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@a_beukeveld I'm sure it will all be fine. The tattoos look great in the pics. This is just my experience but I do not change the tegaderm out once I put it on. Some people do, but I haven't. I get bandaged as per the usual method after getting tattooed and leave that on overnight (no matter at what point of the day I get tattooed. I always leave bandage on overnight). Then shower that next morning and remove bandage and clean the tattoo. Then, since I have no confidence in my skills, I walk back to tattoo shop and have the tattooer give one last wipe down with green soap and have them put the tegaderm on. Then I leave it for 5 24 hr days. If fluid builds up I leave it. Once it actually leaked out but then sealed right back up. I have not tried changing out the tegaderm to a new piece. Sucks enough removing it once. The derm always has stuck to my tattoo by day 5. It just won't stick to a fresh seeping one. I just pull it slowly with gentle soap and tons of water. And I try to remove in the direction of the hair, not opposite.

I should also note that I went through pretty full peels after the tegaderm was removed albeit very light and not scabby. I used lotion after removing the tegaderm to keep the area moist. And yes it was sensitive from what I remember.

I have typically kept mine on for 5 days and then take it off in the shower or sink. Slowly. Peeling backwards, not up and with generous amounts of water and cetaphil soap to loosen the seal. Looks like you may have had a bit of sensitivity to the adhesive, but the tattoos look great. I don't think you have anything to worry about. The last time I used tegaderm the removed film looked like a stained glass rendering of the tattoo and the tattoo healed great. So don't worry too much about some flakes coming off. I think that's normal. I will take mine off in the shower tomorrow morning. My fingers are crossed!! My third time using this stuff, but very first leg tattoo

Thank you!! @Oiocha , @Devious6 @polliwog thank you. Your skunk is so awesome and the tattoo you got from Dave Cummings is incredible. I would urge everyone to get a lucky tattoo shirt. Now I just need to find some lucky tattoo pants.

Had a blast at the convention! Was great to meet @polliwog @Fala and was also great seeing @Graeme and @Pugilist. Briefly saw @Shaun1105 which was cool but missed @BrianH due to walking past every booth except the one he was being tattooed at. Feel pretty dumb about that since it was directly behind the one I was hanging out at. Also bummed to have missed seeing Sam whose handle name eludes me at the moment. (Mitslam??) Got this by Nick Colella on Saturday in the same booth and at the same time as @Graeme was getting an awesome tattoo by Robert Ryan. Absolutley love it and had a great time talking to Nick. Such a great dude and awesome tattooer. This is my first leg tattoo. On the side of my left calf.

I'm not sure I'd want to mix in Celtic with Japanese. It just doesn't make a ton of sense. Graeme is right though. Best to go to an artist who does solid Japanese work and have them design something for you, perhaps based on what you are showing us here, but more appropriate for the style.

That tattoo rules. Whoever says otherwise is an idiot, period. Super nice!!!

Personally, for me, outer forearm was a breeze. Inner was a bit dicey. I have one so low on my left wrist it basically touches my palm. It wasn't pleasant. Weird electrifying volts shooting into my hand. Just weird feeling. The one that touches my wrist on my other arm doesn't go so low, but still wasn't super fun. All manageable, but I felt it for sure.

@a_beukeveld I've used tegaderm twice and have been really happy. Mine have filled up with fluid as well and I was advised to just leave it alone. one of them filled up so much that it busted a leak out the bottom. Then it stopped seeping altogether and dried out like the poster mentioned above. Once it finished leaking it sealed back up again. Yours looks no different than mine have. I've left both on for 5 days. Seemed to work out fine.

@ChrisvK that looks amazing. Perfect!

Ah yes, the old armpit vagina. saw it on the gram. Great work. Can't say i'd ever ask for one though.

SUPER nice tattoo! it is very common to need touch ups on black work. You can't tell at 5 weeks though and based on what I'm seeing any touch ups (if you end up needing any) will be very minimal. You did nothing wrong. well you are doing one thing wrong and we are all guilty of it from time to time. Stop over analyzing everything. It's a great tattoo and is still healing. Ive had areas of black that looked light while healing and then after it was healed it looked great. Congratulations on your tattoo. It's a great one! Get more!!!!! The more you get the less over analytical you'll become rob i do NOT think you should go to another artist. Whoever did this is good and gave you a great tattoo. Don't have it touched up by another artist. If you get more tattoos then definitely feel free to branch out to different artists as we all do, but there is nothing wrong with the tattooer that gave this to you and any touch ups should be done by them.

Love Canada. Can't wait to go back to Montreal.

I believe @Graeme is right. I used to live in Florida and you can get tattooed there with parent / guardian consent as a minor. Tons of tourists do this all the time and no one ever seemed to mind that they were from out of state. Sorry to read about your sister. Good luck with your tattoo.

I always bring cookies and waters and sometimes protein bars. NOT low sugar protein bars. The sugar is necessary. Also 2 beers post session is a good way to ease the burn. Not 2 many beers... Just 2.

his mass stop was on July 9th at Redemption Tattoo in Cambridge. Worry not though. He'll be at the Montreal convention (worth the 4.5 hr drive) and most certainly will be back in Portsmouth, nh at some point (also worth the trip)

@marley mission dude you are the epitome of zen. You always seem so even and calm. You should start teaching classes @Morrigan it's a bummer to read this. No matter how old we get, we always want to please our parents. It's pretty natural. I would try humor in this situation. Humor always seems to cut directly to the issue and disarm it a bit. I bet most of us here have parents that are not thrilled with our choices when it comes to tattoos. Some handle it better than others. All I know is that if you can manage to make her laugh, the subject will get easier. All the best to you and good luck.

So sick!!!! Love this!

Got this insanely awesome cat head on July 8th at Congress St Tattoo in Portsmouth. Man I love it so much. Was such a great day (and night)!!!! I love Chad. He is the greatest and I'm always bummed when he leaves, but luckily for those of us in NH, he visits quite often. Cant wait to see him and Jason Scott in Montreal.

Hotel room booked!!

Definitely plan on going this year!! Can't wait!!

@cltattooing AMAZING!!! Wow!!!

Hopefully someone with more experience will chime in. I think keeping it clean is prob the most important thing to do. @oboogie

@oboogie I've read that if it peels so that part of the tattoo is exposed, then it's time to remove it. If it's just the edges peeling back and the tattoo is still covered, then it's fine. I have only used it once so I really know nothing. This is just what I read on some site. Take a look at tattoo Derm or saniderm's website and they probably have faq's that address this.

I've never seen a sketch done prior to the actual appt. At least not for me. I may get my thigh tattooed at my next appt. or my shin. I don't know. If it's the thigh, I'll report back here as to what it felt like.