is it possible to complain about a tattoo/ist?

[ConfusedMum]

i had my 1st (and only) tattoo done on/around the 15th december, it's now around 5months after and it's still rough - but not scabby, tender and it looks very very dry (to which my partners tattooist recomended putting vaseline intensive moisturiser on - which they said they never ever recomend anybody doing, but said mine needed alot of moisture in?) and around the design my skin looks blue, as if it's bruised - but surly after 5months the bruise would have gone or atleast would have faded to a browny yellowy colour by now and it looks a complete mess - when i say it looks a mess i mean the design isn't even on both sides, lines are thicker than others some parts of the design aren't coloured the black outline seems to have smudged into the colour (if that's even possible?! :s) the part that should have been purple/lilac is a creamy/peachy/orangey colour :\ it isn't centred and it's over my wrist crease (according to partners tattooist that's a big no no - not sure if that's true or not?) i don't think i need to mention it being wonky and not central, that's the least of my worries. i kept waiting and hoping that in time it would settle down and see if colours and line thickness would sort it's self but as of now it hasn't changed, if anything it looks worse :\ it's just a bit biggar than a �1/20p (which wouldn't be bad if it was anywhere but my wrist)and i paid �40 for it - which is apparntly alot for something so small, but whatever money is money, it's not the be all and end all at the end of the day is it? is there anyway i could put in a complaint or sue the tattooist, to stop other people getting messy tattoos? as i mentioned before money is just money it means nothing, so it would be so that I would know that the tattooist hadn't got away with messing up my wrist and potentially other peoples. thanks for any advice. xXx

[leelapops]

Hi CM, what a shame to hear your tattoo experience has been so negative.

Have you returned to the shop? I would, take pictures, date them, and go in to show the "artist" what a mess it is.
Are they registered/licensed? If so, go to their licensing body, again with photos, and a letter explaining what you have outlined on here. It sounds like they hve done an awful job.
In terms of the cost, I am told most tattooists have a minimum fee, and some charge by the hour, so if it's �40/hour, you wil be charged that for anything up to an hour.

Take it from there and see how it goes.
Good luck x

[leelapops]

PS. If the artist isn't registered, see trading standards.
x

[RevFunk]

To be honest with you, as long as they are registered I dont think there is anything you can do.

My tattooist, make you list any medication you are on, then you have to sign to say you have read and understood the sftercare process.

Regarding them being a crap artist, nothing you can do I would have thought.

Never heard of the wrist crease thing or using vaseline intensive moisturiser. It could be that you are allergic to the ink

[MustangLady]

Hi CM, what made you use that particular tattooist - was it recommended? How come you didn't go to your partner's tattooist if that is someone you know the work of (no reasons for asking other than just curious?) I've had a few tattoos and initially went to one that was recommended to me, then went back to same one each time as was very happy with them. Maybe you could speak with another tattooist to get a second opinion, one that would be unbiased and then maybe they could suggest what to do in this circumstance. Just a suggestion on the dryness of your tattoo, my tattooist always uses Cocoa Butter to put on the tattoo straight after, maybe this could help but would suggest you ask another professional to get their opinion. As RevFunk pointed out, you could be one of the few allergic to the inks used. Good Luck ML

[beso]

Hmmm. You have a foreign material injected and now you are upset that your skin has reacted badly to it. YOur skin is probably too sensitive to tke this kind of abuse.

The permeability of skin varies among people. Perhaps yours allowed the ink to spread more quickly than most people. However if you take a look at any tto you will see that eventually they all smudge as the ink diffuses over time.

All tattoos are ugly from the start and get uglier over time. Hopefully you will learn from this experience.

[RevFunk]

Beso I think you should get your head from up your own ar5e

I dont think "do you like tattoo's or not" was the question was it?

[ConfusedMum]

thanks for all the help. decided to go to pharmacist yesterday (ignorance and wishful thinking wasn't sorting the tattoo out surprisingly enough) pharmacist commented on my vein and blueness and said he's never seen a tattoo like that 5months after and said to go see doctor as i may have an infection (but it's been like that from the start so i could have had an infection right from the begining? :s )and he said that also tattoing over the crease was bad due to arteys and veins and nerves and said did it hurt when i got it done and i said alot and my arm was shaking he said tattooist may have damaged a nerve ending - posted that to warn others and to let them know! obviously today i'm going to my dr to see if anything serious is wrong :s

the vaseline is just an intensive moisturiser as tattoo was v.dry, from what partners tattooist said they don't ever really recomend anything that greasy as it isn't good for tattoos but to quote 'it's not about saving your tattoo it's about saving your skin now'. i didn't go to partners tattooist because when i chose my tattoo i wasn't planning on getting one, i decided to get it done when i took my younger sister to get a piercing - it's in our town and has been there for a while now, i haven't heard anything about it - neither good nor bad tbh so didn't think there would be a problem.

xXx

[ConfusedMum]

i haven't gone back to the shop mainly because i feel stupid as bad as that sounds i feel like i'd be over reacting if i said my tattoo looks a mess and it's not healed, plus it's 3 blokes who work there and i'd feel a bit intimidated. my partner offered to go with me several times but i just kept saying no it's ok it will settle down. but either today or tomorrow we are going back just to see what he advises. at the end of the day what could the tattooist actually do? i don't want him messing with my tattoo - clearly he isn't all that good so why potentionally cause more mess and you can't cover/touch up a tattoo til it's fully healed can you? and a �40 refund is nothing to what i'll have to carry around on my wrist for life is it really - that's why i'd like to put a complaint in asapose to seek compensation or a refund or whatever else.

the tattoo after care sheet i got didn't actually mention using any moisturiser on the tattoo so when my partner said i should be putting pethanthen or something spelt like that for nappy rashes i thought he was taking the **** (strange enough i actually found a brand new tube in my now 2year old sons baby box from when he was younger! guess he wasn't taking mick after all eh!)

tbh didn't get any aftercare appart from the one sheet obviously, got told by one of the blokes behind the counter on the way out to not pick scabs and to remove bandage after an hour - that was basically it. obviously you don't think of qustions at the time do you, especially when you're excited and full of adrenaline.

xXx

[mandimoo]

you know, if there is no infection and its just a sloppy tattoo, i think you could get it tattood over.....if you have not been put off for life?.... maybe get some further advice about tattooing in the crease though... although saying that, im sure ive seen pics of people with tattoos ALL over.

[gaolbyrd]

Hi confused mum. I am sorry it happened to you, as it has happenend to me,.I know what you mean about not going back to the shop. I didand was threatened, with a punch in the head and told to F off. Tato this two, or Kings Of Ink are there name. Mr Cask was the meant to be tattooist. It is disgusting what they did to you as i have exactly the same thing happening with muine. Did it really hurt you, ? Coz i have a few, but they never hurt as my fu..ed one did.i stilll have the bruising or ink bleeding. as well. Now i am out to le evryone know not to gothere. it is run by the Finks, a wannabe M.C Club. So i have heard,but if it was you would think they would give me my money back to cover it.I have since heard others complain, so i am just learning too. All the brest my love, and maybe we could start a club or something that shames and names bad tattooist. Or scratcher's ,butchers, or Kitchen magicians. are what they are really called. A real tattooist can stand by his work. Im on face book Gaolbyrd pilgrem. Add me lets get these guys shamed and named.

[gaolbyrd]

Stay away from King Of Ink or Tattoo This two. Mr Cask mr Cash. Greewood Indiana, but they are really in PERTH WEST aUSTRALIA.tHEY e changes his name and the shops name periodically