Knee Cap Tattoo Meaning

Want to get a tattoo on a unique body part? Then get one on your kneecap. Getting a tattoo on a unique place such as a knee cap can make the tattoo way more interesting than it actually is. Along with the color and tattoo design, the placement of the tattoo also plays a crucial part in the meaning it portrays and how good it looks.

Imagine this, you are walking down the street and suddenly notice someone walking with a tattoo on his knee. How astonishing that would look! Because knee cap tattoos are not that common and there are so many designs you can get inked on your knee! Want to know more? Stick around as I will be explaining everything you need to know regarding knee cap tattoos in this article.

Key Takeaways

• Kneecap tattoos can be more painful compared to other tattoos and making the tattoo can be difficult too because of the loose skin over the knee and the curved shape.
• A few kneecap tattoo meanings, in general, are strength, ability to overcome challenges and resilience.
• A few pros of kneecap tattoos are unique, concealing, and can cover scars, aesthetics and A few cons of kneecap tattoos are increased amount of pain, protocol issues, increased healing time, and quality of the tattoo.
• Ways to reduce kneecap tattoo pain are tattoo numbing agents, tattooing techniques, distracting yourself, staying relaxed, and going for a smaller and simpler tattoo design.
• A few kneecap tattoo design ideas are a geometric mandala, rose compass, crescent moon and stars, grid, flowers, tribal sun, etc.
• Mistakes to avoid when you decide on the type of tattoo for your kneecap are choosing the wrong sized tattoo design, the wrong type of tattoo design, and the wrong style of tattoo design.

The Physical Canvas: Understanding Knee Cap Tattoos

There is almost no place on your body where you cannot get inked. That includes getting a tattoo on your kneecap. Tattooing over the knee cap skin is not for the faint-hearted though. Some people might be into knee cap tattoos but many may avoid it. You see, the curvature and sensitivity of the knee area make it more challenging to tattoo on. It can be equally challenging for the tattoo artist and the client. The loose skin and the natural curve of a knee is not really the best place to make a tattoo. Not to mention the design and alignment of the knee tattoo need to account for the knee movement as well. So, the tattoo needs to look perfect when your knee is still and as well as when it is moving. The sensitive area may cause more pain during the procedure for the client and the healing time can be critical as you pretty much use your kneecap or leg to move around every day.

Knee Cap Tattoo Meaning

There are so many characters you can get inked on your precious kneecap. But what do they even mean?

Kneecap tattoos can mean:

These are some of the common meanings of kneecap tattoos in general. But the actual meaning of a kneecap tattoo can mean various things because there are plenty of characters to use on a kneecap tattoo. Characters, designs or the type of tattoo dictate what meaning that kneecap tattoo would portray. I have listed a few common and popular kneecap tattoo characters below including what they mean.

• Rose as kneecap tattoo: It can mean love and desire. Sometimes a rose on the kneecap could also mean power and strength.
• Lotus as kneecap tattoo: It can mean purity, innocence, faith, and wisdom. Lotus on the kneecap can also mean enlightenment or hidden knowledge.
• Rhombus as kneecap tattoo: It can mean you have a balanced life and a perfect life. Usually, successful people get a rhombus as a kneecap tattoo.
• The sun as a kneecap tattoo: It can mean rebirth, a source of life and power, a higher level of optimism, and being positive even in dire situations.
• Wings as kneecap tattoo: It can mean you are free-spirited and will not be bound by any shackles.

Are Knee Cap Tattoos Painful?

Many people do not think about the pain level of the tattooing procedure before getting inked. This is why they complain during the procedure and sometimes even stop the procedure because the pain is unbearable for them. Now, you might be wondering, are kneecap tattoos painful?

To simply put, yes kneecap tattoos are quite painful. The skin around the knee is quite thin and the kneecap bone is right under the skin, which makes the kneecap tattoo pain level almost equal to getting tattooed on the elbow.

When the tattoo needle injects the ink deep into the dermis layer of your skin, the fat and muscle around the area protect your pain receptors or nerve endings from getting hit. So, if the pain receptors get protection and the fat and muscle of your body make the contact of tattoo needles and nerve endings minimal, then the pain would be much less. But what if a certain body area has less fat and muscles? What then? Then the amount of pain you feel during the tattooing procedure would be more. Now take a look at your kneecap, not only the skin is thin but also there is little to no fat or muscle. This means the tattoo needle would cause more pain by coming into contact with pain receptors on your kneecap during the tattooing procedure.

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5 Ways to Reduce Knee Cap Tattoo Pain

There are many ways to reduce kneecap tattoo pain. I have listed a few of them below:

1. Tattoo numbing agent

Consult with your tattoo artist and use a reputable tattoo numbing cream or spray before the tattooing procedure. It will not completely numb the knee but surely take off the edge and make it more bearable for you.

2. Tattooing technique

Proper tattooing techniques can reduce the amount of pain you feel during the procedure. So, make sure to choose a professional tattoo artist and ask them to use a technique that would hurt less.

3. Distract your self

Distraction can reduce pain. Try to distract yourself during the procedure by listening to music or chatting with a friend.

4. Stay relaxed

If you stay stressed then you will feel increased pain during your kneecap tattooing procedure. Make sure you are relaxed before the procedure begins.

5. Go for a smaller and simple tattoo design

Bigger and more complicated tattoo design requires more work, and as a result, you will feel more pain. So, go for a smaller and simple tattoo design for your kneecap.

Pros and Cons of Knee Cap Tattoo

Want to know some pros and cons of knee cap tattoos? I have listed a few of them below.

Pros

• Unique: If getting a unique tattoo is your goal then a kneecap tattoo might be the way to go. Because a knee cap is a pretty unique place to get a tattoo. You don’t see much of these tattoos around, do you?
• Concealability: Kneecap tattoos have great concealability. You can easily conceal them by wearing long pants or a long dress. And when you want to show off you can wear half pants or a skirt, such a convenient place to get a tattoo.
• Covering scar: If you have a scar on your knee then getting a tattoo over it can be an amazing idea to hide it. This way you are not only hiding the scar on the knee but also transforming it into a magnificent bodily art.
• Aesthetics: If the kneecap tattoo is done by a professional tattoo artist and you have a few more existing tattoos on your body then it can create a cool combination. Kneecap tattoos in general can elevate your elegance.

Cons

• Increased amount of pain: Kneecap is known to provide an increased amount of pain when you get a tattoo over it.
• Protocol issue: Some workplaces or social environments may not approve of a kneecap tattoo. In such cases, you will have to conceal the kneecap tattoo all the time or get it removed by laser treatment.
• Increased healing time: A tattoo on the kneecap will take much longer to heal. Because the knee area is moving constantly as you walk and you move around the skin on the knee will get stretched and disrupt the healing process.
• Quality of the tattoo: The knee area gets constantly rubbed or face fabric friction. It may affect the quality of the tattoo and your kneecap tattoo may end up fading early.

6 Knee Cap Tattoo Design Ideas and Their Meanings

In this portion, I have listed a few kneecap design ideas and their meaning for you. You can take inspiration from these and create your own amazing and unique kneecap tattoo design.

1. Geometric mandala on kneecap tattoo

Design: A geometric mandala tattoo that follows the contours of the kneecap, featuring intricate patterns and shapes can be an awesome idea.

Meaning: It can mean harmony, unity, peace, and the universe. So, getting a geometric mandala on your kneecap can be a way to show you want peace and do not want any trouble. This tattoo is a way of saying you are a peace-loving person and want to live in harmony.

2. Rose compass on the kneecap tattoo

Design: Combine a rose and compass on your kneecap. A rose tattoo and compass on the center of the kneecap, wouldn’t it look cool?

Meaning: The compass rose signifies direction and desire. It can mean you have the proper direction and working to achieve what you desire. This desire could be a goal, success, peace, love, etc.

3. Crescent moon and stars on kneecap tattoo

Design: A nice crescent moon tattooed on the kneecap with a bunch of stars. You could put the image of the sky on your kneecap.

Meaning: The crescent moon often portrays growth and change, while the stars can mean dreams and aspirations. This tattoo can mean your personal growth and the journey you have made to achieve your dreams. Even if you have not achieved your dream, but trying to achieve it, still you can get this tattoo on your kneecap.

4. Grid on kneecap tattoo

Design: How about a simple grid tattoo on your kneecap? A black-and-white grid on the kneecap can be cool and simple.

Meaning: A grid tattoo on your kneecap can mean strength and power. It can mean you have the strength to put away any troubles and protect yourself all the time. And you have a stable life because you are strong.

5. Flowers on kneecap tattoo

Design: Any beautiful flower on the kneecap area.

Meaning: Flowers in general can mean beauty and peace. So, getting any sort of flower on your kneecap could mean you are attracted to beauty and you like to surround yourself with beautiful things.

6. Tribal sun on kneecap tattoo

Design: A tribal sun with radiating rays that emanate from the center of your kneecap. It can be a bold choice.

Meaning: The sun is a universal symbol of life, energy, power, and strength. So, getting one of these tattoos on your knees can mean you have the strength to protect yourself, your culture, and everyone around you.

3 Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing Tattoo Design for Kneecap

I see many people making a few common mistakes when they choose a tattoo design for their kneecap. I am listing a few of them here so that you can avoid them while choosing a design for your kneecap.

1. Wrong size

When you think of a tattoo design, size matters. If the tattoo design you choose is too big then it would cover your front knee and might go around the knee as well. This way people won’t be able to see the full tattoo from the front. On the other hand, if you go for a tattoo design that is too small for your knee then it would look weird. To avoid this mistake, discuss with your tattoo artist regarding the size and they can examine your knee and determine what size would suit your knee the best.

2. Wrong design

You have to understand, that your kneecap is a bit different than your other body parts. So, the design you choose for your kneecap has to be different as well. The design has to look good when you are standing still, walking, or sitting. Unlike other body parts, the skin on your knee is quite loose and it can stretch whenever you make movement. So, the tattoo design needs to account for all the movement your knee makes. I know it may sound a bit difficult and complicated but worry not, you can consult with your tattoo artist regarding the issue. They are like the magicians of bodily arts and they can surely come up with various unique designs for your lovely kneecap.

3. Wrong style

When it comes to choosing a tattoo style, you are supposed to use your wildest imagination and then let your tattoo artist know about the style you want. But because the kneecap area is unique the tattoo style has to be unique as well. Some specific sort of tattoo may not suit the kneecap area like a lettering tattoo. So, take your time and consult with your tattoo artist to come up with a tattoo style for your knee.

Knee Cap Tattoo Aftercare

The kneecap is a sensitive area to get a tattoo. Not only it can provide increased pain during the procedure but also causes more discomfort during the healing phase. Now, how would you take care of your delicate kneecap tattoo? I got you covered, check out the kneecap tattoo aftercare tips I have provided below.

1. Listen to your tattoo artist’s advice

The first and most crucial thing you need to do is pay attention when your tattoo artist provides advice after completing the kneecap tattoo. Every tattoo type has some specialized aftercare requirement. So, what you need to do to take care of your kneecap tattoo depends on what advice your tattoo artist has provided.

2. Avoid removing the bandage too early

You are supposed to remove the first bandage of film within 12 hours that your tattoo artist has wrapped around your tattoo. And when you apply the second film such as Saniderm over your tattoo, you should keep it on your tattoo for about 4 to 5 days in general. Taking it off after a day or two may leave the delicate healing tattoo unprotected. It may face friction damage and water damage, and the tattoo may get infected.

3. Washing it daily

After removing the bandage or film, make sure to wash the kneecap tattoo twice a day. Use a soap that is gentle on the skin and while washing the tattooed area do not use any washcloth, just rub the area with your fingers.

4. Avoid fabric friction

Fabric friction can damage a healing tattoo. The kneecap tattoo is more prone to fabric friction damage because usually, the knee stays covered. So, choose clothing accordingly. You should wear loose clothing that has breathability. Or you can wear half pants or skirts that leave your kneecap area open and free.

5. Do not pick or scratch

A healing tattoo in general can be a little bit itchy, and because you are moving around and causing the skin on the kneecap to stretch, the itchy knees could be more on this area. Do not scratch or you may end up damaging your kneecap tattoo. And during the healing phase, you will notice some scabs forming over your kneecap tattoo. Do not pick on them as they may fade or distort your tattoo.

6. Apply moisturizer

Kneecap tattoos can become dry which could prolong the healing time. So, make sure to apply moisturizer twice a day on your kneecap tattoo.

7. Avoid swimming and direct sunlight

Avoid swimming until the kneecap tattoo is healed completely. Swimming with an unhealed tattoo can fade it and cause infection. Exposing the healing kneecap tattoo to direct sunlight can fade it easily. So, make sure to avoid swimming and exposing the kneecap tattoo to direct sunlight until it is completely healed.

FAQs

Can men and women both wear tattoos on their kneecap?

Yes, men and women both can wear tattoos on their kneecap. Kneecap tattoos are not gender specific.

How long does it get a kneecap tattoo?

It may take around 4 hours to get a black and white medium-sized kneecap tattoo. But if you want a bigger tattoo or tattoo design that is complicated or a watercolor kneecap tattoo, then it may take multiple sessions to get it done.

Are kneecap tattoos more painful than other tattoos?

Kneecap tattoos are more painful compared to other tattoos in general. Because the skin on the kneecap area is quite thin, and there is next to no fat or muscle fiber on the kneecap area that can shield your nerve endings from the tattoo needle. And the skin being right above the knee bone does not help the situation either.

Do kneecap tattoos have any specific meanings?

The meaning of a kneecap tattoo mostly depends on the type of design you choose. But in general, a kneecap tattoo can mean:

• Strength
• Ability to overcome challenges
• Resilience

Will the kneecap tattoo appear distorted when I bend my knee?

No, as long as you get your kneecap tattoo from a professional tattoo artist and he takes into consideration the design, style, and size of the tattoo, everything should be fine. A properly made kneecap tattoo will not appear distorted when you bend your knee. However, choosing an unprofessional tattoo artist to get the tattoo and not taking crucial parts of the tattoo design may cause it to appear distorted when you bend your knee.

Final Thoughts

In my opinion, the kneecap is a unique place to get a tattoo, and getting a fine kneecap tattoo will definitely make heads turn. But before you go for the tattoo, make sure to read the pros and cons I have provided in this article. A few kneecap tattoo design ideas are geometric mandala, rose compass, crescent moon and stars, grid, flowers, etc. While choosing a tattoo design for your kneecap make sure to avoid mistakes such as choosing the wrong size, wrong style, and wrong type of tattoo.

Make sure to choose a professional tattoo artist to get the job done. Because kneecap tattoos can be a bit crucial. An unprofessional tattoo artist may fail to make a tattoo design that accounts for your kneecap movement.

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