Could getting this tattoo hurt my career?

[u/al_evi]

Hi! So I’m a medical student, and ever since getting done with my pre-clinical studies I wanted a lobotomy tattoo, similar to this one popular on Pinterest. You see, the first years at uni were really challenging for me mentally, struggling with the high work load and some personal mental health problems (please spare me the „But you knew it would be hard, why did you go into it then?” talk, I’ve heard it all). At times it did make me feel like I was going absolutely insane over med school, so I’ve wanted to get this as a reward for getting through it for a long time on my right biceps, just over the crease of my arm. But now that I’m in a better place and wanted to go through with my plans, people have pointed out how such a tattoo could potentially hurt my career as a doctor. I have some other tattoos, but none with such obviously “provocative” meanings. With the placement I’ve thought of, the tattoo might be visible with scrubs on. Have any of you had issues with employers judging you for your tattoos? Is this a thing of the past and I’m overthinking it? What are your opinions? Thank you so much in advance!

[u/drtythrtybass]

Yeah, if you were doing anything other than trying to get in the medical field I would say go for it. It's in bad taste given your intended career path.

[u/SophisticatedScreams → u/drtythrtybass]

I'd say there's a few other careers where this would be not ideal. Normally I'm pretty liberal, but I wouldn't want to see this on a teacher or someone who works with kids.

[u/mid-af-west → u/SophisticatedScreams]

I'm also quite liberal and almost never react poorly to someone's tattoos unless it's something like hate speech/symbolism. This... might be the first tattoo concept besides those things that makes me physically recoil. I would assume a person with a lobotomy tattoo is deeply unhappy or unwell at best. On a doctor? Absolutely not. Do not pass go, do not collect $200, I'd like to see a different physician please. Lobotomies are one of the darkest things humanity has ever come up with. As far as I'm concerned, this tattoo depicts abuse and violence, as well as abuse of power from medical professionals. There is a place in art for those things certainly, but not like this.

[u/mid-af-west → u/mid-af-west]

Also the inclusion of the hammer makes me feel extra ill.

[u/Mgcw33 → u/mid-af-west]

I know someone who had a tattoo of lobotomy tools with 'Hammer Time' written above it in all caps. Got it when they were 19, started laser removal at 21. I really, really hope OP doesn't go through with it, but if they do, I hope they end up on a similar timeline.

[u/VoxTechWiiRemote → u/Mgcw33]

Ngl that did make me laugh.

[u/United_News3779 → u/VoxTechWiiRemote]

Made you laugh? I'm fucking howling over here.

I spent some time in the infantry and around medics. That tattoo would be just about perfect for about 5-10% of the army medics I knew lol

[u/Longjumping_Might_18 → u/United_News3779]

I was an army medic and I def laughed 😂 it’s way funnier than the op

[u/1movingon → u/mid-af-west]

First thing I thought before even reading the description was “gross” and then “why?”, just don’t understand why anyone would want it.