what to do with my large purple tattoo??

[Sage]

I only ask because getting a tattoo is usually seen as a fairly permanent decision and is something people usually get to represent onself since if they don't want to they don't even have to display it to the world - did you once comfortably identify as femme, is the tattoo part of a prior facade, or do you not see the tattoo as femme at all & just are afraid others might think that?
In life, just remember you should keep dear to you things that remain important to you, not things that are only important to others.

Sage agrees. 

[Sia]

@Sia, I think that first one you posted...they seemed to also change the color of the person's skin.

I don't know if you're impliying that it's a fake or something, but I've seen several WIP pics of the process on a tattoo forum and I can tell you that it is indeed the same person on the before & after  (I won't post them here as they are personal pics from the client in a private forum, unlike the before/after here that was uploaded by the artist on a couple of public websites).
The cover was done over the course of 8 months(!) and I suppose the guy kept his arm from sun exposure as much as possible over that time, you can see the tan fading away in each WIP pic (he was also paler in the very first one, so I guess the "before" pic is even older).

[Adrian_Michael]

And to the OP, my main concern is more of how long ago did you get this tattoo and how important to you was it at the time? I only ask because getting a tattoo is usually seen as a fairly permanent decision and is something people usually get to represent onself since if they don't want to they don't even have to display it to the world - did you once comfortably identify as femme, is the tattoo part of a prior facade, or do you not see the tattoo as femme at all & just are afraid others might think that?
In life, just remember you should keep dear to you things that remain important to you, not things that are only important to others.

I got the tat in November 2011. It is a momento of a major change in my life. I was determined to remind myself that the only person who writes my future is the one living today, me. Of course, I stopped listening and fell into familiar patterns, but that is neither here nor there.

I think it is a fantastic quote and I designed it myself with the help of my artist. I don't particularly find it too femme, considering that my love for purple will never change  .

But I guess I do fear people questioning me about it because it's a girly song and is purple.

Of course, now I can just add around to it and make sure a few of them are the ones I have avoided putting on my body because they are too "manly".

I don't know, I just feel subconscious about everything. My powder blue glasses, my purple tattoo, my "tramp stamp(which is thankfully black and the start of a back piece dedicated to my children)", my huge eyes, my pierced ear holes, my short stature, my loose post TWO baby stomach, the stretch marks, the "birthing hips", the 36G tits, everything.

[mangoslayer]

@Sia, I think that first one you posted...they seemed to also change the color of the person's skin.

I don't know why the skin color changed so much but it's definitely the same person. The shape of the arm is exactly the same and if you look back and forth you can see where the artist reused some of the lines from the original to help hide it.

[Nero]

And to the OP, my main concern is more of how long ago did you get this tattoo and how important to you was it at the time? I only ask because getting a tattoo is usually seen as a fairly permanent decision and is something people usually get to represent onself since if they don't want to they don't even have to display it to the world - did you once comfortably identify as femme, is the tattoo part of a prior facade, or do you not see the tattoo as femme at all & just are afraid others might think that?
In life, just remember you should keep dear to you things that remain important to you, not things that are only important to others.

I got the tat in November 2011. It is a momento of a major change in my life. I was determined to remind myself that the only person who writes my future is the one living today, me. Of course, I stopped listening and fell into familiar patterns, but that is neither here nor there.

I think it is a fantastic quote and I designed it myself with the help of my artist. I don't particularly find it too femme, considering that my love for purple will never change  .

But I guess I do fear people questioning me about it because it's a girly song and is purple.

Of course, now I can just add around to it and make sure a few of them are the ones I have avoided putting on my body because they are too "manly".

I don't know, I just feel subconscious about everything. My powder blue glasses, my purple tattoo, my "tramp stamp(which is thankfully black and the start of a back piece dedicated to my children)", my huge eyes, my pierced ear holes, my short stature, my loose post TWO baby stomach, the stretch marks, the "birthing hips", the 36G tits, everything.

OT but where did you get the powder blue specs? I haven't been able to find any good blue frames let alone powder blue. The men's section is so sparse. Sucks if you like color at all.

Also, if you've already got a tramp stamp, I wouldn't worry about the purple journal.

[Adrian_Michael]

I got the tat in November 2011. It is a momento of a major change in my life. I was determined to remind myself that the only person who writes my future is the one living today, me. Of course, I stopped listening and fell into familiar patterns, but that is neither here nor there.

I think it is a fantastic quote and I designed it myself with the help of my artist. I don't particularly find it too femme, considering that my love for purple will never change  .

But I guess I do fear people questioning me about it because it's a girly song and is purple.

Of course, now I can just add around to it and make sure a few of them are the ones I have avoided putting on my body because they are too "manly".

I don't know, I just feel subconscious about everything. My powder blue glasses, my purple tattoo, my "tramp stamp(which is thankfully black and the start of a back piece dedicated to my children)", my huge eyes, my pierced ear holes, my short stature, my loose post TWO baby stomach, the stretch marks, the "birthing hips", the 36G tits, everything.


OT but where did you get the powder blue specs? I haven't been able to find any good blue frames let alone powder blue. The men's section is so sparse. Sucks if you like color at all.

Also, if you've already got a tramp stamp, I wouldn't worry about the purple journal.

The $10 section  of walmart. They are TINY frames, ridiculously femme.

As for the tramp stamp, it's actually my daughter's footprints with a pagan symbol between the heels. No fancy flowers, no fancy lines, just a full outline of her birth prints. My son's are going right above that, and I'm planning on tattoos going up both sides. Since I'm certain those two are my only kids, I can then start working on the rest of my back piece.

[Nero]

OT but where did you get the powder blue specs? I haven't been able to find any good blue frames let alone powder blue. The men's section is so sparse. Sucks if you like color at all.

Also, if you've already got a tramp stamp, I wouldn't worry about the purple journal.

The $10 section  of walmart. They are TINY frames, ridiculously femme.

As for the tramp stamp, it's actually my daughter's footprints with a pagan symbol between the heels. No fancy flowers, no fancy lines, just a full outline of her birth prints. My son's are going right above that, and I'm planning on tattoos going up both sides. Since I'm certain those two are my only kids, I can then start working on the rest of my back piece.

Oh darn. They probably wouldn't fit me. I have a big head. 

Sounds good. I'd say the tramp stamp is most outing but sounds like you're getting it hidden a bit.

As for this stuff:

I don't know, I just feel subconscious about everything. My powder blue glasses, my purple tattoo, my "tramp stamp(which is thankfully black and the start of a back piece dedicated to my children)", my huge eyes, my pierced ear holes, my short stature, my loose post TWO baby stomach, the stretch marks, the "birthing hips", the 36G tits, everything.

We all had features going against us in some way. None of us are born with perfect male bodies. That's the whole point.

Glasses and tits - will be gone with time (if you plan on top surgery) 

Birthing hips -  depending on composition may be helped with T. Are they all bone or fat?

Short stature - nothing to be done outside of those 'lift shoes'. Don't know how tall you are but at barely 5'6, I'm around plenty of guys of all races my height or shorter. In almost every group situation, I've found this. You may think you'll stand out now, but you probably won't.

Huge eyes - I had a similar issue and somehow they look a lot smaller now due to facial changes. The area around my brows has changed and just the overall look of my face. They look smaller and more 'guy like' now somehow.

Tats - you're working to fix this situation. And I've seen guys with all kinds of shapes and 'out there' sayings on their bodies. Especially if they've done any time. People get real creative in there and the results aren't always stellar. The tramp stamp is the only thing that would give me pause but you're working at fixing it.

Pierced ears - I have these too. But I hadn't worn earrings since I was a pre-teen so they're shriveled up. Still visible. Like long thin lines. Never had any comments.

Loose post TWO baby stomach and stretch marks - not sure about this one. Won't the baby stomach get better after breastfeeding or something? You just had a kid, right? Doesn't this stuff go away with time? As far as the stretch marks, are you heavy at all? Might be able to pass them off as gaining/losing weight marks. They'll probably fade with time as well.

Anyway, T is usually strong enough to overcome these 'tells'. You'll feel a lot better about your body with surgery and time on T. If you plan that.

[Adrian_Michael]

Loose post TWO baby stomach and stretch marks - not sure about this one. Won't the baby stomach get better after breastfeeding or something? You just had a kid, right? Doesn't this stuff go away with time? As far as the stretch marks, are you heavy at all? Might be able to pass them off as gaining/losing weight marks. They'll probably fade with time as well.

Anyway, T is usually strong enough to overcome these 'tells'. You'll feel a lot better about your body with surgery and time on T. If you plan that.

I do plan on getting T and top surgery.

My baby is 14 months old, I'm not sure I'll ever lose the stomach at this point. I split the muscles along the vertical ridge...toning it up is proving difficult. I am actually a pretty slender 180, mostly hips and tits.

The hips, a combination of fat and bone. 

[DriftingCrow]

My baby is 14 months old, I'm not sure I'll ever lose the stomach at this point. I split the muscles along the vertical ridge...toning it up is proving difficult.

I think Dr. Garramone can do some sort of lipo to make the stomach and hips look more masculine while you're already under for top surgery. I am not sure how much it costs though...

[Adrian_Michael]

I think Dr. Garramone can do some sort of lipo to make the stomach and hips look more masculine while you're already under for top surgery. I am not sure how much it costs though...

Total(top and lipo/sculpt) is $11,000. So I'll be waiting awhile. 

[Simon]

I don't know, I just feel subconscious about everything. My powder blue glasses, my purple tattoo, my "tramp stamp(which is thankfully black and the start of a back piece dedicated to my children)", my huge eyes, my pierced ear holes, my short stature, my loose post TWO baby stomach, the stretch marks, the "birthing hips", the 36G tits, everything.

We ALL have things we are weird about. The glasses can be changed. With a talented artist tattoos can be covered. Why are you worried about pierced ears? I'm in the process of stretching my holes to 5/8 (almost at a 0g). There is nothing "girly" about pierced ears. Body fat will redistribute with T and time. Moobs will be removed. Two baby stomach? No kids here but I have a gut...things can change with working out. A big thing is to know that things CAN and WILL change but it all takes time.

There are times I wish trans folks all could live in the same area. It would be nice to be able to support each other. Then I think about how some trans folks act "->-bleeped-<-r than thou" and size each other up. Saying "this looks femme" or whatever. Be you...and be happy. Life is too short to be picking yourself apart. Just give yourself time and take things one day at a time.

As long as you're working on it that is all you can do. It's going to be alright bro. 

[Devin87]

I've got a pretty butterfly on my foot.  It really sucks because I go barefoot for martial arts classes four times a week, so it's always staring me in the face.  And on top of being a butterfly, some of the ink didn't take so it has blank patches.  The only problem is to get it covered or even touched up, I need at least two weeks when I don't have to wear shoes, which between my two shoe-requiring jobs is nearly impossible, and I wouldn't be able to do my martial arts classes until it was healed (can't have a gaping leaking fluids all over the mats/bags/other people).  It sucks.

[Mosaic dude]

I love purple too.   

I'd say it looks a bit femme but not really femme.  I don't think it will stop you passing.  I do think it could make people think you're gay, but that's not the same thing and none of their business in the first place.