It would be awesome if you could get a tattoo while counting sheep in your dreams; you wouldn’t feel any pain, and by the time you wake up, it’s complete! But are you allowed to use things such as general and topical anesthetics while being inside a tattoo shop? Or better yet, is it safe? I, for one, am curious to know, so let’s jump right in!
Handling anesthesia in a tattoo shop is illegal. Most Tattoo artists are not medically licensed to administer anesthesia to their clients, and they don’t have the proper medical setting to practice. There’s also a risk that comes when using anesthesia without adequate knowledge, which can be life-threatening.
While it would be great for those hesitant about the pain that comes with getting a tattoo, there are many reasons why it wouldn’t be such a good idea.
Why don’t they use anesthesia for tattoos?
There are several reasons why tattoo shops don’t use anesthetics, such as:
- Risks of adverse reaction to the anesthesia
- If administered incorrectly, it can cause a fatal death
- They are not medical professionals licensed to administer the drug.
Many people think that receiving anesthesia is as easy and basic as they show us on TV, but it can be dangerous if given too little or too much, which is why you should not put yourself at risk with someone if they are not properly licensed.
A professional Anesthesiologist is the only individual with enough experience to inject anesthetics to those undergoing surgeries requiring anesthesia, as they are the only ones prepared with the knowledge of what to do in case of an emergency.
And, while our artists are talented in their artwork and skills, they are not prepared to handle such medications. To administer anesthesia, you would need to know the correct dosage for each individual and know which location in the human body is safe to inject the medicine.
Some individuals have severe complications with anesthesia, such as experiencing an allergic reaction, otherwise known as Anaphylaxis. It can occur within seconds and can cause your airways to become constricted and swollen, causing you to have trouble breathing, which can be terrifying.
You can also experience side effects like your skin developing hives, nausea, vomiting, and even lower blood pressure. With all that in mind, being put to sleep for a tattoo would not be the best idea for you to experiment.
Ways of easing the pain of a tattoo
For those who are wanting to get a tattoo but are hesitant because of the pain you’re anticipating, then you’ll be glad to know that several products will numb the site just as well as anesthesia without the risks that come from it.
Can they put you to sleep for a Tattoo?
The goal is to find one that contains the essential ingredients in the products that have the numbing effect.
Some of the key ingredients to search for are:
- Lidocaine
- Benzocaine
- Epinephrine
- Tetracaine
These ingredients are in topical anesthetic products, and each provides a unique impact on the pain signals that get sent to the brain during the tattoo process. They work as a sedative, numbing your nerve endings to make the process more pleasant for those with a lower pain threshold. It also helps minimize the sting of the needle as it breaks into your skin.
You can ease the pain by applying the product 15-20 minutes before starting your session to allow it some time to numb the area. Make sure to speak to your tattoo artist to see if they are okay with using topical anesthesia as many express that the pain one feels during the session is a part of the whole experience.
If topicals and sprays take away from the experience you wish to have when getting tattooed, then the next step is to select an area on the body that’s not as sensitive to have a more pleasant session. Avoid areas such as your ribcage, chest, ankles, neck, wrist, knees, and pretty much anywhere where there’s a thin layer of skin that you tend to feel the pain level somewhat higher than other areas of the body.
It would be best to consider areas like the shoulders, forearms, outer arms, and calves, where you can expect minimal pain discomfort.
Is it okay to fall asleep while getting a tattoo?
Now, I know what you’re thinking, who falls asleep while getting tattooed? Impossible right? Well, you’re wrong! Many tattoo enthusiasts find that the whole experience of feeling the needle on your skin is calming and relaxing enough to doze off in mid-session.
Keep in mind that once your skin starts getting accustomed to the needle sensation, it starts to get numb on specific areas during the session; this causes you to feel relaxed. Many artists will say that this happens pretty often in tattoo shops. Falling asleep during the session is common, and most individuals can stay sleeping throughout the whole process. It all depends on the area of the body you’re getting it done, as the more sensitive it is, the less likely you’ll doze off.
Some individuals look forward to reading while getting tattoos which causes them to relax and drift to sleep, while others enjoy relaxing while listening to music and being on their phones. While it may be harmless to many individuals to fall asleep while getting tattooed, you have to remember that our bodies tend to twitch and move when we sleep as we lose control of our body
movements. These sudden jerks can cause you to mess up the artist’s work and your tattoo along with it.
In some cases, specific individuals have a lower pain threshold than others. They can faint from the pain of the needle, so it is crucial to maintain them alert and awake throughout the whole process to avoid any fainting spells.
That said, some artists will allow you to doze off for a bit but quickly wake you once your movements increase. It depends on how a person wakes up, as some awaken startled and confused, unaware of their surroundings. Sleeping while getting a tattoo is not abnormal and makes part of many individual’s tattoo experiences. Many people look forward to napping while getting their tattoos and are used to dozing off while others fret at the thought of it.
If you are the type that jerks around and moves restlessness while sleeping, this obviously wouldn’t be the smartest thing. Another great idea is to have a good meal before arriving for your appointment, as some can experience dizziness and nausea from the sensation of the needle.
Having a good breakfast or lunch will help reduce the individual’s chances of feeling ill during the session and helps the body handle the stress of getting a tattoo. Before doing a tattoo, research every alternative that I mentioned above to see which one would be the better option for you, as everyone has different pain thresholds.
Summing it all up, there are pros and cons in sleeping while getting a tattoo done, just like anything else in this world. While you may not be able to be put to sleep for a tattoo, you now have learned several options you have when preparing for your session. Ultimately, you are free to choose your personal experience to make the session special and unique to your desired
outcome.