KAATSU Skin Care: Using KAATSU Before And After Getting A Tattoo
For who? Tattoo artists
For what? Tattoo recovery
Photo Above
Tattoo on arm after 3½ hours.
Tattoo on arm after 5 hours.
KAATSU Cycles, properly applied, has always been good for pre-surgery preparations and post-surgery recovery, especially with sutures on the skin [see here and below].
Dave Carlson, a renowned water polo coach in Los Alamitos, California and a regular user of the KAATSU Cycle 2.0, came up with the KAATSU tattoo protocol (the “Carlson Protocol”).
Carlson has several tattoos and he understands very well the inflammation and pain that comes with a new tattoo.
But one hour before his most recent tattoo session, he used his KAATSU Cycle 2.0 to do 3 progressive KAATSU Cycle sets on his legs followed by 4 progressive KAATSU Cycles on his arms. He had the tattoo above inked on his arm.
Then he did 3 KAATSU Cycle sets (Low, Medium, High) after the session was over. Then he went to his local gym and worked out with 3 additional KAATSU Cycles on Group Low (the lowest setting possible on the KAATSU Cycle 2.0).
He then took off the bandage 1½ hours after he got his new tattoo, washed with soap and water, and applied Aquaphor. To his surprise, he then took the photo above 3½ hours after the tattoo session was over.
He explained his impressions,
“What is unusual is that there was very little or no swelling, my skin is not sensitive to the touch, and my skin under and near the tattoo is not sure or inflamed. My skin is normally sensitive and hurts to touch after I get a tattoo. The area around the tattoo normally rises for a few days after I get it. But with the KAATSU Cycle protocol, this is the least amount of swelling and pain that I have ever had after removing the bandage.
I mean, there is ZERO swelling. It looks like someone drew a picture with ink on my arm. My tattoo is usually puffy and the skin around it is red. But there is no inflammation – and ZERO pain.
Zero swelling and zero pain. I am not exaggerating when I say zero pain.”
The photo on left was taken 6½ hours after the tattoo session. Carlson’s arm is engorged in blood in the middle of the 4th KAATSU Cycle. His first KAATSU Cycle was done at Pro Low level (with 250 maximum SKU); the second KAATSU Cycle was done at Pro Medium level (with 350 maximum SKU), the third KAATSU Cycle was done at Pro High level (with 400 maximum SKU), and the fourth KAATSU Cycle was done at Pro High level (with 400 maximum SKU).
KAATSU inventor Dr. Yoshiaki Sato explained the mechanism behind this phenomenon that KAATSU users can experience.
“We have found that KAATSU leads to a decrease in CRP, C-reactive protein which is a blood test marker for inflammation in the body. CRP levels increase in response to inflammation.
This is why people who have arthritis or are experiencing different kinds of pain – including getting a tattoo – report feeling significant relief after bouts of KAATSU.
While there is also an increase in HGH (Human Growth Hormone), nitric oxide, IGF-1 (insulin growth factor) and VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor), KAATSU also has shown to decrease CRP.
Typically with pain comes inflammation and the CRP increases. But with KAATSU, the decrease in CRP and production of EPC (endothelial progenitor cell) help. EPC are cells that help regenerate the endothelial lining of your blood vessels.”
Repeated KAATSU Cycles has repeatedly shown to enhance the body’s natural healing process, especially when the skin is cut, torn, broken or inked.