I just got done showing it to one of my friends, he was impressed at how much it had healed also. His girlfriend got a tribal heart/wings on the small of her back a while ago, he said hers was kinda bumpy for a couple weeks. Mine still is raised a little, but not too bad.
He said if it ever needs touched up they will do it for free. Hopefully I'll be living there in a few months so it will be no big deal, but right now, I don't think I'd make the 6 hour trip just to have him touch it up!
The most painful part of mine was when he went closer to the top of my shoulder, near the joint where there is a little less muscle and closer to the bone. Other than that it was just a general stinging as he did it. I did notice that the longer strokes were less painful than when he'd just make a short mark and stop...don't know why though...