If you have looked into large tattoos in Colombia, you have probably run into “bomba del dolor,” Spanish for “pain pump.” It is sold as a way to sit through long sessions with far less pain. Sellers explain the appeal well. They say much less about the debate happening among Colombian doctors and health officials, so this guide covers both.
What is the bomba del dolor?
It is a portable infusion device. A small reservoir, often called an elastomeric pump, is connected to a catheter in a vein. It then delivers pain medication continuously, without the person having to do anything. One Medellín provider says it stays in place for one to five days.
The device is not new or made for tattoos. It is best known in post-operative care, especially after plastic surgery, where it helps manage acute pain in the days after an operation.
What is inside it?
There is no single formula. The pump holds a mix of medications ordered by a doctor. One plastic surgeon’s explainer lists painkillers, anti-inflammatories, anti-nausea drugs and stomach protectors as typical contents.
The two tattoo-focused sellers we checked do not publish their mixes. One says it will share the list during a consultation, and the other refers to the mix ordered by your doctor. Each kind of drug has its own risks and interactions, so you need the actual drug names before you agree to anything.
How it is sold for tattoos
The published model looks like this:
- Book at least a couple of days ahead.
- Medical staff assess you for contraindications. One provider does this at the tattoo studio.
- A catheter is placed and the pump is connected before the session.
- The pump runs through your session days, then is removed.
| Seller | Published price, pump only |
|---|---|
| Doctor Matt, Medellín | COP 799,850 for 3 days; COP 1,064,000 for 5 days |
| Painless Tattoos | $850 USD for 3 days; $1,100 USD for 5 days; art priced separately |
Prices as listed in November 2026. We list them for reference and do not recommend either seller.
How much does it help? One seller claims it reduces pain by roughly 50 to 80 percent, and says relief varies by individual. That is a marketing claim. We looked for independent evidence on tattoos specifically and did not find any.
Pain pump, sedation and anesthesia are not the same
If you are researching full sedation instead, read our guide to anesthesia tattoos.
| Pain pump | Sedation | General anesthesia | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goal | Reduce pain | Lower consciousness | Full unconsciousness |
| Awake? | Marketed as yes, though drowsiness can occur | Reduced | No |
| Who, per S.C.A.R.E. | Not addressed by name | Anesthesiologist, in a licensed health setting | Anesthesiologist, in a licensed health setting |
The line can blur. A provider’s own page warns that the drugs can cause drowsiness, dizziness and nausea. The real effect depends on the mix.
What Colombian doctors and officials say
- Bogotá Health Secretariat, August 2026. As reported by Infobae, it warned that drugs used to sedate or to produce analgesia should not be given in homes, tattoo studios or places without the required sanitary conditions. El Colombiano quotes a Bogotá health official saying tattoo studios are not medical providers and may not incorporate sedatives or anesthetics.
- Colombian Society of Anesthesiology (S.C.A.R.E.). In August 2026, it rejected sedation and anesthesia in tattoo studios and other non-clinical settings, and said such care belongs in licensed health services, with prior assessment, separate informed consent and an anesthesiologist. Its 2024 statement said having an anesthesiologist present is not enough in a studio that lacks equipment to handle emergencies.
What is still unclear: those statements focus on sedation and anesthesia. We did not find one that names analgesic pumps specifically, and the reports we read do not cite the specific rule behind the Bogotá warning. We also found no statement on pumps from Medellín’s health authorities. Treat in-studio use as a contested practice, and do not assume it has official clearance because it is widely advertised.
Why this is being taken seriously
In August 2026, a woman in Bogotá died after receiving IV sedation during a tattoo at home. El Colombiano reported that the person who administered the drugs was registered as a nursing assistant, not a doctor, and that the exact cause of death was still under investigation. Infobae reported that prosecutors had opened a criminal investigation. This case involved sedation, not an analgesic pump, and we are not suggesting otherwise. But it shows why the who, where and what matter so much.
In May 2026, medical societies also reported an unconfirmed hospitalization after tattoo sedation in Bogotá, and asked authorities to investigate.
Risks to discuss with a doctor
- Side effects: drowsiness, dizziness and nausea are listed by one provider.
- Drug reactions: allergies, and interactions with anything else you take.
- Existing conditions: tell your doctor about kidney, liver, stomach, heart or bleeding problems, pregnancy, or blood thinners.
- Alcohol and other substances: ask what is off limits while the pump runs.
- The catheter: an IV line is a medical device that has to be placed, cared for and removed by qualified staff.
- Masked warning signs: ask how you would notice a problem if pain is being suppressed.
- Emergencies: ask what happens if you react badly, and how quickly you would reach a hospital.
Speak with your own doctor before you travel. They know your history, and a seller does not.
Nine questions to ask before you agree
- What is the full name and registration of the doctor who will assess me and prescribe this?
- Which exact drugs and doses are in the pump?
- Is your provider a licensed health institution, and what is its registration code?
- Where will the catheter be placed and the pump run, and is that site licensed for this?
- Who monitors me during the session, and what are their qualifications?
- What equipment is on site for an emergency, and which hospital would I go to?
- Will I sign a separate informed consent for the medical part?
- What can I do, eat or drink while it is running, and who removes it?
- Does my travel insurance cover complications from this? (Ask your insurer directly.)
Walk away if
- It would happen at a home or a rented room
- Nobody will name the doctor or the drugs
- Someone other than qualified medical staff handles the IV
- You are told it is “totally safe” or “100% risk free”
- There is no assessment, or it happens in a five-minute chat
Other ways to manage a big piece
Most people get tattooed without medical pain control. Ask your artist about splitting the design into shorter sessions, taking regular breaks, eating and sleeping well beforehand, and avoiding alcohol. Ask both your artist and a doctor before using any numbing product.
Where we stand
Tattoo Expedition does not include the bomba del dolor in any package, and it is not part of what we sell. If you want medical pain control, we can only discuss it as a separate decision between you and a licensed health provider, after a medical assessment, in a setting licensed for it. If that cannot be confirmed in writing, our answer is no.
See what our packages do include.
Common questions
What does bomba del dolor mean?
It is Spanish for “pain pump”: a portable device that delivers doctor-ordered pain medication into a vein continuously. It is best known from post-surgery care.
Does the pain pump make a tattoo painless?
Sellers claim large reductions, but relief varies, and we found no independent study of its use for tattoos. Be skeptical of any promise of zero pain.
Is the bomba del dolor legal for tattoos in Colombia?
It is unclear. Bogotá’s Health Secretariat warned in 2026 against giving drugs for sedation or analgesia in tattoo studios, while some providers advertise in-studio pumps. We did not find a rule naming pumps specifically. Ask a provider for its license and speak with a Colombian lawyer if you need a definite answer.
Is it the same as tattoo sedation?
No. A pain pump aims to reduce pain while you stay awake, while sedation lowers consciousness. Sedation is considered anesthesia in Colombia, according to the national anesthesiology society.
Keep reading
- How Long After a Tattoo Can You Swim? Ocean, Pool and Hot Tub
- Getting a Tattoo in Colombia: The Complete Guide for Travelers
- Colombia Tattoo Ideas: 9 Designs With a Real Story Behind Them
Sources
- Doctor Matt (a seller), pain pumps in Medellín
- Plastic surgeon’s explainer on the pain pump
- Painless Tattoos (a seller), pain-management tattoos
- Infobae, Bogotá Health Secretariat warning on tattoos and sedation, Aug 2026
- El Colombiano, status of the Bogotá sedation case, Aug 2026
- S.C.A.R.E., position on anesthesia in non-medical procedures, Aug 2026
- S.C.A.R.E. (Colombian Society of Anesthesiology), statement on tattoo sedation, May 2024
- El Espectador, medical societies’ alert on tattoo sedation, May 2026
Checked November 5, 2026. Spot an error? Tell us and we will correct it.