Tattoos for Ostomates

Quick answer: A tattoo can be a personal choice for someone with an ostomy, but this guide cannot decide when or where tattooing is suitable for you. Discuss your scar, planned placement and individual health with your healthcare professional before booking. Tattooing is not a treatment for scars.

Today I’m so excited to bring you a controversial topic, which is the use of Tattooing over our Ostomy Scars.

First of all, I am personally not a Tattoo person BUT… I liked so much some of the examples I found and bring here to you in case you get inspired 😉

Benefits of Tattooing Over Scars

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Empowerment and Confidence: A tattoo can shift the focus from the scar to the artwork.
Personal Expression: It tells a story, symbolizing the journey and triumph.
Appearance, not scar treatment: A design can change the look of an area; tattooing should not be presented as a way to flatten or heal a raised scar.

Potential Risks + Ostomy

Infection and ink reactions: The FDA explains that contaminated ink can cause infection, even when the container is sealed. Allergic reactions and scarring can also occur.
Tattoo regret: Take time to choose a design and placement you want to keep.
Your individual situation: Discuss the proposed area with your healthcare professional, including any scar or skin concern near the stoma.

If the tattooed area is not healing, or you develop a rash or fever, contact your healthcare professional.

Important notice

Before considering a tattoo near your stoma or a surgical scar, ask your healthcare professional whether the location and timing are suitable for your situation. Tell them about the design and discuss your current treatment and any future surgery plans. An online example is an idea, not an individual safety assessment.

When to do it?

The right time to consider a tattoo is an individual question. Ask your healthcare professional to assess the proposed area and discuss how your surgery and current treatment affect that decision.

Once that conversation has happened, talk with an experienced tattoo artist about placement and realistic expectations. You can take time to consider the design without committing to an appointment.

Woman holding a sketchbook beside botanical drawings, wearing a coral top, jeans and a black SIIL ostomy belt. — Take your time with the design and the decision.

Try the design before you commit

Start away from your skin: save the drawing, print it, or keep it on a mood board. Notice whether you still like it on an ordinary Tuesday, not only on the day the idea arrives. A slogan, a small symbol and a purely decorative design can each feel personal. None has to explain your whole story to a stranger.

If the design includes words, read them at the size you are considering. Ask yourself whether you want the meaning to be obvious or private. You can change the lettering, keep the idea in a notebook, or decide that enjoying the artwork is enough. There is no deadline to turn a good idea into an appointment.

Woman pinning a botanical drawing to a corkboard, wearing a teal top, jeans and a black ostomy belt. — Live with the idea for a while before deciding whether to make it permanent.

Bring the version you like to the conversations about placement and suitability. The drawing is a starting point for questions, not a decision made for you. If you feel rushed, put the idea aside and come back to it. You can enjoy looking at other people’s tattoos while choosing something different for yourself, including no tattoo at all.

Questions about tattoos and an ostomy

When to do it after surgery?

Ask your healthcare professional about your individual timing and the proposed area; this article does not prescribe a minimum number of months.

Will the tattoo hurt more over the scar?

Pain and comfort are individual. Discuss your concerns with the artist and your healthcare professional; you do not have to prove how much discomfort you can tolerate.

Can the tattoo be affected if I need another surgery?

Discuss any planned surgery and tattoo placement with your surgeon before deciding. An ostomy reversal is not a universal recommendation for when to get a tattoo.

Is there a chance the tattoo can fade faster on scar tissue?

Ask an experienced artist about realistic results for the proposed area; this article cannot predict how your scar or tattoo will look.

Are there specific designs recommended for ostomy scars?

It's a personal choice. However, designs that follow the scar's natural lines can look more organic.

A tattoo can express something personal, whether you want to mark a chapter of your life or simply like the artwork. Choosing not to get one is just as valid.

Take your time, discuss the practical questions and make the decision for yourself. If you are considering further surgery, include that in the conversation about placement and timing.

For a lighter look at self-expression, read No Colon, Still Rolling: humor and life with an ostomy. For everyday questions, our guide to living with an ostomy gives you a practical place to start.

If you don’t want a tattoo you can always keep looking for our exceptional Ostomy clothing garments clicking below!

A favorite outfit is another way to express yourself, and you can change it tomorrow. Choose a layer you enjoy wearing, try it sitting as well as standing, and take your time with the options. The free guide below can help you collect everyday questions about clothing and life with a stoma.

Man wearing a navy ostomy belt walking hand in hand with a child at the shoreline.

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Keep reading

Tattoos for Ostomates

Benefits of Tattooing Over Scars

Potential Risks + Ostomy

When to do it?

Try the design before you commit

Questions about tattoos and an ostomy

When to do it after surgery?+

Will the tattoo hurt more over the scar?+

Can the tattoo be affected if I need another surgery?+

Is there a chance the tattoo can fade faster on scar tissue?+

Are there specific designs recommended for ostomy scars?+

When to do it after surgery?

Will the tattoo hurt more over the scar?

Can the tattoo be affected if I need another surgery?

Is there a chance the tattoo can fade faster on scar tissue?

Are there specific designs recommended for ostomy scars?