the day of the procedure

If you're nervous about the procedure, here are some hints to help you feel more comfortable.

• Take a friend with you for moral support.
• On the day of the procedure make sure that you have eaten something and have had enough to drink (not alcohol!) so that you are not dehydrated.
• Some procedures can be painful, but the pain passes quickly if there are no complications. Breathing exercises can help you relax during the procedure.
• Some people feel lightheaded or faint afterwards. This is due to a change in blood levels of adrenalin and the body's natural painkillers. If you know what to expect you can deal with it. Also let the body artist know how you're feeling.

When you arrive for the procedure, you will need to:

• Sign a statement saying you are over 18, if you don't have proof of your age.
• Give the body artist your medical history, particularly any infectious skin diseases or communicable diseases you may have.
• Tell them of any metal or chemical allergies you have.
• Let them know if you have any problems with skin healing, especially if keloid scarring occurs (keloids are raised scars, more common in people with dark skin).
• Talk about the style of body art and where you want it placed. Remember that body art that is very noticeable may hurt your chances of getting some jobs; it may also be embarrassing in some social situations.
• Tell the body artist whether you have had alcohol or drugs that day. Most body artists will not work on people who are under the influence.

Make sure the body artist:

• Knows the Code of Practice for Skin Penetration Procedures and can talk about it with you.
• Has a clean and tidy, well-lit studio. (The body artists should be clean and tidy too!)
• Washes hands at the beginning and end of the procedure, and whenever there is a need to take a break in the procedure, such as answering the phone.
• Wears new, disposable gloves throughout the procedure. Once the body artist puts on gloves, nothing should be touched except your skin, the needle or tattooing machine, or the jewellery. A good body artist will change gloves many times during the course of a procedure.
• Uses sterile equipment. The body artist should be able to explain how equipment is sterilised and have a functioning autoclave steriliser on the premises.
• Assures you that any jewellery used for body piercing is new - recycled jewellery can have tiny scratches, which can irritate a new piercing and cause infection.
• Uses new needles and razors and other equipment for skin penetration, which should be thrown out immediately after being used.
• Has everything that is used to penetrate your skin in sterile, sealed bags that are opened in your presence.
• Uses preparation equipment, such as stencils and spatulas, only once.
• Transfers the tattooing inks into sterile containers and discards them following the procedure (not returning them to stock).
• Puts cleaning solutions, creams and anything else that is put on the skin into single-use disposable containers.
• Cleans and disinfects your skin thoroughly before the skin is penetrated.
• Cleans the work areas between clients.