A tattooist and body modifier who carried out a procedure on a woman in Newcastle has been charged with mutilating her genitals.

Police say the woman, 33, paid the man for a body modification procedure at a Newcastle West business in 2016, but later made a formal complaint of genital mutilation.

Officers from Strike Force Nellievale arrested Brendan Leigh Russell, 37, at his home in Terrigal on the Central Coast about 8am on Tuesday.

He was taken to Gosford police station and charged with a female genital mutilation offence.

Police also searched a business at Erina Fair shopping centre. They said Mr Russell was not a qualified medical practitioner.