SStu

Yeah, those are traditional subjects/objects. There are lots of ways you could proceed with additions and that mostly has to do with what you might (or might not) want to look at for the rest of your life. If you don't have strong feelings about it then my recommendation would be to back off until you do . . .

That is pretty expensive, but you could be doing a LOT worse. Maybe you could have whoever is going to do the middle also tighten up the girl/puzzle?

It's still healing. Quit worrying about it.

It does look like bruising, but 5-6 weeks in that would normally have faded. Might just be a thing with you - it is a tender area.

Jumping in with both feet. Congratulations and welcome to the worm hole!

Ultimately up to the tattooist.

You'll not likely get an infection from well chlorinated pool water - my guess is you'd more likely get a chemical reaction with the ink itself. Color might leach out or actually change.

Pretty damn clean, too. Getting on a motorcycle and cruising around would be a very decent way of mitigating this isolation and distancing times, too.

Shouldn't be a problem. Embarrassed?! Tell the tattooist you bumped into a table. It doesn't have to be a sex bruise, after all. 😄

No real tattooist would tell you it's ok to submerge your new tattoo in pool chlorine. Did he/she happen to be working from a kitchen table? Only time will tell how it plays out.

Too dark?! Color will only make it darker, and lasering will lighten it but can't be done in a way that will result in an even way.

That'd be interesting . . but nope.

yes! You'll likely just have to be extra careful and patient when it comes time to remove.

maybe get it shipped to a friend elsewhere and have them redirect it to you?

easily covered. Get used to the idea that it's going to be significantly larger - and send us a link to the intended artist.

The size is way too small for the design

Yeah, a halo, beams or a simple background circle would satisfy that need

You can overlap the derm to find a firm anchoring spot, but if you're having the whole arm outlined at once you'll probably have to be open to being less than 100% at the elbow/hinge. Not sure what you're saying regarding "pack all the tattoo" . . .

Yep. The only way to even that all up would be to cover it with something fairly dark. It could end up awesome, but finding the right artist would be key.

match them to what? Are you trying to pair up appropriate Japanese themes, ie: which flowers/plants go with Koi?

Your instructions on unwrapping it when you got home are different than any instructions I've ever received. Normally I leave it covered overnight before unwrapping and cleaning it. Plasma and ink discharge the 1st night or two is quite normal. Redness, soreness and some heat are normal for any skin abrasion, including results from tattooing - but if it's hot and truly painful then infection is a possibility. What you're describing above sounds pretty normal. Your tattooist should be open to taking a look at it, too.

Nothing I've practiced with any professional success. I've seen a couple of 2 angle pictures joined via photoshop that worked pretty well, but . . .

Doesn't look like anything I've ever seen. If you've been on antibiotics for 3-4 days and it's not clearing up then I'm probably not going to be able to provide any insight - but my next question was how long ago was the tattoo applied?

You are on antibiotics because a Doctor diagnosed an infection?

looks like nice work to me! I wouldn't worry about the raised lines unless they become red/sore. This question comes up occasionally but there doesn't seem to be any practical advice or solution (or need to worry).