Local Anesthesia—The “Cheat Code” to Tattoos?
The tattoo scene is constantly changing. It went from being a niche, controversial subculture to one of the more mainstream forms of self-expression.
In 2023, about 32% of Americans had at least one tattoo—an average of 38% of women and 27% of men. I’ve been tattooing for over three decades; it hasn’t always been this way. Tattoos, in most workplaces, used to be taboo. People heavily tatted faced a lot of criticism, a lot of judgment. It was a male-dominated field.
It’s so rewarding to see how things evolve, to adapt along with them, and to know that SDT is a part of that change. To know that my daughters can emerge into this industry as artists of their own without stigma—it’s surreal.
2025 is going to be a big year for the tattoo community. I can feel it.
This past weekend, I did my first local anesthesia tattoo session—something I already know is going to continue to revolutionize the tattoo industry.
It combines the benefits of full-anesthesia—no pain and the ability to do a bigger piece in less time—with all the benefits of traditional tattoo sessions.
With local anesthesia, you don’t have to be put under. You don’t have to pay high-price that typically comes with a full anesthesia tattoo session like that.
A medical professional comes in and injects the space you’ll be getting tattooed with a safe, FDA-approved numbing agent. After it settles, your artist can get to work.
You don’t have to sacrifice that bond with your artist. That time spent throughout the session talking about life, swapping stories, connecting on a deeper level.
You just get to have those conversations without the pain that comes with your average tattoo session.
It really feels like we’re living in the future with this one. My client, Nick, said it’s a “cheat code” when it comes to tattoos.
“I think also the benefit of doing it locally like that is taking out the complications of going under. It’s the best of both worlds.”
Beyond the Needle: Local Anesthesia and the Future of Tattooing
Nick and I have a history that goes way back. He’s what you’d call a “tattoo collector,” having worked with some of the most renowned artists in the scene. He was actually referred to me by Mister Cartoon - someone I look up to and have a lot of respect for.
Having him recommend me is such an honor. And getting to be one of the first on the scene with something as innovative as this? It’s so humbling; I can’t wait to see where this takes us. Not only at Skin Design, but as an industry.
I’ve worked on him twice before this session; I did his upper arm (an intricate, black & grey realism scene of Saint Michaels stepping over the devil), and both times, he flew to meet me at our Honolulu and New York SDT studios. This time, I decided to meet him instead, and I flew to California.
Behind the Scenes of Local Anesthesia: The Stress, the Rush, and the Reward
Just like anything else in my life, the end result didn’t come easily.
Between the move to our new Hawaii home, my upcoming book, mentoring, and holding things down while my wife and two oldest daughters explore Thailand, Thanksgiving weekend was the most hectic one to-date.
A few of my guys came over, helped me pack, and brought dinner—reminding me why I’m so grateful to be where I am, surrounded by so many people who look out for me and my family.
But the morning after Thanksgiving I was back on a flight to Beverly Hills, with both Vanna and luggage at my heels.
Once I got there, nothing settled down. It can be challenging, trying to babysit my youngest and focus at the same time. When you’re an artist, a father, a husband, and a full-time entrepreneur, you learn how to multitask.
But that doesn’t mean it always goes according to plan. Like always, life threw some unexpected hurdles for us to overcome.
At one point, the stress almost got the best of me. By the time 3 pm came, just two hours before my next flight, I only had one portrait done.
The piece was a portrait of his parents on his chest, tying in with an angel I previously did on his upper-arm.
There are never enough hours of the day to finish everything expected of me, and the last thing I’d ever want to do is let a client down. Especially a client like Nick—someone who I now consider a close friend and a part of the extended family.
“I’ve been super fortunate to work with some of the best and most well known artists in tattooing. I’ve been grateful to have those relationships, get those different experiences.
Something that sets Robert apart is the closeness of our relationship. He has a really inspiring story that he’s shared with me; the organic nature of our relationship makes the experience so much better. I genuinely consider him a friend at this point. He’s welcomed me into his home, I’ve gotten to meet his family. It’s just been an incredible experience.”
But, just like it always does—it worked out in the end. My booking manager was able to push my flight back and work around my Vegas appointment the next day.
Some of my best work is done under pressure. Once I let go of all the anxiety, the fear of disappointment, it’s where I’m the most creative.
The energy shifts. It gets real. There’s no time to breathe. In that space, you just have to let go and really really lean into the buzz of the needle, the adrenaline of it all. You have to let it take over and trust the process.
Elevating Ink: A New Era of Tattooing
It ended up being one of the most impactful sessions of my career.
Getting to work on him while he was fully awake, without having to worry about his pain or discomfort was an unreal feeling as an artist.
“I’ve had the experience, with and without, and it’s night and day different. Previously to now, I did a piece with Robert that was around the same time, 14-15 hours a session. He’s so talented; he’s great to work with.
But it’s a grueling process when you don’t have anything to numb the pain. That process would turn some people off, getting that much work done at once. The beauty of anesthesia. For most of the session, it completely removed the unpleasantness of getting a tattoo.
I see this as the future of a concierge tattoo experience. I have no doubt that this kind of service will take it to the next level.”
Once we really got into it, it was nothing but great conversation, trust, and creating powerful art. He didn’t feel a thing until near the very end of the session—almost ten hours into it. The numbing substance we use is better than lidocaine, which wears off too fast.
It’s so rewarding, connecting with people like Nick. Being able to inspire them and leave feeling inspired by their story, too. Learning from each other.
It’s my favorite part of what I do. It’s not just about the tattoo; it’s about the people. I’m so excited that, with local anesthesia, that’s something I can continue to do. Something I can build on and leave as a legacy for my daughters to inherit.
Hearing his testimony after the session? It made me realize that local anesthesia is a game changer. Bigger than numbing cream, full-anesthesia tattoo collaborations—it has the potential to be bigger than anything we’ve ever done. It has the potential to transform the tattoo community for the better.
I can’t wait to share this with more people. To keep pushing the limits of what we do, continue to redefine the standard for our industry.
Because this is going to improve the lives of so many clients. And that’s what it’s all about, really. Clients like Nick are why I keep hustling, keep pushing—even when my body tells me to stop.
At 53, this is just the start for me. For all of us at Skin Design, for every single one of us as artists.
Let’s get it, 2025. Let’s goooooo!
Ready to talk about your next tattoo - either traditional or through local anesthesia? You can send me an email at robert@robertpho.com
