About Me...
Welcome to Lauren Carter – Cosmetic & Medical Tattooing
Multi-National Award-Winning Cosmetic & Medical Tattoo Artist | Bristol
Where artistry, expertise and compassion come together.
Welcome to Lauren Carter – Cosmetic & Medical Tattooing, an award-winning specialist clinic based in Hanham, Bristol, offering bespoke semi-permanent make-up, medical and reconstructive tattooing, laser tattoo removal and advanced skin treatments.
Founded by Lauren Carter, a multi-national award-winning semi-permanent make-up and medical tattoo artist with over a decade of experience, the clinic combines technical precision, artistic expertise and a genuinely personal approach to client care.
From Policing to Award-Winning Tattoo Artistry-
After serving 13 years in the police, Lauren embarked on a completely new career, retraining in cosmetic tattooing in 2016.
What began as a passion for creating beautifully natural semi-permanent make-up has evolved into a highly specialised career in cosmetic, medical and reconstructive tattooing.
Today, Lauren is particularly passionate about helping people regain confidence following cancer, surgery, injury and trauma through hyper-realistic 3D nipple and areola tattooing, scar camouflage and restorative treatments.
For Lauren, the most rewarding part of her work isn’t simply the physical transformation, but the profound emotional difference it can make.
Nationally Recognised Excellence – British Hair & Beauty Awards
Lauren is incredibly proud to have received multiple prestigious national and regional industry awards, recognising her dedication, expertise and exceptional standards of work.
Her achievements are not limited to, but include, include:
🏆 British Hair & Beauty Awards 2026 – National Gold Winner, Medical Tattoo Artist of the Year
🏆 British Hair & Beauty Awards 2025 – National Gold Winner, Medical Tattoo Artist of the Year
🥇 National Winner – Semi-Permanent Make-Up Artist 2020
🥇 English Hair & Beauty Awards 2024 – South West Gold Winner, Semi-Permanent Make-Up Artist
🏅 HBA Safety Certification – Recognition of the clinic’s licensing, registration and commitment to high professional safety standards.
Winning National Gold for Medical Tattoo Artist of the Year for two consecutive years is a particularly meaningful achievement, reflecting Lauren’s commitment to delivering high-quality reconstructive tattooing and supporting clients through some of life’s most challenging experiences.
These accolades sit alongside her longstanding recognition within the semi-permanent make-up industry, establishing Lauren as a multi-national award-winning cosmetic and medical tattoo artist.
As Featured on BBC News & BBC Radio Bristol
Lauren’s specialist reconstructive tattooing work has recently attracted the attention of BBC News and BBC Radio Bristol.
Through interviews and media coverage, she has helped raise awareness of the life-changing impact that medical tattooing can have, particularly for women who have undergone mastectomies and breast reconstruction following cancer.
BBC News has also visited Lauren’s Bristol clinic to film her performing hyper-realistic 3D nipple and areola tattooing, documenting both the technical artistry involved and the emotional significance of these treatments.
The coverage highlights an important message: reconstructive tattooing is about far more than appearance. For many clients, it can represent confidence, recovery and a renewed sense of identity.
Lauren's Specialist Treatments-
Cosmetic & Semi-Permanent Make-Up
Beautifully bespoke permanent eyebrows, eyeliner, lip blush and full lip tattooing, individually designed to enhance each client’s natural features.
Medical & Reconstructive Tattooing-
Hyper-realistic 3D nipple and areola tattooing following breast surgery, scar camouflage and specialist restorative tattooing following surgery, injury or trauma.
Laser Tattoo & Permanent Make-Up Removal-
Specialist laser treatments for unwanted body tattoos and permanent make-up, using advanced laser technology.
Skin Restoration & Benign Lesion Treatments-
Inkless stretch mark revision, skin restoration and selected benign skin lesion treatments following appropriate assessment.
Your Confidence, Our Priority-
At Lauren Carter – Cosmetic & Medical Tattooing, every client is treated as an individual.
Whether you’re looking for beautifully natural semi-permanent make-up, specialist reconstructive tattooing or a treatment to restore your confidence, Lauren provides a welcoming, discreet and professional environment where your needs and expectations come first.
With over a decade of experience, multiple national awards and recognition from BBC News, you can feel confident that you’re in experienced and dedicated hands.
Lauren Carter – Cosmetic & Medical Tattooing
📍 137 High Street, Hanham, Bristol, BS15 3QY
📞 07821 043330
Helping you feel confident in your own skin
What exactly is Semi-Permanent Make-Up?
Semi-Permanent Make-Up, also known as cosmetic tattooing, is a specialist treatment designed to enhance your natural features by creating the appearance of perfectly applied make-up that won’t wash or smudge away.
Treatments can be tailored completely to you — from soft, subtle and ultra-natural results to something more defined and noticeable. Semi-permanent make-up can be used to enhance and restore eyebrows, define the eyes with eyeliner or lash enhancement, and add colour, shape and definition to the lips.
The treatment involves carefully implanting specialist cosmetic pigments into the skin using ultra-fine, sterile, single-use needles and professional cosmetic tattooing equipment. Every treatment is individually designed to complement your facial features, colouring, skin tone and personal preferences.
Unlike traditional body tattooing, cosmetic tattoo pigments are designed to soften and fade gradually over time. Results will vary depending on your skin type, lifestyle, sun exposure, skincare routine, pigment choice and individual metabolism, but typically last around 1–3 years.
An initial treatment is usually followed by a perfecting session once the skin has fully healed, allowing me to assess the healed result and make any necessary refinements. After this, an occasional colour boost can be carried out when required to refresh the colour, shape and definition.
The result? Beautifully enhanced features that still look like you — just with less effort every morning!
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Laser Tattoo and Permanent Make Up removal
Laser Tattoo & Permanent Make-Up Removal
Whether you have an unwanted body tattoo, old or poorly executed permanent make-up, or previous cosmetic tattooing that has become too dark, saturated, uneven or discoloured over time, laser removal can provide an effective solution.
Laser removal doesn’t always have to mean removing a tattoo completely. In many cases, particularly with eyebrows and permanent make-up, the aim may simply be to lighten or reduce existing pigment enough to allow the area to be safely redesigned and tattooed again. This can be particularly beneficial when old pigment is too saturated to achieve a fresh, natural result by simply adding more pigment over the top.
Using advanced laser technology, extremely short pulses of energy are directed into the unwanted pigment. The laser breaks the pigment into much smaller particles, which are then gradually processed and cleared by the body’s natural mechanisms over the weeks following treatment.
What can laser removal help with?
Laser treatment may be suitable for:
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Unwanted body tattoos
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Old or unwanted microblading and eyebrow tattooing
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Permanent make-up that has become too dark or saturated
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Brows that have changed to unwanted grey, blue, red or other tones
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Poorly shaped or asymmetrical permanent make-up
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Fading existing work in preparation for correction or a completely new design
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Selected permanent eyeliner removal, following specialist assessment
The number of sessions required varies considerably from person to person. Factors including the type and colour of pigment or ink, depth, age of the tattoo, level of saturation, skin type, location and your individual response to treatment can all influence how quickly pigment clears. For this reason, it isn’t possible to guarantee removal within a specific number of sessions.
Treatments are carefully spaced to allow the skin to heal and give the body sufficient time to process fragmented pigment between appointments.
Permanent Make-Up Removal Requires Specialist Knowledge
Cosmetic tattoo pigments can behave differently from traditional body tattoo inks when treated with a laser. Certain pigments may contain components that can temporarily darken or change colour following laser exposure, which is why appropriate assessment, test patching where indicated, and an experienced approach are particularly important when treating permanent make-up.
With over 11 years’ experience in cosmetic tattooing, alongside advanced training in laser tattoo and permanent make-up removal, I understand both sides of the process. This means I can assess not only how best to remove or reduce unwanted pigment, but also consider the long-term plan for correction and re-tattooing where this is your goal.
Whether you’re looking for complete removal or simply a fresh start, your treatment plan will be tailored specifically to you, with realistic expectations discussed during your consultation.
Medical Tattooing and scar reduction treatments
Specialist Medical & Restorative Tattooing
Medical tattooing is about far more than appearance. For many of my clients, it is the final stage of a journey following surgery, illness, trauma, scarring or a lifelong condition — helping to restore something that has been lost, disguise an area that causes self-consciousness, or simply help them feel more comfortable and confident in their skin.
I am incredibly proud to have been awarded Medical Tattooist of the Year 2025 in the coveted British Hair and Beauty Awards, recognising my specialist work, attention to detail and commitment to achieving realistic, individualised results for my clients.
With over 11 years’ experience in cosmetic and medical tattooing, I offer a range of advanced restorative treatments, including:
3D Hyper-Realistic Nipple & Areola Reconstruction
For clients who have undergone mastectomy, breast reconstruction or other breast surgery, advanced tattooing techniques can recreate the appearance of a natural nipple and areola.
Using carefully selected pigments alongside detailed shading, highlights, colour variation, texture and three-dimensional techniques, I can create an incredibly realistic optical illusion — even where a physical nipple is no longer present.
Every areola is individually designed around your skin tone, anatomy, surgical results and personal preferences, whether treatment is required on one or both breasts.
Scar Treatments & Camouflage
Scarring can occur following surgery, accidents, trauma or other procedures and can sometimes remain a source of self-consciousness long after the skin has healed.
Depending on the scar and its maturity, I offer specialist treatments designed to improve its overall appearance, texture and visibility. This can include scar needling and inkless techniques, as well as paramedical camouflage tattooing, where carefully blended pigments are used to reduce the colour contrast between suitable healed scars and the surrounding skin.
Treatment is completely bespoke, as no two scars — or skin tones — are the same.
Stretch Mark Treatments
I also offer specialist treatments for stretch marks, including inkless stretch mark revision and camouflage techniques where appropriate. These treatments are designed to improve the appearance of established stretch marks and help them blend more naturally with the surrounding skin.
Alopecia & Hair-Loss Restoration
Medical and cosmetic tattooing can also provide natural-looking solutions for clients affected by alopecia, illness or other forms of hair loss.
Using advanced hairstroke and shading techniques, I can recreate the appearance of realistic eyebrows, while subtle lash-line tattooing can restore definition around the eyes where eyelashes have been lost.
Realistic Webbed Toe Tattooing
One of my more unusual specialist treatments is realistic webbed toe tattooing. Using detailed shading, contouring, highlights and colour techniques, I can create the optical illusion of greater separation and definition between webbed toes.
For someone who has spent years avoiding sandals, swimming pools or showing their feet, something seemingly small can make an enormous difference to confidence.
A Personalised & Compassionate Approach
Medical tattooing requires a different approach for every client. Your medical history, skin condition, scar maturity, previous surgery and desired outcome are carefully assessed before treatment is recommended.
My aim is always to create results that are realistic, discreet and sympathetic to your natural anatomy, while ensuring you feel informed, comfortable and supported throughout the process.
Being named Medical Tattooist of the Year 2025 is an achievement I am immensely proud of, but the most rewarding part of my work remains seeing the difference these treatments can make to the people who trust me with their care.
Sometimes medical tattooing isn’t about changing the way you look — it’s about helping you recognise yourself and feel like you again ❤️
My Services
MEDICAL TATTOOING AND SCAR REDUCTION
Full range of medical tattooing offered from full hyper-realistic areola and nipple tattooing following surgery to scar camoflauge, syndactly toe treatments and hair density tattooing. Please get in touch for a bespoke quotation.
Prices from £250 per session dependant on treatment.
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HAPPY CLIENTS
“I just have to say Lauren you are the most patient lady at what you do and I'm so thrilled with the work you have done on me !!! Can't recommend this lady highly enough, I won't go anywhere else!!! Well done babes xxx”
Claire Kybert
“Best in the South West by far! Lauren is friendly, knowledgeable and puts you at ease from the moment you meet her. A thoroughly peasant (and painless) experience! ”
Meghan Charles
“I love my new eyebrows, really glad I had it done, it didn't hurt as she's using a good numbing cream and weren't sore at all not even the next day, I've booked a appointment to get my lips done next time.”
Diana Van de Valees
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