The most painful place to get a tattoo is the eyeball. Lips and pubic area come in a close second. Other sensitive spots include behind the ear, eyebrows, eyelids, and top of the feet.
The eye ball is usually tattooed in order to add pigmentation to a disfiguring blind eye. In these cases, an anesthetic is used so the patient does not feel any pain. The eyelids are also sensitive, but the artist will usually use a metal clamp to stretch the eyelid and provide a hard surface to press down on.
The lips are a popular place for women to have permanent makeup tattooed. If done correctly, in can give the illusion of plump youthful lips, but this area is extra sensitive because of all the nerve endings present. Similarly, eyebrows can also be painful to have filled in with a tattoo. The pubic area is another area concentrated with nerve endings. These nerves are usually used to send signals of immense pleasure under other circumstances, a tattoo in this area can induce severe pain.
Nerve endings are not the only culprits for pain. The top of the foot and behind the ear tattoos are painful because of the lack of fatty tissue in these areas. The fatty tissue under skin acts as a cushion, without this cushion, a tattoo can be painful. The lower back is a double whammy. This area has a low fat content and high concentration of nerve endings.
There are many myths surrounding tattoos and pain. Some people say they fainted while getting a tattoo. This is probably true, but not due to the pain. Tattoos do bleed, but the loss of blood is relatively insignificant. Aspirin should be avoided as a precaution since it thins the blood and will cause more bleeding. Other painkillers or topical creams can be used if needed, but most tattoos should not cause severe pain.
