DC man, 67, covers body head-to-toe in 'unified bodysuit tattoo' because he doesn't 'want to die with regrets'

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A man from Washington DC has covered his body from head-to-toe in a 'unified bodysuit tattoo' because he doesn't 'want to die with regrets'.   

Drew Powell, 67, has spent over $62,000 on ink and extreme body modifications after becoming interested in tattooed warriors from the South Pacific when he was younger. 

But it wasn't until his 60s that he decided to embrace his own ink journey. 

The retired telecommunications entrepreneur now has a unified bodysuit tattoo that covers most areas of his body, as well as 23mm septum and nipple piercings.

'I have a Marquesan-inspired blackwork bodysuit tattoo that covers virtually every part of my body, with the exception of my hands, neck, head and face', Drew said.

Drew Powell, 67, from Washington DC is covered in ink and has several extreme body modifications

Drew began his ink journey in his 60s in December 2022 and just a year later he had a full Marquesan bodysuit

'Starting [tattoos] later in life did have some advantages,' he admitted, adding, 'I was fully funded, I had the time, I knew exactly what I wanted and being a clean canvas I ended up with a unified bodysuit tattoo'.

Due to responsibilities and the stigma surrounding tattoos and body modifications in Drew's younger years, he was put off beginning his journey of self expression.

'Eventually the world caught up to my way of thinking so I decided that it was now or never,' he said.

'I did not want to die with regrets'.

Drew revealed he has a 23mm stretched septum that he pierced at age 13, but did stretch up until 2020.

'I also have 8mm pierced nipples and other assorted piercings.

'The first time I saw images of tattooed warriors from the South Pacific and indigenous people with cultural modifications, I wanted these for myself,' he added.

 And, the tattoo fanatic has splashed out thousands on his love for the needle, spending hours in the chair and months to complete his inkings.

He said: 'I have spent more than $62,000 on tattoos and body mods.

'My tattoo bodysuit took 14 months to complete, I did this by getting tattooed in eight hour sessions every two weeks'.

According to the tatt-lover, the total time for his bodysuit was 220 hours. 

'For all of my life, I wanted to be tattooed and modified, but until recently these things were not done in the west unless you were crazy or a criminal,' he said.

'When someone asks me how many tattoos I have, I can honestly answer, 'One.' So I do not have a favorite tattoo. My bodysuit in its entirety is my favorite tattoo'.

He also said he can't pick a favorite piercing as he likes them all, and that in transforming himself, he 'becomes more me every day'.

And, as for pain, the brave man said that the sensation is only temporary, but the lasting effects are well worth it.

His inking set him back a whopping $62,000, but Drew claimed that he didn't 'want to die with regrets'

Drew had been interested in tattooed warriors from the South Pacific when he was younger which inspired his own ink

'There are two kinds of pain: the immediacy of piercing pain and the pain marathon that constitutes tattooing.

'My nipples were tattooed black then pierced two weeks later at 4mm. As far as piercings go, my nipples hurt the most.

'My most painful tattoos were mysternum, nipples, ribs, back of legs just below my buttocks, and feet.

'For tattoos and body mods, the pain is transitory.

'The aesthetic and pleasurable sensations last a lifetime.'

Drew shares his love for tattoos on Instagram (@septumdan) and has amassed over 1,000 followers, who are eager fans of his body art.

He says reactions have been mostly positive, with only the odd negative Nancy dropping their opinion.

His loved ones have rallied round too, although initially some family members found it hard to accept his new normal.

'Most of the reactions come from members of the tattooed and modified community.

'Occasionally, non-tattooed/non-modified people leave negative comments, but tattooing and body modification is something they will never understand or accept.

'To each their own.'

'Just remember while walking by people on the street, you never know what's beneath'.

He admitted it was initially difficult for some of his close family members to accept his new look as he had spent the first six decades of his life with no body art.

Drew says that his tattoo artist Butch has been a pleasure to work with and his inkings have actually opened up new opportunities for him.

'We both feel the same way about respecting indigenous cultures. 

Drew said: 'For some close family members, it was initially difficult to accept, because they were used to me with no body art for the first six decades of my life'

The tattoo-mad man weighed 21 stone 10 years ago and claimed his health was failing him. He has now lost eight stone and is now loving life

'My bodysuit is all about cultural appreciation and the celebration of the world's indigenous peoples.

'Being heavily tattooed and modified has opened up other opportunities as well.

'I am now an ambassador for Ink Models International, a UK based venture that matches people with businesses that want to advertise with tattooed individuals, as tattoos gain greater acceptance in society worldwide.'

He added: 'I even do the occasional human hook suspension, where large hooks are driven through my skin and am then taken aloft on ropes to fly through the air.

'Suspensions, like tattoos and body modifications, are a kind of rite-of-passage, something missing in our western, 'instant gratification' society.

'It's quite freeing and beats waiting to die, while rocking on the porch.

'For anyone that has considered getting a tattoo or piercing... Just do it.

'Life really is too short!'

Drew's appearance isn't the only transformation he's undergone either, as just ten years ago, he weighed 21 stone and claims his health was failing. 

He lost a whopping eight stone and says he is now loving life while being heavily tattooed and modified.

It comes after a heavily-tattooed cancer survivor TikTok user went viral after revealing his full body inkings and shocking dyed eyeballs.

Quest Gulliford, who beat Hodgkin's Lymphoma, has spent $70,000 on tattoos since he started getting inked in 2009.

His Houston tattoo artist stuck a needle into all sides of his eyeball to turn them black.

'It's not really like a tattoo on your skin, it is more of an injection or modification,' he said.