This is a subjective question, as if you have a skin of steel, it will not affect you. On the other hand, if you have low pain tolerance, you might want to talk with the artist to take little breaks when the pain gets too much for you. The pain will subside after a few hours after the process is finished. Numbing creams and painkillers are not recommended, as it might thin the blood and affect the quality of the finished tattoo. Numbing cream does not last all day, and once the cream wears off, the pain can hit with a vengeance as your body has not had time to become used to the tattooing. Some creams can also affect the skin, meaning your artist has to work the skin harder than if you were not wearing it. This can lead to a harder heal.