Lung tattoos are an odd body art motif for some, but a symbol of a passionate life for others. They symbolize the importance of life and are a growing trend in the tattoo art world. Whether you prefer a small, minimalist outline of the lungs or a graphic, detailed, realistic anatomical representation, there are several creative ways to illustrate a lung tattoo that suits your aesthetic style and expresses the sincere philosophies you live by. Here is a list of some of the best lung tattoo designs from around the web, along with our unique interpretations of them in a quirky and wholesome catalog that may inspire you. Keep reading to check them out.
Symbolism of lung tattoos
The lungs are one of the most vital organs in the human body that support respiratory functions, help us breathe and sustain our livelihood. Although it has a very clear scientific importance, it can also have some profound meaningful interpretations such as:
Expressing appreciation for life and the ability to breathe freely. Combating or overcoming a health condition that affects the lungs. Honoring the memory of a loved one who has passed away from lung disease. Raising awareness of lung diseases such as lung cancer and lung disease, or emphasizing the dangers of smoking.
A wearer can add additional elements to their lung tattoos to personalize and enhance the symbolism of their tattoo. For creative tips and visual ideas, scroll down to the next section.
8 Meaningful Lung Tattoo Ideas
Your lung tattoo speaks to your eccentric aesthetic expression and your emotional depth that helps you find deep symbolism in the unusual. The following tattoo designs put a face to your thoughts and experiences, making for beautiful everlasting memories. Scroll down to check them out.
1. Lung cancer tattoo
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If you or someone close to you has been diagnosed with lung cancer, this can be a powerful tattoo to represent your journey. It serves as a badge of your resilient nature to battle your dire circumstances while raising awareness for this rarely discussed cancer. You can represent lung cancer in your tattoo by simply having an outline of a pair of lungs drawn along with a cancer ribbon as shown above. If your aesthetic is more graphic in tone, you can have a pair of lungs depicted with one detailed with healthy branches while the other is darkly shaded to emphasize the disease.
2. Lung cancer ribbon tattoo
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All types of cancer in the world are depicted with a small ribbon that is looped at the top and crossed at the bottom. Different colors indicate the specific type of cancer they indicate. For lung cancer, the universal cancer ribbon is white. You can get a simple lung cancer ribbon tattoo that is subtly shaded in white ink with light gray tones for shading, as demonstrated in the hand tattoo above. Or you can simply leave the outline of the ribbon colorless and it would only convey as much as you want to reveal at a glance.
3. Minimalist lung tattoo
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A minimalist approach to your lung tattoo is best if you’re the type who likes to be vocal about the things that matter to you, but you don’t want to be too loud about it. Create a simple sketch of a pair of lungs that only outlines the basics, such as the trachea starting at the top and branching out into each lung. Smaller, single-line branches spread out over the entire lung, just like your high school textbooks illustrated them. This tattoo expresses your gratitude for healthy lungs and the gift of breath in a subtle, yet striking way.
4. Wrist Lung Cancer Ribbon Tattoo
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The wrist is a delicate and intimate place for your lung cancer tattoo that conveys your deepest emotion for the disease to some extent. This place is a vulnerable spot with thin skin and transparent veins that can help you detect your life force. A small and simple white lung cancer ribbon on the wrist can be a testament to the impact the disease has had on you and your loved ones. You can also add a small flower and words of strength and kindness to your tattoo that can cheer you up from time to time.
5. Lung tattoo with flowers
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Adding flowers to your tattoo will instantly liven it up and give it positive meanings. There are many ways to incorporate flowers into your lung tattoo. The image above shows an example of elaborate floral detail. The bronchial tubes in the lungs bloom in a variety of flowers and leaves. For added emphasis, there is also a floral bouquet that highlights the lungs. The choice of flowers and a carefully selected color palette can further intensify the meaning and polish your self-expression through these refreshing flowers.
6. Mother Lung Cancer Ribbon Tattoo
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This lung cancer ribbon tattoo has a more personal and serious undertone as it highlights the person it is dedicated to. A mother, despite her soft and tender love, poses as one of the strongest idols in our lives as they storm through life with their selfless, loving nature. This tattoo is a tribute to a mother who has previously been diagnosed with the disease, is currently battling it, or has succumbed to it. Go for a simple and understated tattoo with a white lung cancer ribbon with the word “mom” tattooed in a simple yet beautiful font to dedicate it to the strong protagonist in your life.
7. Pearl lung cancer tattoo
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A pearl symbolizes natural beauty that is cultivated through patience and resilience, much like an oyster that reverses adversity and transforms the impurities trapped within it into a sparkling and precious little object. Certain cultures also associate pearls with longevity, protection, and healing. Pairing this object with your lung cancer tattoo can symbolize hope and determination to live a full and meaningful life despite adversity like cancer. You can add the pearls to your tattoo as shown above, with a few realistically shaded pearls serving as embellishments on the cancer ribbon. You can also create the cancer ribbon by illustrating a string of pearls within the cancer ribbon symbol.
8. Lung Cancer Survivor Tattoo
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A lung cancer survivor tattoo highlights a cause for celebration, as a previously diagnosed individual braves countless challenges to beat this terrible disease. There are many ways to incorporate this concept into your tattoo, the easiest of which, pictured above, is a ribbon that says “survivor” wrapped around a realistically detailed and shaded pair of lungs. You can also add relevant dates or years to your tattoo to denote the time it took to beat and recover from the disease.
A lung tattoo may not seem like the most appealing tattoo option in theory, but depending on one’s personal experience, worldview, and imagination, it can hold a vibrant world of deep and meaningful symbolism. The first and most obvious symbolism is that an individual is honoring the blessing of breath or healthy lungs if they are battling some form of health condition that affects the lungs. Particularly if the lung disease in question is cancer, the addition of a pearly white cancer ribbon draws attention to the cause, allowing the individual to talk about their beliefs, experiences, and lessons learned. Otherwise, it could be a gratitude tattoo, where the lungs are adorned with a colorful bouquet of flowers in gratitude for every breath they are able to take without fighting for it. Furthermore, adding specific words, phrases, or other design elements can further enhance the meaning and appearance of your lung tattoo. By taking cues from our designs above and thinking about the right placements, you can design your own healthy and cherished lung tattoo.
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Lucas Cummins is an Ohio-based tattoo artist who has been making his mark on the tattoo industry for the past 2 years. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for vibrant expression, Lucas specializes in neo-traditional, colorful, and abstract style tattoos.
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Manjari is a beauty and lifestyle writer with over three years of experience writing across various niches including beauty, health, wellness, and technology. She first discovered her passion for writing in school and has been honing her craft ever since.
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Anjali is an associate editor at StyleCraze. She specializes in hair and hair and skin care and has written over 200 articles in these areas. She has 7 years of experience and her philosophy on hair and skin care is simple: if you love it and take care of it, it will be healthy.
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Joyce Joyson is a beauty and lifestyle writer with over a year of experience in creating short-form content for the beauty, fashion and lifestyle niches. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in History, Political Science and Geography from IIS University and a Master’s degree in Mass Communication and Journalism from Kristu Jayanti College.
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