Off topic about pain:
Summary
I used to think that, nowadays you can convince me about numbing gels, also you can justify a good reason for taking the pain.
ORLAN has a well formulated thought about it, regarding her operation series in the '90s, especially Omnipresence (1993), where she takes morphine for the performance, and calls volunteer suffering an archaic christian tradition. She goes against those traditions, furthermore she encourages anaesthetics: "Viva epidural!"
I personally think: sometimes you can’t escape pain, and it’s better if you decide when and where to get it, and in what context.
Otherwise: FUCK PAIN!
…A 5quid gel I should not feel guilty about, neither a perhaps pricey injection of lido under my skin, nor numbing gel for tatts. I personally enjoy numbing gel for tattoos, it still hurts, but that burning sensation is really annoying, and no, pain doesn’t help me focusing.
Furthermore I started to hate the noise of tattoo machines, even rotary. Can’t stand it!
I admitted my sentimentality, so I’ll go with stick and poke next time. less blood, less pain, different style, but no, it is not possible to do anything with poke tattoo, so I have to choose wise.
Ahh 
It seems like every case should be considered individually. The best might be to speak with an expert about the specific area I guess. Good topic though, we went around the question 360’. 