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More people than you realize have some condition that makes their physical bodies different from the majority. Many try to hide those differences out of self-consciousness, even though the anomaly might be something you’d never notice anyway. Then there are some who celebrate their differences with a clever tattoo that provokes smiles and puts people at ease.
Amputee Tattoos
Something tells me that this tattoo of a shark on what’s left of this man’s arm was inspired by the shape of the stump rather than the reason for the amputation. Still, how cool it must be for him to let people assume that’s how he lost the arm!
One little piggy is missing in action here, but not the tattoo owner’s sense of humor.
A motorcycle accident in 1997 left Alan Macias with a non-functional arm which he eventually had amputated. He now has a eye-catching “cut along dotted line” tattoo on his stump.
Australian tattoo artist Brad Bako created this tattoo he calls The Digit. One giant finger replaces five small ones.
Mastectomy Tattoos
After mastectomies due to breast cancer, some women opt not to undergo reconstruction surgery. Instead of hiding their experience, a few decide to celebrate it by tattooing a beautiful and/or significant design on their chests. Some links in this section may be considered NSFW. This photo shows cancer survivors Marcia Rasner and Pam Huntley with their tattoos. More examples can be seen here and here.
Tattoo artist Pat Fish posted some examples of women who had nipples tattooed on after surgery in lieu of reconstruction, including Beth who loved the nipple tattoo so much that she had her entire breasts adorned eventually.
Syndactyly
Syndactyly is a condition where two or more fingers or toes are fused. Heather got this dotted line tattoo on her toes as “a sarcastic way of embracing my ‘deformity.’”
Baldness
Going bald? There are a couple of ways you can use a tattoo to deal with baldness. The British company HiStyl uses tattooing as a way to disguise baldness, Tattooed hair follicles will make you look like your head is recently shaved instead of hairless.
The alternative is to use your sense of humor to embrace the growing bald spot, as in this classic image. It takes a certain amount of self-confidence to accentuate a body anomaly instead of hiding it, but the rewards include respect — and smiles!
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Comments (15)
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These tattoos are awesome! Wonderful that these people have triumphed over their losses. Wow!
posted by Karen on 6-23-2009 at 8:51 am
Dense patch of hair on arm used to top troll tattoo: http://ugliesttattoos.com/2009/06/12/funny-tattoos-trolls-are-good-luck-right-because-youre-going-to-need-that/
posted by Kellie on 6-23-2009 at 9:16 am
Wow. It’s good to see people positive and able to laugh at what was something terrible. This made me smile. Thanks!
posted by Christina on 6-23-2009 at 9:16 am
I am missing the big toe on my right foot and want the little piggy tat so badly! So clever!
posted by Chance on 6-23-2009 at 10:30 am
Great post! Glad you are back Miss C. errr Mrs. C. Congrats!
posted by JasK on 6-23-2009 at 11:30 am
LOVE the lawnmowing guy on the balding head. People are so clever!
posted by Hyacinth on 6-23-2009 at 11:38 am
Here’s another good one:
http://www.i-am-bored.com/bored_link.cfm?link_id=41503
posted by Craig on 6-23-2009 at 11:46 am
Great pictures!
Sunday, I saw a prosthetic leg that had been decorated with OU Sooners logos. The lady said she did it to and erase some of the sadness in losing her leg, as well as to make it less scary for small children.
posted by MandoRon on 6-23-2009 at 12:49 pm
What a great post! Congrats to all that can find humor in a loss!
posted by Michelle on 6-23-2009 at 2:16 pm
A great book for mastectomy tats is “Why I wore Lipstick to my Mastectomy” — the author talks about her struggle to find a tat artist who would/could do the art and found someone who exceeded her expectations. A great, emotional read!
MandoRon — Boomer Sooner! That’s amazing, thank you for sharing that:)
posted by Melissa on 6-23-2009 at 2:24 pm
My sister was diagnosed with breast cancer at 25 and had both breasts removed (she carries the genetic mutation for BC). She taught Sunday School at the time and had a problem finding women’s tops that didn’t require boobs to fill it. So, being a lover of tattoos, had her chest tattooed with beautiful koi jumping out of water with the names of her two sons and her name over the fish. She also has a pink ribbon with the word survivor tatttooed on her shoulder.
posted by Kim on 6-23-2009 at 3:46 pm
I have syndactyly just like Heather’s–love her tattoo. It made me smile. :)
posted by Rebecca on 6-23-2009 at 10:23 pm
Thanks for the post! Enjoyed it a lot. Right now I’m not scared of anything anymore) Whatever happens – it will be another reason to make a tattoo of it :)
posted by Lynx on 6-24-2009 at 6:21 am
Inspiring!
posted by Kelly H. on 6-24-2009 at 6:55 pm
You gotta love the fact that they all have a sense of humor about it, you know?
posted by Amaris on 10-26-2009 at 9:03 pm