Can you get an MRI if you have tattoos?

Not true, unless the tattoo ink is highly metallic.

When I have had them done,they always ask if I have them.
I tell them that I got the “MOM” tattoo removed from my ass years ago…
Actually,I don’t know…maybe they adjust the machine for that or avoid that area because of the metals in the ink.

So if you had one it’d spark like a cup with metal in a microwave?

No. That’s not true at all. What you can’t have is any bits of metal or electronics embedded in your body.

Only if the tattoo contains metal, but I’ve read that if you’ve obtained a tattoo within the last 20 years, it’s not going to be an issue and even if you have a 20+ old tattoo, it doesn’t necessarily mean it contains metal anyway and not everyone with an old tattoo has problems with MRI’s.

I have 4 tattoos and I’ve gotten an MRI and I’m fine. I don’t remember them asking if I have any tattoos either and that might be due to my age because I highly doubt I got my first tattoo at 2 years old. I don’t think it’s an issue.

MRI safety

Some MRI labs will ask if you have tattoos, and may refuse to do the MRI. But that’s only fear of litigation. There’s no danger whatsoever of your tattoo exploding in an MRI, even if has traces of metal compounds in the ink. Now, things like metal filings and shards will preclude you getting an MRI.

They did a Mythbusters episode about this once, and if I remember correctly, nothing happened. I’m sure that you’ll be fine. Besides, it doesn’t make sense to create a machine that could/would harm a part of the population just because they’ve gotten body art. Anyway, good luck with your MRI and all!

Unless the ink is high in iron, cobalt, or nickel, there really shouldn’t be a problem with getting an MRI. Now, it is discouraged to donate blood if you’re sick or have had a tattoo done in the last 6 months/1 year (i don’t remember which). But yeah, I had my avatar tattooed on me and ended up having to go in for an MRI 2 weeks later. No issue here

It’s not true. Many years ago tattoos were sometimes made with metallic ink, which can heat up and become irritating while you’re in an MRI. It’s not really dangerous though, besides the immediate discomfort while you’re getting the scan.

The old metallic inks can distort the magnetic field, making the images harder to read, but that’s not really a safety issue. And with a strong enough magnetic and long enough scan you can still get interpretable data.

I have two tattoos, have had and MRI, and I am none the worse for wear.

So what would happen if you had a steel plate in your head?

@Adirondackwannabe your brains would boil and your head would explode.

@Adirondackwannabe Anyone who has metals in their body that would react to the magnet cannot get an MRI. People with pacemakers cannot. Most metals used for orthopedic procedures do not get magnetized.

@Adirondackwannabe it would rip out of your head or rip your head off or pin your head on the side of the MRI.

My MIL has her eyeliner tattooed and has had a ton of them. They just want to know.

No, not unless it’s a really new, fresh tattoo. Otherwise, you’ll be fine.

Wow… No. That’s not true at all. With an MRI, they look through your skin. The ink is in the first layer of the dermis (the lower layer of skin).

Just to let you know that you can, without a doubt, 100% factually get a MRI if you have tattoos, I had to get an MRI done as part of my physical for my offshore job about a week and a half ago and I’m fairly covered with tattoos. In fact, I had a few of the doctors comment on how they liked them.

@Randy Yes, but the concern is that because MRIs use magnets, if the tattoo has magnets, it will pull the tattoo out and rip your skin.

The issue on the episode of House was a prison inmate who had prison tattoos that had been done as a covert activity and included metals in the ink. Some of these are folks who make booze from apples and drink shaving cream after all—it is not surprising that the quality of the prison tattoo ink may be lacking.

@mynewtboobs Not that the tattoo has magnets, that it has metal that would be attracted to magnets.

@JLeslie That the ink would have magnetic properties.

@mynewtboots Hmmm…maybe that is right, now I am not sure about the wording. The metal would become magnetized,

@noelleptc Yep. The episode was entitled “Acceptance” and is described here and LL Cool J’s role is also described here(House)

What can make tattoos explode is the laser used for hair removal. Apparently it’s much harder on tattoos than the lasers used to remove tattoos and can result in ugly burns and scarring.

There is no reason that you can’t have an MIR with tattoos.

I did hear this story about tattoo ink this morning on NPR. My husband and I are planning new tattoos in the near future and before going in I am going to research the type of ink the artist uses.

@noelleptc I know right?! My son-in-law is going to do our tattoos and before we get started I am going to contact Zulu to find out what ink they use!

Just don’t go to prison to get it and you’ll be fine.

They never even asked when I had my last one.

My husband has a lot of tattoos, including half-sleeves on both arms and he has had MRIs recently.

@King_Pariah This is because they think the ink is in the bloodstream. Its like they don’t realize that the tattoo goes under the skin not into the bloodstream. If it went into the bloodstream it wouldn’t last. Of course they are afraid of you getting a blood born disease like Hepatitis, but that wouldn’t disappear after 6 months to a year.

@Ajulutsikael It’s really just concern over the possibility of having contracted something from contaminated needles. Not very likely these days, but I’ve seen pictures of a tattoo done with a syphilitic needle and it wasn’t pretty. It’s definitely something worth being vigilant about.

@noelleptc – I hope you’re kidding. On the list of really bad ideas, that one is near the top…

@noelleptc – I love it! :-D

Bahaha, @noelleptc I adore you.

@noelleptc I knew a girl that tattooed herself like that. You never would have guessed she was tattooed let alone that she did it herself (in such a primitive fashion), but she liked it and the design was simple enough that she could pull it off with what she had. Assuming the person knows what they’re getting in to and are reasonably artistic DIY tattooing can be viable. The hitch is of course that most people that do that sort of thing really don’t know what they’re getting into.

@noelleptc Gramps is hardcore eh?