The World of Paramedical Tattooing
By Sidra Lackey
Eric Catalano, a tattoo artist in Illinois who specializes in paramedical tattoos.Credit...Michael B. Thomas for Kaiser Health News
Tattoo artist Eric Catalano of Eternal Ink Tattoo Studio in Hecker, Illinois, refers to himself as: “World Famous Paramedical Tattooer” on his Instagram’s bio. Catalano became famous after he was featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not! when the tattooed fingernails he tattooed on a client went viral. Ripley’s reported that from Catalano’s account, the realistic nails took just 11 minutes to tattoo on and millions have viewed them online. It was that viral photo that pushed Catalano deeper into the world of paramedical tattooing.
“With flesh-toned ink and a needle, Catalano makes his clients feel whole again with an art form and industry that picks up where doctors leave off,” The New York Times says on Catalano’s healing hands in an article, “Ink Rx? Welcome to the World of Paramedical Tattoos.” People with life-altering scars, from as far as Ireland, visit Catalano’s studio after seeing him work his tattoo magic online. Catalano is known for his “talent with intricate fingernails and filling in the blanks left empty by accidents or surgeries.”
Catalano’s first fingernail tattoo client was Mark Bertram, 46, who lost the tips of two fingers at work when his hand became trapped in a fan belt. He can’t tie his shoes easily, type on a keyboard or hold food the same way anymore. After two surgeries and occupational therapy, he decided to “make light” of his new condition by asking Catalano to create the fingernail tattoo. Everyone in the studio laughed at the idea initially, then they saw the final result. Bertram has already returned to the shop for a tattoo touch-up. Maintenance helps his nails keep their realistic look. However, the ink in fingernail tattoos doesn't always absorb into the scar-tissued skin.
There are other paramedical tattoo artists also trying out flesh-toned pigments to camouflage “imperfections, scars and discolorations for all skin colors.” “Ink Rx? Welcome to the World of Paramedical Tattoos” reports that, “using tattoos to blend in rather than stand out is a relatively new field.” It also makes mention of a school started outside Atlanta, “about four years ago has trained more than 100 aspiring paramedical tattoo artists.” Industry expert and paramedical tattoo trainer Feleshia Sams, 41, “shows artists and health professionals how to cover stretch marks, surgery scars and discolored skin with flesh-toned pigment” in the course she started at the Academy of Advanced Cosmetics in Alpharetta, Georgia. A tattoo license is required for such work, separate paramedical tattoo training is not. And because the work is considered cosmetic, it usually isn’t covered by medical insurance.
Catalano is impressively a self-taught paramedical tattoo artist. He uses the techniques he picked up years ago while helping breast cancer survivors who wanted tattoos of areolas — the dark area around nipples — after having mastectomies. Those tattoos are among the most common paramedical requests. Catalano’s grandmother had breast cancer and her battle with the disease is one reason he is so dedicated to helping those with the diagnosis, “Ink Rx? Welcome to the World of Paramedical Tattoos,” reports further.
Catalano has “Wellness Wednesday” at his shop Eternal Ink Tattoo Studio where he does reconstructive tattoos, “from drawing in nail beds on finger amputees to mocking up belly buttons after tummy tucks.” Catalano doesn’t charge for paramedical tattoos. Catalano still does traditional tattoos at his studio but his paramedical work is every Wednesday. Catalano told the New York Times, “Every time I see that emotion, I’m 100% sure this is something that I can’t stop doing.”