Arizona woman hospitalized after getting tattoo

PHOENIX (NBC, KYMA) - A Phoenix woman says she developed severe complications after getting a tattoo from a tattoo artist she found on social media.

Stephanie Roberts got a meaningful tattoo of the Virgin Mary. Days later, it turned into this she said it had blisters and felt like a severe burn.

"I think my arm was burned by the end of it because it was super red. It felt like a third degree burn was, like, brewing on my hand," Roberts shared.

This was her first time getting a tattoo with an artist she found on Instagram, an artist who goes by the name "RubyGinks."

Roberts says she was under the impression the artist was working out of a salon, but that wasn't the case

"I was told it was a studio. So I walked, I get out of the car, I go up to her, I introduce her. I'm nice, you know? I'm like, 'Hi, I thought you were in a studio.' And she was like, 'Yeah, my dad made me a studio back here in a shipping container,'" Roberts detailed.

Roberts says she had already paid a $200 deposit beforehand, and didn't think she would have any issues with an artist with a good portfolio, but after the tattoo was complete and a couple days past symptoms only got worse.

"I had the chills, I had fever. I was throwing up. This was swelling so bad. It was super red. I just did not feel like myself," Roberts expressed.

She eventually admitted herself into the hospital.

"As soon as my hand started turning purple and compartment syndrome started kicking in, my fascia of my muscles started to get so swollen that I cut off the circulation in my hand," she explained.

It wasn't just compartment syndrome she was facing, Roberts says doctors told her she had sepsis and cellulitis, something medical experts say is not common with tattoos, but can be deadly.

"This is the body's overwhelming and potentially deadly response to the infection, so I understand it may have led to compartment syndrome, which is a very dangerous situation when there's so much pressure in the limb, and sometimes that could threaten the blood supply and the nervous supply, and that can lead to permanent damage."

Dr. Frank Lovecchio, Emergency Physician, Valley Wise Health

On top of battling pain and undergoing two surgeries, Roberts got another surprise while she was in the hospital, a surprise she hoped would've been a happy one, but it wasn't as expected.

"My hospital ER doctor came in, and he was like, 'So, you did test positive for pregnancy? And I was like, 'No way,'" Roberts said. "That should have been special, you know, and it wasn't. So I'm trying to stay positive about it, but this whole situation has been really bad."

Roberts says she was communicating with the tattoo artist the entire process and has asked for a refund for the $1,200 tattoo.

Roberts also said she will continue taking antibiotics and attending follow-up medical appointments in the coming weeks as she recovers.

An attorney representing the tattoo artist declined to comment, but said additional details may be released later.