When you think of a doctor, most of us think of a white coat and a stethescope.

But Dr Sarah Gray - known as the world's most tattooed doctor - is determined to challenge this stereotype of the medical profession.

Aspiring surgeon Sarah, who works in Adelaide, Australia, is covered from head to toe in ink.

The 31-year-old is an aspiring orthopaedic surgeon and describes herself as the "most colourful" doctor on the wards.

And she insists that how she looks shouldn't affect on how people view her at work.

Sarah describes herself as one of the most colourful people on the wards (
Image:
rosesarered_23/Instagram)
The young doctor says her colleagues and patients treat her no differently (
Image:
rosesarered_23/Instagram)

Dr Sarah is now determined to break down stereotypes about what a tradtional medic should look like.

She told Australian news show Sunrise : "If you're confident and competant at your job, it shouldn't really matter what you look like.

"I'm just trying to be an advocate for being your own person and still being able to work in the medical profession."

And her bright body art certainly hasn't held the young doctor back.

She is already being praised as one of Australia's "brightest and best" young medics.

Sarah has been praised as one of Australia's "brightest and best" young medics (
Image:
rosesarered_23/Instagram)
She has covered most of her body in tattoos, which she describes as fine art (
Image:
rosesarered_23/Instagram)

Dr Sarah also insists her unusual tattoos can help her interact with patients, especially younger people.

She explained: "I find it's a good talking point, especially a lot of the younger generation of patients that we see.

"I guess it's a bit of a barrier breakdown between what it is traditionally thought a doctor would look like."

Born and bred in Adelaide, Dr Sarah had her first tattoo when she was just 16.

And her passion for ink has grown into a business as she owns a tattoo parlour with her husband, Matt.

Sarah says her tattoos can break down barriers between her and some of her patients (
Image:
rosesarered_23/Instagram)
The aspiring surgeon wants to changes stereotypes about what doctors should look like (
Image:
rosesarered_23/Instagram)

He works full-time as tattoo artist The Grim Reaper.

But one thing the talented doctor is adamant about is offensive tattoos.

She explained: "I think there's a real difference between getting a tattoo that's of poor quality and getting a tattoo if you're an art collector like myself."

But Dr Sarah has run into problems because of her tattoos.

She says she has been turned away from restraurants when staff see her body art and shops have even refused to serve her.

Sarah owns a tattoo parlour with her husband, Matt (
Image:
rosesarered_23/Instagram)
But her tattoos mean she has been turned away from restaurants (
Image:
rosesarered_23/Instagram)

However, she insists she is treated no differently at work, by either her colleagues or her patients.

Dr Sarah wrote on Instagram : "When I'm at work I don't get treated differently for being colourful.

"Both my patients and my senior clinicians treat me fairly nor judge me on my appearance the majority of the time.

"Sure, there are circumstances or situations when this hasn't been the case, but that's the minority.

"The truth is, if you're a good person and hard working and that will get you noticed first, not your colourful skin or hair colour.

"We need more people out there that are not afraid to be unapologetically themselves, especially in traditionally conservative sectors so that the 'shock factor' disappears and we can become society's norm.

"I only hope that each day education surrounding body art continues to feed through the generations like a ripple effect and those that judge us as 'bad people' on our appearance fade into the background."