Tattoos on older women

A friend of mine was one of the very first to have nipples tattooed on following reconstruction after breast cancer. She was featured in medical journals and was thrilled with them

Not a fan myself except that I have seen tattoos used to - not cover up, more celebrate? - mastectomy scars (things like climbing roses all over the chest) and I think that were I faced with such surgery I might well consider something similar.

OldFrill

Not an older woman obviously but is Andy Burnham the first tattooed British PM .

Doubtful.
Obviously Angela Rayner has tattoos. 🤣

Not an older woman obviously but is Andy Burnham the first tattooed British PM .

Former Spice Girl Mel C got married yesterday. She is in her 50s now. Her photos are awful showing some very ugly tattoos on her back and arms. An old fashioned tribal band and an anchor and something I don’t recognise on her back. I seem to recall she had a big black cross on the other arm.

If they're addicted to pain, they can come round here and I'll bash 'em with a screwdriver for a couple of hours, for half the price.

I heard that people like the pain of getting tattoos, dealing with anxiety etc and they get addicted to having them.

I have two, very personal to me and hidden by clothes. I discovered a similarly aged colleague has the most beautiful tattoo I have ever seen very recently. I often think of having another but have never got round to it. They can look absolutely beautiful if done well.

I'm with Dickens.😁Just seems like trying to stir up trouble.

Did you see the cartoon , set in a care home, of two residents playing “Guess the tattoo” ?
I think the only tattoo I would be tempted to get is if I had a serious allergy. Or a rare blood group. Perhaps inside the wrist for medics to see.

I’ve got three wouldn’t have any more one just above ankle one on each shoulder blade all can be covered by clothes they are only really seen in summer months they are tributes to close family. Wouldn’t have any on arms as I like to see clear skin, each to their own of course

I had my one and only tattoo done when I reached 70 yr old.
It’s a small outline of my cockapoo with a heart above his head, and it’s on my ankle, as he’s always around my feet.
He’s very special to me because he’s my Assistance dog and has been my saviour. I owe him so much ❤️🐾

Thisismyname1953

I don’t have a tattoo and never will . My DS and DD have tattoos but my Older DS doesn’t. I really don’t mind them .
An elderly patient many years ago had his ex-wife’s name on his Willy 😂😂😂

Ouch!!

I watched "Oh dear, they buggered up my tattoo" or something before, and the young woman wanted to cover a botched tattoo with an Amy Winehouse portrait.

The portrait itself was an absolute masterpiece, but it was huge!
Black and white, and took up the whole of the woman's leg.

There's none so queer as folk.

I saw a young man today who was wearing shorts. One leg was completely covered in tattoos and the other had none. Frankly it looked very peculiar. Perhaps he is saving up to get the other one done!

I don't like them and think they are a terrible waste of money. I certainly wouldn't have one myself, but I would never judge anyone simply because they had one. Having said that I would probably be wary of someone with one on their face.

Mines a grey splodge, and I couldn't be labelled as skeletal by a long shot!
Its just that it was done many years ago.
I don't ever give it a thought, to be honest.

I don’t have a tattoo and probably won’t now. I’m not a fan although some of the artwork is stunning . And I never judge anyone by tattoos or piercings .
My AC both have had a tattoo recently, both are small and discreet .
I’m 67 and a few of my friends have also had small discreet tattoos . One has linked hearts on the inside of her wrist for her late husband and 2 daughters . Another has a forget me not flower on the inside of her arm for her late mother .

Ignoring all the arguments about the symbolic nature of tattoos and the mental health problems that drive the need for reinforced identity in the form of inked skin, I have no doubt that an enormous number of women will regret their decisions to have one or a hundred tattoos by the time they're old. We know that tattoos fade over the years and if an elderly woman has one that chances are she won't live to see it fading, so that seems to be OK but what happens when her skin loses its elasticity, and worse still if she goes on ozempic or the like and becomes a shadow of her former self? I've had both these problems brought into my therapy room and I seriously worry that those with full arm and leg tattoos now will look and feel ridiculous when their muscle and skin quality takes a dive later in life. Skeletal bodies simply render tattoos as grey splodges.

I don’t have a tattoo and never will . My DS and DD have tattoos but my Older DS doesn’t. I really don’t mind them .
An elderly patient many years ago had his ex-wife’s name on his Willy 😂😂😂

srn63

keepcalmandcavachon

I never come across these damming judgements IRL, this thread is a revelation. (Not in a good way)

I don't think the opinions expressed on here can be classed as "damning judgements". They are people's opinions and as such they are allowed to be expressed. If you don't like or agree with them scroll on.

Choosing to use words such as Ugly, Hideous and Stupid whilst knowing full well there will be many on here who have tattoos is pretty damming IMO.
To read such pronouncements from fellow GransNetters upon your taste,style or looks must be very upsetting & hurtful.
Especially as many on this forum have gone and are going through so much, as we all know.
Many of us on here do seem to be able to express an opinion without being rude.
Indeed, it is one of the pleasures of this forum to gain insight into other's points of view.

Both my sons have tattoos which I just dont like. I keep telling them , that their tattoos are going to look horrible when the grow old and their skin shrivels 😂

keepcalmandcavachon

I never come across these damming judgements IRL, this thread is a revelation. (Not in a good way)

I don't think the opinions expressed on here can be classed as "damning judgements". They are people's opinions and as such they are allowed to be expressed. If you don't like or agree with them scroll on.

A lot will just say they look cool, but really a lot deep down don’t like really like them.
As so many people have them, young & old, are a huge fashion statement. People can have an opinion whether good or bad.
I was just interested to know.

I would add that I had to have dots tattooed for radiotherapy following my mastectomy and chemotherapy, and I had an areola tattooed around my reconstructed nipple to match the healthy side. Not comparable to the artwork that is popular with post-mastectomy people (and I say people, not women, as a male cousin has had breast cancer too).