Body Art in a Relationship: Tattoos, Piercings and Body Modification

Art is very subjective, and what one person likes another might not. This is true of the newest craze in body art as well. Tattoos, piercings and body modifications are the new canvas for people wanting to express themselves in unique ways. While I have no personal issue with body art, I do think there are many things someone should take into consideration before choosing to permanently alter their body. This is especially true when one is considering altering their body for another person inside a relationship.

You see, body are is permanent, and even if you remove the 'art', the body is left with permanent scarring and changes that will never return back to the unscarred state. However, relationships are very rarely permanent.

I know, you're in love and you're thinking that love will last forever and ever till death do you part, right?

It's very unlikely.

Even if you are together until one person dies, people do die, and the chances of you and your current partner both staying together with each other throughout your life and then both dying at the exact same moment... well, as I said, it's unlikely.

Getting a tattoo with someone's name probably isn't the smartest thing to do. Yes, of course you can tat over it, right? But depending on where and how you have placed it, finding a way to tat over a name can be difficult. While it's not romantic to think about what might happen if a relationship ends and you're stuck with someone's name on your body in permanent ink, I think it's important to think about it.

I'm not saying not to do it, but perhaps think about putting it where it's not so easily seen or making it small enough that it can be tatted over in the event things go south in the relationship.

As for body piercings, fortunately, MOST piercings will heal up or can simply be removed without too much of a sign that they were there before. Yes, perhaps you and your girlfriend want matching eyebrow piercings or you want to share a pair of earrings you thought were cool by piercing your noses together, but it's important to ask yourself if you would still think it was cool if she wasn't in your life with that matching nose ring you now have.

For the most part, if you think wisely before getting a tattoo or a piercing, you will find that there are no major issues that can't be altered or corrected with a regular tattoo or piercing.

Body modification, however, is a whole different topic.

If you are planning on doing body modification for someone else in a relationship so you can both have matching modifications, please take a moment and step back from the romantic in puppy love notion that this will be a way to bond you two for life. You see, if you aren't completely and totally willing to get a body modification just for yourself, outside of the relationship, you absolutely must NOT get one inside the relationship.

Remember, there may come a day in the future when that girl or guy you are madly in love with becomes your worst mortal enemy. What if he cheats on you? What if she runs off with your best friend?

Now, you're stuck with a modified body and no girlfriend or boyfriend, but you have to face the thing you did together to permanently change your body for the other person for the rest of your life.

How do you think your new boyfriend or girlfriend will think about that?

No one is saying not to get a tattoo or piercing or body modification. The point here is, keep in mind that all the body art is permanent and it's very unlikely the relationship is going to last forever. Choose wisely and only do those things to your body with body art that you really want for yourself.