I had heard that anesthetic could not be used for tattooing, but I had quite a bit of leftover Lidocaine 5% cream. I threw it into my bag just in case and set out for Japan to get tattooed.
During my first appointment, I asked Horiyoshi III what he thought of trying the Lidocaine. He replied, “Sure, it's better if it doesn't hurt.” So I decided to give it a try.About an hour before my next appointment, I applied the cream and covered it with Saran Wrap. Even though I washed my hands immediately, my fingertips became a little numb. That was a good sign.
And then I went to get tattooed. The project was koi fish on the insides of my thighs, a very painful place to be tattooed. But with local anesthetic, it was completely tolerable. As Horiyoshi's son Kazu observed the session, he commented to me, “Wow, you're really strong.” I sheepishly told him the real reason I was taking it so well.
I missed some places with the cream, and I tell you, that was some serious ouch. An even more distressing problem with this area was the nerve reflexes that made me move involuntarily. The anesthetic reduced this effect at its source. Horiyoshi also had a sandbag that he plopped onto my leg, and he often sat on my calf to arrest my movement.
If there is a problem with using Lidocaine cream for tattooing, I think it is the physical form of the cream. A potentially inexperienced client must properly apply it before coming under the supervision of the tattooist. It is a bit messy and is best applied in private where soap and water are available. It must be applied according to schedule, potentially when you are in an inconvenient location. I once had to apply it in the restroom at the Dai Ichi Hotel Tokyo while wearing a business suit. After application, the cream must be covered with Saran Wrap for maximum effectiveness. Why would anyone bring Saran Wrap to a business meeting?
When I asked Horiyoshi III for his opinion on anesthetics, he said that Japanese law prevents him from making a recommendation without a license to practice medicine. He did say that personally, he would prefer to not cause suffering, and if the client had a way to avoid it, then there was no reason not to. If the client seeks the therapeutic effect of becoming stronger through the painful ordeal, then that too is fine. He added that there was no particular unfairness in how some people endure the pain of tattooing, while others can choose to escape it.
But wait. Isn't pain an integral part of tattooing? Is it really okay to remove just this part of the experience? It certainly removes the macho “I can take anything” element of being tattooed. I'm cheating, and cheaters like me will never make yakuza boss.
It was early days for tattoo anesthesia when I experimented with Lidocaine. Nowadays, the tattoo industry has much more experience with anesthesia; a wide variety of products specifically intended for tattooing are available. My one technical recommendation is that you remove all traces of Lidocaine cream before beginning to tattoo. Beyond that, refer to more modern articles for information on what to use and how to use it.
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