Stomach Tattoos have a reputation for boldness.  People get words, family names and banners tattooed across their stomachs, declaring their family history and stance toward the world.  Women often get tattoos around their belly buttons; delicate designs to accent their femininity. 

The stomach tattoo can look great on a fit body, or one that doesn't change very much in weight over time.  But, due to the many minute fluctuations in weight almost everyone experiences, a stomach tattoo should be carefully considered before putting needle to skin.

In general, I would recommend men getting a stomach tattoo over women doing so.    Pregnancy is a consideration for a woman getting  stomach tattoo, because this will cause a great deal of stretching and distortion to the piece.  But, even if she does not gain weight, because women tend to pick such delicate designs that the tattoo tends to blur out over time and look less feminine.

As it loses its shape, a delicate flower around the bellybutton can become a strange target shape or loop.  A body piercing might be a better accent than a bellybutton tattoo.

For men going for a lettering tattoo on the stomach, consider the shape of the stomach and arch your letters or banner to flow over or under the belly button.  Keep in mind the natural lines of the rib cage under the skin and the pelvic bones, and use these as guidelines in placement.

Keep a stomach tattoo design bold and simple so that it is easily understood from a distance.  Stay away from lines that are too close together, as these will blur together in time, usually much faster than tattoos in other locations on the body.

By keeping your lettering or other tattoo design simple and clear, you can have an excellent stomach tattoo experience.  During the process, breathe slowly and steadily so that the tattoo artist can execute the design easier.  This will also help mitigate the pain of getting tattooed.  Holding your breath may be needed in some locations for a brief moment, but your tattoo artist will tell you when and if this is necessary.

Hip tattoos have some of the same concerns as stomach tattoos, but are a much less stretchy area of the body to work with.  If you have concerns about tattooing over your stomach, consider getting a hip tattoo design instead.