Rib tattoos take, on average, around four hours to complete and take around two weeks to heal. As for how long they last before needing to be retouched depends on several factors. These include the size of your piece, the detailing, and the use of color or black ink. Designs in this location will not fade as quickly as other spots like the hands and elbows, but you should ensure you take care of your ink by keeping it out of the sun and regularly using moisturizer.