Transplant and Tattoos

[George Jung]

Transplant coordinator today saw a tattoo on my arm and suggested if I had been thinking of having some work done that I should do it now, PRE-transplant.  More risk with the suppressed immune system down the road and the docs will try to discourage it.

[Jess21]

Are transplant recipients allowed to get tattoos?  I would think so, but not positive.  I want to get one in rememberance of the person/life I get one from...my mom is ok with it, my boyfriend thinks its stupid I'd get one in "memory of someone I didn't even know or don't know anything about".  Any advice?

[draven]

i have been wondering the same thing. i have been planing to get a tattoo for sometime. and now im scheduled for a transplant next month.

tattoo parlours are supposed to be sterile and the needles are new and must be opened in front of you. so the procedure is pretty safe.
i think the only thing to worry about is the aftercare of the tattoo, you might be prone to skin infections and you might not heal very quickly.

[flip]

When I was getting my kidney biopsy for the Hep C I got in the dialysis center, there was another guy in there getting one as a result of a tattoo.

Yes, tattoo parlors are supposed to be sterile but, then, so are dialysis centers.

[Chris]

I have seen this topic before in many transplant groups. The official word from the transplant center varies, mine says not to get one. Patients who have gotten one after transplant have had no problems. It's a matter of choosing a good facility, keeping the area clean as much as possible afterwards, and something I am foorgetting.

www.transplantbuddies.org has the topic under the kidney, pancreas transplant forum if you would like to read their responces. I can post a link later of the topic. If I have 2 Internet Windows up at the sametime on this hotel pc, I'll never get anything done.

[502Blues]

It depends on where you get your tattoo, i wouldnt accept one from someone who comes to your house.or the neighborhood tattooist. go to a reputable tattoo parlor and watch them open a new package of sterile  equipment.. Ive gotten a couple after my last transplant

[Falkenbach]

I did finally get another tattoo. The studio I chose is excellent, extremely clean and sterile. They don't even touch their chairs, lamps etc without having the handles covered with a plastic-type wrap. I kept the tattoo clean with antibacterial wash, as per their recommendation, and used after care cream to prevent any infection.

This tattoo took about 4 or 5 separate sittings, and I had no trouble at all, not a single sign of infection.

Unfortunately, I did have a nasty acne rash when these photos were taken. 





Here's another one, which I got done when I was 17, back in the early 1990s.

[YLGuy]

My 2 tattoos: My children's names and a Sacred Heart of Jesus.  God & family: not too tough. I wanted to get another one.  When I got these I was unable to donate blood for 1 year.  If I get another will that postpone a possible transplant?  I am not even on the list yet but do not want anything to postpone me getting on the list.

[Falkenbach]

I doubt it would postpone it, because the workup to transplant is pretty intense, with a lot of screening. However, I would check this very clearly with your renal clinic before going ahead. A tattoo can wait, a transplant is far more important! 

[draven]

Awesome Tats Cycobully and YLguy

Im so glad to see other transplant reciepents getting tattoos. i have been planning my tattoo for months now, but everyone
is against it. they think it will cause rejection.

[Falkenbach]

As long as you do all the right things to avoid infection, there is no reason why it would cause rejection.

I have heard differing opinions from doctors, too. All you can do is be very educated on the issue and make your own decision.

[Lisa]

Here is my newest tattoo...a donor awareness ribbon/butterfly

[FindingNeverland]

Im so glad to see other transplant reciepents getting tattoos. i have been planning my tattoo for months now, but everyone is against it. they think it will cause rejection.

I had a transplant nine years ago, about three years after that I got my first tattoo, all together I've gotten seven over the years. My nephrologist urged me not to because of infection and hepatitis, but he never said no.My primary care physician doesn't mind them and neither do my other doctors. I just made sure to go to a reputable tattoo parlor and took very good care of my tattoos while they were healing. I don't think there's any real evidence that tattoos cause kidney rejection... and I really don't see how it could, you would have to get one nasty infection or something. One thing I was told by my tattoo artist is that you should try to keep tattoos above the waist  because the closer to the heart the easier/faster it heals.

[Dodgedude2001]

I was on dialysis for about 18months an I got a monster big tat an my Dr said it was no big deal an the trans cented=r said they didnt see anything wrong wwith getting one.........so I did! I have about 9 or 10 hours in on this tat an its not done yet. So I would say ask the trans center an see what they say...........good luck!!

[YLGuy]

I got these yesterday!