ATLANTA – Sierra Gates, a star of “Love And Hip Hop Atlanta,” recently opened up about a severe health scare following a tattoo session. She shared the lessons learned from the experience.
Gates, who has numerous tattoos, began getting them at 16. However, a large tattoo she received in April, covering her stomach down to her right leg, caused significant issues.
The 12-hour tattoo session seemed manageable with the help of numbing cream. However, the following day, Gates experienced severe pain.
“My leg felt like it was on fire,” Gates described. “I had never felt such burning before. It was as if flames were around my leg.”
Her body was still recovering from the lengthy session, which worsened her distress.
“I expected some pain once the numbing cream wore off, but not to this extent,” Gates said.
A few days later, nurse Brittany Gould treated Gates and diagnosed her with cellulitis, a serious bacterial infection in her right leg.
“She had a severe case of cellulitis,” Gould explained. “The infection was spreading, and we were concerned about sepsis since she developed a fever in the hospital.”
Gates received antibiotics, pain medication, and rest, eventually recovering enough to be discharged after nine days.
“Typically, cellulitis treatment takes about five days. Hers took almost double that,” Gould noted.
Two months later, Gates’ leg is still healing.
“God reassured me that I would be fine, so I had to trust Him through the scary process,” Gates said.
Gates advised tattoo enthusiasts to take their time during sessions. “Do it in smaller sections. Don’t rush through it just because you don’t feel pain,” she suggested.