A black-and-white photo of a person mid-air in a Superman-style body suspension pose, supported by multiple hooks in their back and legs, smiling joyfully toward the camera. They are suspended horizontally in a large indoor space with high ceilings and visible rigging. A group of onlookers—some seated, some standing—watch with expressions of admiration, amusement, and support. The atmosphere is lively and communal, capturing a moment of shared experience and transformation.

Zipperchest Tattoo

Maile sent in this shot of her late grandpa and his zipper tattoo, done by Rio at Hot Ink Tattoo in Vallejo. She explains, “he had a double bypass and wanted the zipper tattooed with a lock so they couldn’t open him up again.”

See more in Miscellaneous Tattoos (Tattoos)

Comments

16 responses to “Zipperchest Tattoo”

  1. Laurel Avatar

    That’s so cool. I wish the members of my family would be as open as this grandpa is about tattoos. My uncle just had a quadruple bypass, so I know how it feels.

    I hope they won’t have to open him up again, either!

  2. scenic solitude Avatar

    He’s got an awesome sense of humor for sure. 🙂

  3. Maile Avatar

    My grandpa passed away a couple days before christmas last year so having this pic in modblog means the world to me! thank you shannon!!

  4. sheldo Avatar

    Great idea! It’s really sweet as well. My papa had a triple heart bypass so he’ll love this idea.

    I’m with #1, hope it stays locked!

  5. Kelli Avatar
    Kelli

    Yay. 🙂

  6. Iam: demoiselle Avatar
  7. silvereden Avatar
    silvereden

    brilliant! just brilliant! i love it when people do fun things to surgery scars!

    hope he never has to go through something like that again, i can imagine heart surgery is a pretty scary thing… O_o

  8. helsabot Avatar
    helsabot

    that’s a pretty awesome sense of humour, right there

  9. Amy Avatar
    Amy

    Wow, did you edit in the “her late grandpa” part or do people just not read =/

    Anyway, great picture, this also reminded me of my granddad who passed away recently so I appreciate it a lot!

  10. HereKittyKitty Avatar
    HereKittyKitty

    I’m sorry for your loss =(
    He looks like a cool grandpa.

  11. Kate Avatar
    Kate

    Love his sense of humor. 🙂

  12. james m Avatar
    james m

    well. in a sense..

    he never will have to go through something like that again.

    i’m glad the well wishers read.

  13. nope Avatar
    nope

    this is amazing! i hope that if i ever have to go through an illness or surgery like he went through, i can do it with as much humour. i’m sorry for your loss – he seems like a wonderful man. plus, he looks like santa!

  14. maile Avatar

    thanks for the condolences everyone. in the end it was his lungs that gave out and not his heart. he died from asbestosis. he was an awesome man, lived a great life and always a prankster! the day i took him for his zipper tattoo, he had his very first tattoo at age 18 redone. it was a skull and crossbones and i wish i had gotten a picture of that one as well

  15. Jo Avatar
    Jo

    RIP to him. Sounds like a fucking awesome guy, and I’m loving the idea behind that tattoo, I’m sorry for your loss – I’m dreading the day my grandparents pass.

  16. e1m1 Avatar

    belated, but, this is far and away one of my favorite body mods that i’ve seen on modblog

    thanks for sharing, maile!

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