Leg sleeve experience ✨
I’ve been waiting this Japanese style leg sleeve on my leg for almost 10 yrs and never really had the balls or budget to actually start. So this year the opportunity presented so I took it, 2 months after I had my 4th daughter I scheduled an appointment with an artist @Tattoosessions on Instagram ( Philly based ) I had met through a close friend of mines, I really like his work and I am very picky, the artist I initially wanted is a female artist in Philly @Kimink on instagram be booked fast. So me and my artist met and to get things started and I told him what I wanted exactly, he made me feel heard and very comfortable, never once tried to push up on me just great vibes as it should be 💯 bout business 😎, i have 3 other tattoos one in between my boobs which in my opinion was the one that hurt a little, I have metal in my left leg where I got my sleeve from a car accident in the past and I did not think that it would affect my tattoo process, the first couples of sessions was fine ( painful but I took it like a G cause I push 3 babies out and had 1 Cesarean) lol that’s what I tell myself when I go through some physical pain. 😂 anyways back to the story, in my opinion the coloring of a tattoo hurts like hell and not gonna lie almost tapped out twice but I just kept myself distracted on my phone the whole time or talking to my artist. This past session we started the coloring of the flower on my ankle and the Oni mask, my ankle got so swollen for like 3 days until I figured out what to do to bring the swelling down, I just literally had to sleep on that leg on my left side and the next day BOOM!💥 swelling gone. We currently have one more session for the coloring of the Geisha, just waiting to heal my skin from this past session. I am so happy with my results so far and I am so glad the worst was over lol 😝 but my artist is a beast and I am in good hands. 🙌🏼 #tattooinprogress #swollentattoo #geisha #japanestyletattoo #Lemon8Diary #inkedgirl
Getting a leg sleeve tattoo, especially in a detailed Japanese style, is a commitment that involves patience and preparation. From my experience, the healing process can be intense—like when my ankle swelling lasted several days. I learned that resting and elevating the leg can significantly reduce inflammation. If you have metal implants like I do from a past injury, it’s good to inform your artist beforehand as the sensations might differ during the process. Also, coloring tends to be much more painful than the initial outline, so bring distractions like your phone or music to help pass the time. Choosing the right artist can make a huge difference—not only in the quality of the design but also in how comfortable and supported you feel during sessions. I found that a respectful, communicative artist helped me stay relaxed and confident throughout. Finally, plan your sessions and healing time carefully, especially if you have young children like me. It’s a rewarding experience to see the art come to life and have it tell a personal story on your skin, but it requires self-care along the way.
Fyeee😍