Belly Tattoos, Weight Gain and Pregnancy

Penny Harmon
When getting a belly tattoo, you should be aware that body changes may also result in the appearance of your tattoo. If you gain weight or become pregnant, your tattoo may be come unrecognizable, even to you. Before you place a tattoo on your belly area, ask yourself whether you plan to have children in the future or whether you think you'll ever gain weight. You would be surprised by how much a tattoo can change.

A sudden weight gain or pregnancy can result in stretch marks. These ugly, white and pink lines, can reek havoc with the appearance of your tattoo. A tattoo that has been changed by stretch marks is possible to repair, however, it depends on your deep the stretch marks are.

Light colored stretch marks may be easily disguised compared to the deep, dark purplish colored ones. There is not much that can be done to repair these. The best thing to do if you've damaged your tattoo with stretch marks is to visit your professional tattoo artist and have them evaluate your situation. Many artists are experts at disguising flaws and repairing damage.

Another thing to consider when placing your tattoo on your belly area, especially on the lower abdomen, is what will your tattoo look like if you have to have a c-section when delivering your child. Many pregnancies end in a c-section and the scarring is there to stay.

If you are pregnant and considering a tattoo, you may be out of luck. Most tattoo shops will not tattoo a pregnant woman for the safety of the unborn child. It is possible that if you do get an infection from the tattoo, the infection could be passed along to your unborn child.

The risk is not worth it. You're best to wait until the baby is born. As with pregnancy, if you are breastfeeding, you should also wait until the baby is weaned so not to pass any possible infection along.

Tattoos are a wonderful form of artistic expression, however, you need to be aware of the changes to your body when getting one. If you are heavy and lose weight, your tattoo may be changed in appearance, as well.

Take care in where you place your tattoo. Think about how any sudden weight loss or weight gain damage it and how you may be able to get it repaired. You may need change your mind in where you have the tattoo placed.

Published by Penny Harmon

Penny Harmon is a freelance writer living in Maine. She specializes in writing web content to help bring more traffic to your site. She currently writes for several clients, as well as Discover Maine Magaz...  View profile

  • Body changes may also result in the appearance of your tattoo.
  • If you are pregnant and considering a tattoo, you may be out of luck.
  • Tattoos are a wonderful form of artistic expression.
Many artists are experts at disguising flaws and repairing damage.

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  • Samantha Van Vleet11/12/2010

    I knew some girls in high school who got tattoos on their stomach and all I could think was "That butterfly is going to turn into mothra if you ever have kids!" It's one thing that makes me glad I never got a tattoo!!!

  • Rebecca11/10/2008

    I have a few tattoos and I'm probably not going to have kids, but I'm keeping the possibility open and leaving my abdomen alone for a while... there are a lot of other places to get tattooed, after all. :)
    People need to put more thought into getting a tattoo, both design and how it will affect your life.

  • Rhiannon7/19/2007

    I'm really scared now, i got my first tattoo on my belly last week (i'm 18) and only thought afterwards hang on i will want kids someday! I love my tattoo its some cute little soap bubbles but i fear they will look like eggs if i get pregnant which is scary because the tattooist threatened me they'd look like eggs if i didnt STOP MOVING!!

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