There are a variety of ways in which people can express their unique character, and getting a tattoo is a route that many individuals choose to accomplish this end. People opt for tattoos that are as simple as their child’s name to as complex as full body artwork. Unfortunately, tattoos also present an inherent risk due to the procedures necessary to accomplish them. Because of this, it’s vital for anyone considering a tattoo to understand ways to avoid serious injuries.

Types of Tattoo Injuries

Unfortunately, there are several injuries that an individual can sustain if their tattoo artist doesn’t do their job right. Any of these injuries can lead to serious health issues.

• Allergic Reactions: Some tattoo studios will use subpar ink in an effort to cut down on costs. When this occurs, some of their clients may suffer severe allergic reactions.
• Dangerous Infections: Tattoo artists are literally repeatedly breaking the skin to insert tattoo ink. This means that if the studio doesn’t use hygienic methods or, even worse, reuses certain equipment, the risk of potentially fatal infections exists. Serious diseases, such as HIV, can also be transmitted due to reusing equipment.
• Inflamed Lymph Nodes: There is the chance that large particles of ink pigment may migrate and accumulate in a person’s lymph nodes. This can cause painful inflammation.

Avoiding Injuries

Luckily, there are several ways in which an individual can minimize the chance that they’ll suffer serious injuries after getting body work done. In fact, some of them don’t even involve tattoo parlors.

1. Stay Professional: Never get “at-home” tattoos. There is no regulation on this activity, and in all likelihood, the equipment used will not be sterile and will probably have been used before.

2. Remain Vigilant at Parlor: Even after choosing a tattoo studio, it’s important to remain vigilant. The artist should ask several health related questions to ensure a person can safely get a tattoo. If they don’t, it might be best to move on.

3. Opt for Less Permanence: One thing about tattoos: they’re usually permanent. Of course, there are other alternatives, such as long-lasting temporary tattoos and fake tattoo skin, which provide the same effect of a tattoo without the inherent dangers. Many companies actually work directly with designers to create these images, so a person can get a less invasive tattoo in just about any design that they want.

What to do After an Injury

Tattoo artists and studios try to make it very difficult for anyone to hold them liable for their mistakes. This is usually why they have clients sign ‘release of liability’ forms before performing any work. The first thing a person should do when they think they’ve been injured by a tattoo artist, however, is visit a doctor. Even if the individual has some legal recourse, it will mean nothing if a doctor doesn’t attest to the fact that a serious problem occurred due to the tattoo.

It’s also important to contact an attorney at this point. Many people believe that the forms they signed prior to getting tattooed precludes them from recovering any medical bills or other recompense due to injury, but this isn’t always the case. An experienced attorney may be able to show that the actions performed by the tattoo artist constituted reckless negligence, and in these cases, a victim may be able to receive compensation.

Tattoos allow people to express themselves in ways unlike any other, and this is likely why the practice has existed across different cultures and civilizations for hundreds of years. It remains important, however, to consider safety before having any body work done. From picking out the best artist in town to opting for a safer route than traditional tattoos, it is possible to minimize one’s risk of an injury. Luckily, even in the event of an injury, the law may allow a person to recover financial compensation for their losses.