London biotech unveils painless, needle-free microdot tattoo patches

In a refurbished London railway station, CipherX introduced a novel tattooing method that replaces conventional needles with a disposable Microdot patch. The patch, roughly the size of a US quarter, contains 112 microscopic biodegradable needles that deposit ink into the upper skin layers, creating a small black design in seconds and without noticeable pain. CEO Ferdinand Kohle applied the patch to the author’s inner elbow, followed by a flexible bandage and a branded sticker, then waited fifteen minutes before removal.

The resulting tattoo appeared as a cluster of tiny dots that gradually darken, though full blending may take weeks. Currently limited to about fifteen preset designs, black ink only, and a maximum 15 mm diameter, CipherX aims to add colors, larger formats and a DIY home kit in the future, while restricting applications to pop-up sites in London for age verification.