Nearly all ancient societies practiced body modification through either piercingss or tattoos. These ancient practices are becoming ever more present in our modern Canadian society, especially tattoos. One writer says, “Permanent tattooing is the process of body modification by deposition of a pigment into the dermis” (Simunovic and Shinohara 525). In the past three decades, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has become increasingly popular in the medical field. Magnetic resonance imaging is a type of medical imaging that is non-invasive and safe in most cases. However, in some cases, patients with tattoos who have undergone MRI scans have experienced first and second degree burns along with other negative side effects. One patient even had to
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He concludes that in specific cases, however, the best solution may be removal of the tattoo to allow the MRI. As seen in the 24-year old patient who experienced burning. Rather than using a pressure dressing, they decided to remove her tattoo so she could have the scan (314). Tattoo removal is an unpleasant experience and quite an incolved the excessive process to undergojust to have. This patient had a “decorative” tattoo. She essentially went through the pain of getting a tattoo as an expression of art. It is rather unfortunate that she had to go through even more pain, and money, to have the tattoo removed, when she could have avoided getting the tattoo in the first place. One writer makes this claim: “Clearly, the trauma, expense, and morbidity associated with excision of the tattoo far exceed those that may be associated with ferromagnetic tattoo interactions” (Shellock 314). In the article “Tattooed: A Participant Observer’s Exploration of Meaning,” Shannon Bell suggests that, for women, tattoos may express a macho tolerance of pain (104). Although this 24-year old did not get the tattoo to express her high pain tolerance, she showed that she could bear an extensive amount pain.
Interestingly, according to Franiel et al., there was a case where burns occurred in a patient who had a non-ferrous tattoo. She was admitted to the hospital under the circumstance to asses a chronic inflammatory central nervous system disorder. After her scan, there was evidence of upper eyelid edema, or collections of abnormal fluid. Her tattoo was not found to have ferric acid pigments (W556).
He concludes that in specific cases, however, the best solution may be removal of the tattoo to allow the MRI. As seen in the 24-year old patient who experienced burning. Rather than using a pressure dressing, they decided to remove her tattoo so she could have the scan (314). Tattoo removal is an unpleasant experience and quite an incolved the excessive process to undergojust to have. This patient had a “decorative” tattoo. She essentially went through the pain of getting a tattoo as an expression of art. It is rather unfortunate that she had to go through even more pain, and money, to have the tattoo removed, when she could have avoided getting the tattoo in the first place. One writer makes this claim: “Clearly, the trauma, expense, and morbidity associated with excision of the tattoo far exceed those that may be associated with ferromagnetic tattoo interactions” (Shellock 314). In the article “Tattooed: A Participant Observer’s Exploration of Meaning,” Shannon Bell suggests that, for women, tattoos may express a macho tolerance of pain (104). Although this 24-year old did not get the tattoo to express her high pain tolerance, she showed that she could bear an extensive amount pain.
Interestingly, according to Franiel et al., there was a case where burns occurred in a patient who had a non-ferrous tattoo. She was admitted to the hospital under the circumstance to asses a chronic inflammatory central nervous system disorder. After her scan, there was evidence of upper eyelid edema, or collections of abnormal fluid. Her tattoo was not found to have ferric acid pigments (W556).