Joe Manganiello reveals dragon tattoo covers surgery scars

Actor Joe Manganiello has shared the personal meaning behind his large dragon tattoo, which stretches from his right hip to above his knee. The artwork, featuring red, black, and orange accents, was designed to cover scars resulting from a seven-year battle with a severe autoimmune disease.

Manganiello described the illness as a struggle where his immune system attacked his own body, comparing the experience to a fight against a non-existent dragon. The health issues included severe abdominal pain, fever, migraines, and digestive complications, which necessitated multiple surgeries and the temporary use of a colostomy bag.

The actor explained that getting the tattoo was an attempt to regain a sense of agency and control over his body. He detailed these experiences in his recently released memoir, titled ‘Bloodlines’.