In my reconstructive foot surgery practice, I have seen my share of foot tattoos. Some foot tats are small and discreet, others are large and obvious. Women are usually the ones with the foot ink, not men. Popular seems to be names, vegetation (flowers and vines), stars and oriental wording. Sometimes an elaborate ankle tattoo will extend onto the foot. People have even tattooed the bottom of the foot. Celebrities have been known to get foot tattoos as well.
Some women consider the foot tattoo the ultimate shoe accessory as they continue their hunt for the perfect shoe. Many say they are just plain sexy. Others regret them and want them removed. Wacky and bad taste tats also find their way onto the foot.
There are medical reasons to get tattoos on the foot as some use the ink to detract attention from structural foot problems -- such as bunions and hammer toes (...that's one way to put off surgery). People with flat feet can give the appearance of having an arch by inking concave designs on the inside of the foot. A common tattoo for people with webbed toes is to get a line drawn between the toes.
Sexy??? Perhaps the foot is better off without a tattoo? Nonetheless, that's for you to decide. We would like to hear your thoughts and experience with foot tattoos...
Here are 5 things to strongly consider when planning on getting foot tattoos:
1. They can get tremendous wear and tear.
Shoes cause a lot of friction on the skin of the foot, and this can lead to excessive wearing of the tattoo. Over time, this could result in premature fading and disfiguration of the artwork. For this reason alone, some tattoo artists refuse to place tattoos on the feet.
2. Pain. Pain. Pain
The foot has a lot of nerve endings! The bottom of the foot is particular sensate. The borders of the feet can also be quite sensitive as the skin transitions to the skin on the bottom. Foot tattoos can be more painful to place because there is not a lot of subcutaneous fat or muscle, and people could feel things more. Of course, everyone's pain threshold is different as well as the amount of fat tissue on their feet, but still something to consider.
3. Difficult short-term aftercare
It is well known that tattoo aftercare is surrounded by keeping the skin moisturized and clean, to avoid both scarring and infection. As such, this could be a challenge as one needs to wear shoe gear during the few weeks it takes for a foot tattoo to heal. Also, before getting a foot tattoo, make sure that you don't have a fungal infection hiding between the toes as bacteria can fester in these areas.
4. Removal can be difficult.
There are several methods to remove tattoos -- common methods involve laser, excision or dermabrasion. Laser removal is popular but can be a challenge on the foot because there is not a lot of fat, and can make the removal process more involved. As such, try to avoid placing a tattoo directly over bone -- like on the bunion region. Excision is popular for small tats on the top of the foot.
5. Consider future foot surgery.
If you wear high heels and pointy-toed shoes often, then you may develop bunions and hammer toes, so you should consider that you may undergo surgery for this at some point in your life. As such, your tattoo can get intersected by surgical incisions and could become malaligned. Fortunately, bunionplasty and plastic surgery techniques can minimize this occurrence. Areas where incisions are typically placed are located directly on the tops of the toes, on the inside of the big toe, and behind the 3rd and 4th toe.
What do you think about a foot tattoo?
-- Dr. Blitz
To learn more about Dr. Neal Blitz, please visit www.nealblitz.com.
Follow Neal M. Blitz, D.P.M., F.A.C.F.A.S. on Twitter: www.twitter.com/DrNealBlitz
I'm tellin' ya. In 20 years the best franchise opportunity will be laser tat removal geared towards women.
I've had my tattoos for over 25 years, so it was still a little naughty for a girl to have an arm tattoo when I got mine. Today, it's nothing. All mine have personal meaning to me, so anyone else's approval or disapproval dosen't concern me.. And I certainly will not judge anyone else on their choices.
Yes, they do fade, but that's part of the experience, You can touch then up, or get them redone, or removed if you like. I like that they age with me.
You either "get it" or you don't, If you judge people on their tats, you more than likely judge everyone and slap a label on them, too. Sad.
Neck tattoos, now that's another story...
For the vast majority of yuppies, buppies, soccer moms dads who wear the wrap around Oakley glasses, anyone who owns a Blackberry, anyone who gets coffee from Starbucks tattoos look completely ridiculous. Sure they may seem hip those first couple of years when one is in their early 20s but when one starts getting in their late 30s and into their 40s they just look silly. Their often faded. Whatever meaning they had no one else gets. Just a thought.
With the issue properly framed, I can say that I've never seen a "sexy tattoo". All tattoos cause me to think of trailer park meth addicts, and that's a lifestyle that I find repulsive.
Get back to me when you have one on your face.