a problem with needles before, but once when I was giving blood during a physical I all of a sudden fainted. The doctor explained to me that there are many factors to concider. I am tall for one and quite low blood pressure. But more important was that the nurse had problems finding a good vein (I was giving quite a lot of blood) to pinprick. She stung me three times before possibly finding a good vein, and maybe she got a little eager or something, because she was pretty much digging around in my elbow pit with that needle. I was looking, as I always do because I think it works best that way, and then things got dizzy and I woke up on the floor with a bunch of people around me.

The doctor explained that it is possible that when certain nerves gets hit (don’t ask me for specifics) the reacts in a certain manner. Blood vessels open which may cause blood pressure drop and you faint. I suppose it’s sort of like the body panics – even if you’re head is calm – and prepares for a massive flight but as nothing happens the boody doesn’t pump as much blood as expected but the vessels are open. Again, don’t ask for specifics or take this as 100% correct, but this is the main picture of what can happen.

A few weeks later I was having my first tattoo session and as the needle struck me I started to feel dizzy and probably would have fainted if I didn’t already lie down. That however I guess is just mental, as it hasn’t happened since.

Showing off tattoos in night clubs and such I suppose is concidered pretty lame. Sure, whenever I go out I show my tattoos but that’s because I like wearing t-shirts and then I can’t hide them.

Tattoos for me don’t necessarily have a specific meaning. I doesn’t have to “Miami Ink drama” over everything. I didn’t get them because it’s cool either. I suppose you could say the overall meaning is that I find tattoos fascinating and them itself symbolise a choice I’ve made. I’m going strictly japanese (although I love so many other styles but I want a conistency) and my plans are to get a body suit over the years. I’m 26 now, I’m not in a rush. So far “only” one arm is done (which btw is typically west, as in Japan you’d normally start with the back which makes it easier to combine the different motives when you move to other parts of the body) but I’m in no rush. I don’t want to be finished by the age of 28. A wild guess is that it will take me about 7 more years before I feel done.

It’s interesting to see how tattoos seem to treated differently in different countries. I’m from Sweden and the only reactions I have got so far is “wow”, “awesome” and “nice” (and of course; “you shouldn’t add colour to that, it looks good already”). Sure most of them are in their mid 20’s but from work, where I am only one of two under 30, the reactions have been nothing but positive. For example, one guy in his 40’s says he has thought of getting one too for a long time, but he’s not too keen on the pain. He might end up one of those who regret it a little (but he seems so content with life I don’t think he will die axnoius about it). And sure, some might don’t really like tattoos but they’re not against it.

My point is, tattoos aren’t that controversial nowadays. There’s always plenty of room somewhere for you with your full sleeve.

Look at it this way: what will you say if you get laid off or get fired by that moron boss of yours, from the company you have served over the years that still prevented you from getting something you really wanted, that hurt nobody else?

Or compromise a little. Get a 3/4 sleeve. That’s what I’ve done. I want to be able to hide if I feel like it. And I also have pretty long and small arms so a 3/4 looks way better than a full sleeve probably would have.

Yes it will hurt, but it will pass. If you’re too afraid of pain you shouldn’t do it. But once you’re sitting there it will feel okay, like something you can overcome. The pain is extremely temporary. The healing is worse, in an annoying way.

If it’s a good idea for a first tattoo? Only you know really. It seems like it’s something you really want and have thought a lot about and that’s always a good sign. Then it’s not only a spur of the moment. Although you should be prepared that it will show. You can’t hide if forever. One day you might want a new hair style or get caught in a wind… No matter what you think 😉 If that’s okay, then go for it. It seems like you’ve already made up your mind anyway and just want a push through the parlour door.

“Family” and “One love” are quite warm words, so perhaps you could tuck it in with something? Clouds, fog, decorative lines?

With risk of sounding repetetive:
As Sherav said, the tattoos will only be affected if you gain or lose a lot, but it think it also has to do with how fast. Steroids for example may cause your skin to burst which may damage the tattoo. However, when you grow at normal speed the skin stretches naturally.

Just a question about the meanings of your ideas. If you for example want an Asian dragon, why don’t you get it? Opposed to kanji, which do have a specific meaning (soup means soup, not uniqe), what it truly means is your own definition. It will probably always remember you of the time you had it made and what was going on in your life at that time. Timeless is a concept that just isn’t that applicable to humans. There’s no way you’ll feel and look at the world the same way you do when you’re 28 or 58 as when you’re 18. Or perhaps you think you wont change ever? 😉

The thought crossed my mind but it wasn’t anything I cared about. Of course I’m aware that irezumi (as it is called in Japan) has a history with the Yakuza. And still you’re not allowed to visit certain bath houses, gyms or any other places where you might show some skin, if you’re tattooed. And body suits are still very common among the gangsters. However, I assume, tattoos are spreading among more and more regular people in Japan as they do in the rest of world. As little or much as you think of a tattooed westerner as a criminal or sailor you think of a japanese with tattoos as Yakuza. Although the situation is a bit different in Japan because of the Yakuzas impact on society in genereal, but see it in a greater picture. But this is just facts that I feel people interested in getting irezumi should know prior to their inking, it’s not exactly deep research.

And as westerner I’m even less concerned. Tattoos or not, I’m probably going to be concidered a stupid foreigner/tourist if I visit Japan anyway 🙂 (even though my sleeve follows a traditional pattern done by one of the worlds acknowledged finest artists outside of Japan). However I would take it easy showing it off in at first just to get a feeling. But that’s more like common sense and custom behaviour. I wouldn’t add ketchup to sushi either so to speak. Although I’ve heard, from my tattooer, that showing up as a westerner with a lot of tattoos generally gets a good response. People look at you but mostly not in a bad way, joke around and ask questions.

Another aspect of it all is that the art itself is older than tattooing. The tattoos are sprung out of old wood blocks of art.