Hey everyone, I'd like to have a tatto like this: http://www.tattoos-beauty.com/image-files/chest-quotes-tattoo.jpg
I didn't decided what's gonne be the writing yet but I have a problem. I don't know how to get something like this, I'm pre-op and I only can imagine getting tattoed in a binder. How do I explain this, or how can I remain stealth, any tips? Someone who has chest tattoo?

Maybe you could wear a strapless binder?

Good idea, problem is I don't have a strapless one. But if it will work I can try to make one.  So thanks for the idea. I don't really have experience with tatts, this would be my first, so I don't know but I assume with chest tattoos you should take off your shirt so they can work better and easily. How to avoid it by not outing myself?

Quote from: Jared on July 14, 2013, 01:34:20 PM
Good idea, problem is I don't have a strapless one. But if it will work I can try to make one.  So thanks for the idea. I don't really have experience with tatts, this would be my first, so I don't know but I assume with chest tattoos you should take off your shirt so they can work better and easily. How to avoid it by not outing myself?

Yeah, your shirt'll be off. They'll make you do it so nothing touches it.
I think the most important thing to remember is that a tattooist is both an artist and a professional. They will have had all types of people as clients and most of them can't afford to send people off, or do something that might give them a bad reputation. If they 'ma'am' you, just correct them once. They should get the message.
They'll also look at your id because, well, because. So they're going to know no matter what you do, really. But there are tons of tattoo artists. If it looks like that one you go to isn't going to treat you properly, then take your business elsewhere. But most of them are past judging people based on appearance.

Allright so I can't avoid it. I aggree most of them aren't the type of people who judge by appearence. My ID says male so I'm okay as long as I take my shirt off  Maybe I email to the one I picked for first to see how it would go. Thanks for the info!

Are you small enough to pass it off as really bad gynecomastica?  And have you thought about how you're going to deal with your binder after it's done?  I don't know that much about tattoos, but I'd have thought that a binder rubbing on it wouldn't be too comfortable/good for it?  Underworks are scratchy enough on unbroken skin.

Oh, and when you do get a tattoo, it'll itch on its own. Don't scratch it- slap it. It'll stop the itching without damaging the ink. And yeah, you'll need to keep things from touching it for a while. Also, be warned that a binder rubbing against it will make it fade faster in the long run as well, so looking into a strapless (or making one, as you said) would definitely be worth it.

Quote from: AlexanderC on July 14, 2013, 02:56:14 PM
Are you small enough to pass it off as really bad gynecomastica?  And have you thought about how you're going to deal with your binder after it's done?  I don't know that much about tattoos, but I'd have thought that a binder rubbing on it wouldn't be too comfortable/good for it?  Underworks are scratchy enough on unbroken skin.

If I wouldn't be as skinny as I am maybe I could. I have a low neckline binder from loveboat, as I saw it shouldn't touch that area. Unless the straps.

Quote from: Soren on July 14, 2013, 03:00:20 PM
Oh, and when you do get a tattoo, it'll itch on its own. Don't scratch it- slap it. It'll stop the itching without damaging the ink. And yeah, you'll need to keep things from touching it for a while. Also, be warned that a binder rubbing against it will make it fade faster in the long run as well, so looking into a strapless (or making one, as you said) would definitely be worth it.

Thanks, I'm really thinking to make one.

I don't know where you live but I feel like most tattoo artists are pretty liberal, they have seen everything.

I had a tattoo done on my chest pre-op, this is what happened. (and I had this done in the south)

He assumed I was cis and said "ok, take your shirt off buddy"

I explained my situation and he said, "oh ok, well I have some sheet napkins that you could use to cover up"

I ended up having him leave for a second and I took my binder and wore it like a "strapless dress" by putting my body through the neckhole.


he was completely respectful and didn't even ask me any of the typical trans questions, he just tattoo'd me.

you may not help this helpful cause you don't wanna let him know you are trans, you could always wear your binder like I did and just tell him you are a little uncomfortable and if you could cover up? Maybe wear a tank and do the same thing with those shoulder straps as with the binder too.

When I had my chest tattoo done, I was a teenager (16 with parental consent).  That was before my binding began but because of my age, the artist had me wear my tank top like a tube top.  That tattoo (& a few others) were done in a private room, as well.  Could you ask if that's an option, should you need it for your own comfort?

As for the healing process, for my chest & my face, I kept them fully bandaged until they were fully healed.  I would apply a liberal amount of antibiotic ointment to both the tattoos & the bandages prior to taping the bandages in place.  The ointment kept the bandages from drying to the tattoos & kept them moist so there was little to no itching. 

Good luck.   

Pretty much just echoing everybody else here.

I think your best bet is pulling the straps down or going with a tank top, or a combination of both if the strapless binder doesn't work out.

And yeah they're going to ID you so there's that, and I'm pretty positive (someone can correct me if I'm wrong) that you have to sign a kind of form saying you consent. So if you have a female name I'm not sure how that'll go, but if you really don't want to be seen as female maybe you could just tell your tattooist that you're trans and you'd prefer to be addressed as male. You're going to be with him/her for a couple hours during the process so why not.

Quote from: Elijah on July 14, 2013, 04:06:17 PM
I don't know where you live but I feel like most tattoo artists are pretty liberal, they have seen everything.

I had a tattoo done on my chest pre-op, this is what happened. (and I had this done in the south)

He assumed I was cis and said "ok, take your shirt off buddy"

I explained my situation and he said, "oh ok, well I have some sheet napkins that you could use to cover up"

I ended up having him leave for a second and I took my binder and wore it like a "strapless dress" by putting my body through the neckhole.


he was completely respectful and didn't even ask me any of the typical trans questions, he just tattoo'd me.

you may not help this helpful cause you don't wanna let him know you are trans, you could always wear your binder like I did and just tell him you are a little uncomfortable and if you could cover up? Maybe wear a tank and do the same thing with those shoulder straps as with the binder too.

I'm in Europe, not in the States.
Wearing the binder and a tank like you described seems helpful, thanks man. Cool that yours went okay.

Quote from: Kyle on July 14, 2013, 09:42:57 PM
When I had my chest tattoo done, I was a teenager (16 with parental consent).  That was before my binding began but because of my age, the artist had me wear my tank top like a tube top.  That tattoo (& a few others) were done in a private room, as well.  Could you ask if that's an option, should you need it for your own comfort?

As for the healing process, for my chest & my face, I kept them fully bandaged until they were fully healed.  I would apply a liberal amount of antibiotic ointment to both the tattoos & the bandages prior to taping the bandages in place.  The ointment kept the bandages from drying to the tattoos & kept them moist so there was little to no itching. 

Good luck.   

Yep I thought about asking for a private room. And thanks for the healing advices

Quote from: ForWantOf on July 15, 2013, 01:55:12 AM
Pretty much just echoing everybody else here.

I think your best bet is pulling the straps down or going with a tank top, or a combination of both if the strapless binder doesn't work out.

And yeah they're going to ID you so there's that, and I'm pretty positive (someone can correct me if I'm wrong) that you have to sign a kind of form saying you consent. So if you have a female name I'm not sure how that'll go, but if you really don't want to be seen as female maybe you could just tell your tattooist that you're trans and you'd prefer to be addressed as male. You're going to be with him/her for a couple hours during the process so why not.

I have a male name and gender on everything yet, so that's not a problem. I'm hoping that they will be cool about it as many of you said, they really seem pretty open minded people.
Thanks everybody!

Ah okay, that was my bad then for not reading your replies thoroughly. Regardless, I hope it all works out okay!

Do you need to get it now? You say you don't even have a strapless binder so when would this area even be seen? If you're aiming to get top surgery one day I'd advise waiting until then. That way you can avoid damage caused to it by either wearing clothing or binding that aggravates the area (you could go topless more often during healing). Even with strapless binding it can cause stretching of the skin in that area. Tattoos are permanent and if you mess them up during healing, they can be a pain in the neck (and expensive) to get fixed.

Quote from: ForWantOf on July 15, 2013, 03:54:17 AM
Ah okay, that was my bad then for not reading your replies thoroughly. Regardless, I hope it all works out okay!

No problem and thanks

Quote from: Jack_M on July 15, 2013, 05:21:57 PM
Do you need to get it now? You say you don't even have a strapless binder so when would this area even be seen? If you're aiming to get top surgery one day I'd advise waiting until then. That way you can avoid damage caused to it by either wearing clothing or binding that aggravates the area (you could go topless more often during healing). Even with strapless binding it can cause stretching of the skin in that area. Tattoos are permanent and if you mess them up during healing, they can be a pain in the neck (and expensive) to get fixed.

I don't need to get it ASAP, I wanted to know if there are ways to get it before top surgery. I'm still thinking when to get it done and you made some good points about waiting with it. I'll definitely wait until autumn and then I see how I feel about it. But thanks again.

I won't get my chest tattoo done until after my top surgery, simply because I want my body to be perfectly how I want it before putting ink on it (I know my boobs aren't big enough to ruin a tattoo once they're gone, but I don't even want to take a chance on that). For me, it'll be kind of my way of celebrating to myself that I can go shirtless.

Cool Do you know what would you like to get? I still didn't figured it out, but quality work takes time xD