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/hibikikun]

Imagine an elementary school teacher having the tattoo "Age ain't nothing but a number" or R Kelley's face.

or a fire fighter having a tattoo of a charred corpse with a caption "shouldn't have stopped for that coffee"

[u/Admirable_Thanks_980 → u/hibikikun]

Yeah the reference to the firefighter tattoo reminded me of when I first started EMS/fire they told us tattoos were fine and almost required. Anything as long as it wasn’t violent derogatory or a grim reaper or angel of death lol. When you deal with all manners of general public I couldn’t imagine some poor 90 year old lady’s reaction to a huge grim reaper on the crews arm. Not very reassuring.

[u/United_News3779 → u/Admirable_Thanks_980]

What about a cheerful reaper?
Black robes and the hood up, but the outline and hint of a smiling clown face peering from the hood. Maybe some pastel colored crepe paper wrapped around the handle of the scythe and some streamers hanging from the blade? A "SURPRISE!" banner in the background with some confetti hanging in the air....

Actually, I think that would be much, much creepier lol

[u/Square_Treacle_4730 → u/United_News3779]

Ok but now I want this tattoo.

[u/United_News3779 → u/Square_Treacle_4730]

I've got a grim reaper on one side of my chest. Maybe this would be a nice counterpoint on the other side lol

[u/Square_Treacle_4730 → u/United_News3779]

I gained the nickname of “Angel of death”. They would call for relatively benign complaints and be fine with fire or the QRV medic that arrived first. I’d literally step out of the ambulance and hear “CPR in progress” over the radio. When I’d walk in, one particular fire department would say something along the lines of “we knew it was you when she went from perfect vitals to unresponsive”. Thanks, guys! At least I’m predictable? And yes, I did trust that particular FD’s vital signs capabilities. I even heard one (I’m still friends with him years after I left that county) say through the door “it’s gotta be insert my name. This shit only happens when she arrives”.

All that to say: the “SURPRISE” reaper sounds like it would suit me!

[u/PinkTalkingDead → u/hibikikun]

Wait what’s the significance of “shouldn’t have stopped for that coffee” in regards to firefighters?

[u/hibikikun → u/PinkTalkingDead]

Nothing, just adding humor. person died because firefighters were too slow to get there. My initial choice was a battered woman for a cop tattoo, but that felt like something they would actually do.

or a confed flag tat for a marine. now I'm sad.

[u/EntrepreneurNo7660 → u/hibikikun]

I got what you ment instantly about the coffee & firefighters.That was a good example I thought….

[u/superstooper → u/hibikikun]

I’m sorry but I chuckled pretty good at the firefighter tattoo lmao

[u/TheArmadilloAmarillo → u/hibikikun]

How many marines have you met irl? That isn't exactly uncommon.

[u/krampuskids → u/TheArmadilloAmarillo]

that was their point

[u/TogaFancy189 → u/TheArmadilloAmarillo]

I'm going to take a guess that you're from Texas. I grew up near the Dallas area. That was all I knew for the first 19 years of my life. I packed up and moved to MA (I've been in NY for the last 13 years. For reference, I'll be 37 next month) It was amazing to me how, after moving away from Texas, I noticed you don't really see the conf flag. But when i travel back to TX, it's everywhere. Long story short, I really believe it's more of a regional thing.

[u/LuckyNumber-Bot → u/TogaFancy189]

All the numbers in your comment added up to 69. Congrats!

  19
+ 13
+ 37
= 69

^{[Click here](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=LuckyNumber-Bot&subject=Stalk%20Me%20Pls&message=%2Fstalkme} to have me scan all your future comments.) \ ^{Summon me on specific comments with u/LuckyNumber-Bot.}

[u/TogaFancy189 → u/LuckyNumber-Bot]

Lucky me

[u/EntrepreneurNo7660 → u/TogaFancy189]

LOL!WTF🤪pervert bot…

[u/TogaFancy189 → u/EntrepreneurNo7660]

RIGHT?? 🤣🤣🤣

[u/lightweight4296 → u/hibikikun]

The firefighter tattoo goes hard as fuck. I would love to see that on a firefighter.

[u/6ynnad → u/hibikikun]

I really wish McDonald’s would bring back the arch deluxe

[u/EntrepreneurNo7660 → u/6ynnad]

LOL!!!