Hey everyone. I've been considering getting a tattoo on my chest but I'm not sure if I should wait until after surgery. At the moment I'm not sure when my surgery will be but I'm gonna say maybe in a years time depending on what the gender clinic have to say and whether I can get it on the NHS.

My plan is to get the Dharma Wheel (or Dharmachakra) probably on, what will one day be, my left pec. Since I'm getting it there and not in the center of my chest I imagine it won't be effected by any surgery that I get done. Has anyone had any chest tattoos and found that they are out of shape or altered slightly after surgery?

Also I'm worried about having to take my shirt off and explaining to the tattoo artist that I'm a bloke with a DD chest. Considering most places I've been for tattoos don't have any private rooms I don't really want to get my shirt off in a place where everyone can see. Has this been a problem for anyone?

Cheers.

wait.

Who knows what skin will end up where.  Your tattoo will probably come out looking like a scattered puzzle with pieces missing. 

https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,144679.msg1186750.html#top
I had almost the same question and I think the guys gave good tips about taking your shirt off while getting tattooed. I couldn't get it done so I can't tell any experiences but because of money issues, not because of denial of tattoo artists 

I vote wait.

Tattoos are permanent. If you're looking to get top surgery and fairly soon, get the tattoo after. That way it definitely won't looked stretched or out of place after surgery and can be better placed where you actually want it. Do you show off your chest enough to justify it right now anyway? Is it vital you get it now over a year? Ask yourself these questions before you jump into it because in only a year's time you could regret it because of how it looks post surgery.

I would wait.  I had a scar on my right breast about an inch above my nipple.  After I had top surgery that scar moved down to where my now nipple is. 

So the doctor actually pulled that skin down after taking out the tissue.  I had fairly small breasts but had to have a double incision.  I now have a tattoo over my right pec kind of breaking up the scar.  I waited 14 months and it was still very sensitive.  Some areas are still numb, and others quite sensitive.

I told the guy who did my tattoo that I had surgery and they removed some tissue from my chest.  It was no big deal.

I wish I could figure out how to insert a picture I would show you what it looks like.

If I were you, I would wait. You'll enjoy getting the tattoo more because you'll be able to go completely shirtless. And you'll know exactly how it'll look being able to just stand in front of the mirror shirtless with the stencil on. I know I want a tattoo on my chest and I have no idea when I'll be able to get top surgery but I'll definitely wait until I'm post-op.

I'm on the wait list here. I have a cyst which was one place and I'm sorry I still have it, but it is in a different place which seems surprising to me.

--Jay