Just got a tattoo on my chest, how long till i can lift weights again?

[Famous818]

Im really sorry if this is in the wrong section, i wasn't sure where to post.


So i got a tattoo on the left side of my chest, i forgot to ask my artist how long i should wait before i start working out again. I DONT WANT TO RUIN THE TATTOO, so i rather be safe then sorry.

Also is it ok if before i start working that area out, can i possibly do my abs & cardio? the only thing that i would think that could affect my tattoo would be the sweat. anything upper body will probally stretch the wound. So i was thinking only things i could safely do would be abs, legs, and cardio..

thank you for your help in advance!

[ironbelle]

You should call the artist who did the ink for you. You paid for the ink(I presume) they should have given you some kind of after care since the chest is a body part that you cannot isolate really.

[Famous818]

i just called , he said 3 weeks. thats fine ill wait that long for my chest/upper body, but what do you think as far as working out abs/legs? shouldn't really effect it?

[Farley1324]

I wouldn't worry much about it.

When I got a tattoo on my calf I waited, oh, a couple days or something like that before getting back to lifting as usual. The only thing I would worry about is physical contact between the tattoo and, well, anything: The bar, DBs, plates, etc. Working the muscle that happens to be under the tattoo shouldnt be a big deal.

If and when it is still in a state where you consider it an open would you may want to be careful, as you said, about stretching it.

I really think three weeks off working chest is excessive, though.

[ironbelle]

Aren't you suppose to keep tats dry with the exception of moisterizer or something? Is sweating on a new tat good? Do you sweat when doing abs/legs?

[T.KELL]

my back is really tat'd up, and i've never taken longer than 2-3 days off. as long as i'm not physically touching it (laying on it or moving the muscle underneath the given area), i felt fine. i also used very loose, open shirts for ventilation. 3 weeks is a bit of a stretch IMO, but it depends on how fast yours heals up and how you feel with it.

[Farley1324]

Aren't you suppose to keep tats dry with the exception of moisterizer or something? Is sweating on a new tat good? Do you sweat when doing abs/legs?

They don't have to stay dry. You aren't supposed to submerge them for awhile, though.

After a day or two I wouldn't worry about sweat at all.

Taking a shower and letting the water just run over it, then lightly patting dry, is the way to go.