TATTOOS AND MEDICAL PROCEDURES: MRI, EPIDURAL, BLOOD DONATION – Can you or can’t you?
There are many legends surrounding the combination of medical conditions and tattoos because it’s always better to err on the side of caution if you don’t know the ins and outs. But I’m a curious bitch who questions every doctor I come across to understand all the whys and hows, not just the standard practices, which may be outdated ^_^
Can you have an MRI if you have a tattoo?
It depends on when the tattoo was done.
Before 1992-93, there were no specific tattoo pigments, and India ink was used. India ink is rich in heavy metals that “resonate” with the radiation during an MRI, becoming hot and potentially causing burns inside your body. Not good.
In the 1990s, they started producing inks specifically for tattooing and, naturally, heavy metals were banned.
IF YOU GET TATTOOED BY AN ETHICAL AND COMPLIANT TATTOO ARTIST, you can rest assured because they are regulated by authorities, and the inks they use comply with EU regulations. However, with an underground tattoo artist… who knows!
I myself am tattooed on about 80% of my body, roughly estimating, and I’ve had several MRI scans without any side effects.
If you have any other questions about inks, READ HERE.
In any case, if you have a tattoo on your shoulder and you need an MRI on your knee, you can be completely calm because there won’t be any problems of any kind.
If, on the other hand, the tattoo is on your shoulder and the MRI is also on your shoulder, and you have doubts about the tattoo artist and the inks used, well, know that the burning process is not immediate, going from 0 to 100 in half a second… During the MRI, you have a bell to ring in case of problems, and the machine stops. So if you feel heat in the area and something doesn’t seem right, ring the bell ^_^
Can you have an epidural/spinal anesthesia if you have a tattoo on your spinal area?
It depends on the anesthesiologist.
Old-school anesthesiologists think it could be dangerous for small ink particles to enter the spinal cord, while the new generation knows that such a minimal amount of ink – with inks that comply with EU regulations – doesn’t cause any issues.
I myself have had surgery with a spinal anesthesia, and my entire spinal column is TOTALLY covered in tattoos.
On the other hand, a dear tattoo artist friend of mine was denied an epidural during childbirth because of a tattoo on her spine.
I’ve questioned several anesthesiologists I’ve come across, and they all expressed support. But of course, seek more opinions if your anesthesiologist refuses.
Can you donate blood after getting a tattoo?
Not immediately, but after a few months.
During the tattooing process, your skin is injured, and even though everything is done in a sterile environment and in compliance with health regulations, something could still enter the wound during or after the tattoo, in the following days, potentially causing an infection. The effects of the infection may not be immediately visible but could manifest later. As a precaution, health authorities prohibit blood donation for a few months after getting a tattoo, to ensure that nothing untoward happens with a delayed onset. This practice is common and applies to many other situations, not just tattoos, of course.
The waiting period varies from 4 to 6 months, depending on the region in Italy.
Do tattoos get damaged during blood tests?
No, no, I swear, no.
Unfortunately, I’ve had my fair share of visits to analysis laboratories in recent years, and my tattoos are still perfect and pristine despite the worst things and the largest needles. Whether it’s for genetic mutation tests, electromyography needles, IV drips, or arterial blood draws, nothing at all.
As large as those needles may seem, the skin is a very intelligent organ and makes room for the needle without causing significant damage.
With love, but always irreverent
