A visitor to Las Vegas from British Columbia, Canada, known only as Melissa, intends to pursue legal action against a local tattoo parlor. The decision comes after an unsettling encounter with an artist lacking a valid body art certification.
Melissa’s narrative, shared via a Zoom interview with 8 News Now Investigators, paints a distressing picture. In April, she visited Illuminati Tattoo near the bustling Las Vegas Strip, enticed by favorable reviews. While her son’s tattooing session progressed smoothly, Melissa’s own experience spiraled into discomfort when the same artist began working on her.
Midway through the procedure, Melissa noticed her son’s concerned expression, prompting him to discreetly record the session on his phone. She observed the artist’s apparent struggle—profuse sweating, dilated eyes, and slurred speech—raising suspicions of possible substance influence.
Melissa recounted instances where the artist operated without ink, used a dry needle, and removed his gloves. Upon seeing the final result—a significantly altered tattoo on her upper thigh, diverging from the initially selected design—she expressed profound dismay.
Her grievances extended beyond the flawed artwork. Melissa lamented the artist’s failure to adhere to basic hygiene practices—no cleaning of the tattoo site, no post-procedure instructions, and neglecting to wrap the tattoo for protection.
Melissa’s forthcoming legal action underscores the importance of regulatory compliance and accountability within the tattoo industry, emphasizing the need for stringent enforcement measures to safeguard consumers’ well-being.