A tattoo is a beautiful piece of body art that will stay on with you permanently. For this reason, while making a tattoo, the needle has to be pricked into the skin several times to get that kind of effect. Tattoo enthusiasts are very interested in thigh tattoos, mainly because it looks very sensuous and it can be easily hidden as and when required. However, many of them hold themselves back as they are worried about thigh tattoo pain. How Much do Thigh Tattoos Hurt? In general, tattoos that are made near bones or on those places where the skin is sensitive give more pain. This includes the wrist, foot, elbow, ribs, lower back, etc. On the other hand, those spots that have lots of fat and muscles are comparatively less painful. So, it can be said that the thigh is one of the least painful places to get a tattoo. However, if you have a skinny thigh, then it is going to hurt you as much as an it would hurt at the ankle or the hand. This is because there is less fat and a lesser number of muscles under the skin to cushion the thigh bone. For others, an outer thigh tattoo is endurable, but an inner one could be extremely bothersome in terms of pain. This is because of the presence of nerve roots and cartilage in this area which makes the skin tender and sensitive. As the pain threshold varies from one individual to another, it is difficult to assess how much tattoos hurt. Tattoo pain is a different sensation for different people. Some describe it as a pinch or sting, but others may experience it as a severe burning sensation. Those people who have sensitive nerve endings can feel uncomfortable even with slightest amount of pain. Others who have reasonably tolerant nerve endings can bear much higher level of pain. Another thing which should be taken into consideration is the size of the tattoo. If you have chosen a complicated design, then it is going to give you more pain, as it will take long hours to create that design. Moreover, a big tattoo will obviously take more time to heal than the smaller ones. So, you have to bear the pain for a longer duration if the size of the tattoo is large and has an intricate design. How to Handle Tattoo Pain? A few simple steps can help you in dealing with this condition. You can take over-the-counter pain killers half an hour before the process begins. This will have a numbing effect on the area to be tattooed. Avoid aspirin or ibuprofen for this purpose, as they contain blood thinners, which can cause more bleeding. Acetaminophen is a better option, as it does not influence clotting of blood. There are numbing sprays with lidocaine as a component, which can be applied by the artist during the tattooing process. If the tattoo takes a long time to create, then repeated applications are needed. Many people have found self hypnosis highly beneficial during making of a tattoo. It involves distracting your mind away from the painful sensation. You can think about those things that gives you pleasure. It could be your favorite holiday destination or your favorite food or some funny incident. Absorb your mind into that thought completely and you will not even realize that your thigh tattoo is already done! Proper aftercare is essential to keep the pain at bay. The artist will provide you the right guidelines and you have to follow them strictly. An ice compression for 15-20 minutes provide a soothing relief from the pain. It can be repeated several times throughout the day. Acetaminophen can also be taken for pain relief. If you are really interested in a thigh tattoo and confident that you can deal with the pain, then go ahead with the right attitude. In case it is your first tattoo, then you will feel a little bit of nervousness at the start. As the work progresses, you may find that the pain is not as much as you expected it to be. When the pain is too much, you can ask the artist to take small breaks in between. Do not push yourself and try to bear too severe a pain. Talk to the artist as something could be wrong, which can surely be corrected. Disclaimer: This Buzzle article is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.