FAQs:
What is Permanent Makeup?
Permanent makeup, also known as permanent cosmetics, derma-pigmentation, micro-pigmentation, and cosmetic tattooing, is a cosmetic technique that employs tattoos (permanent pigmentation of the dermis) as a means of producing designs that resemble makeup, such as eye-lining and other permanent enhancing colors to the skin of the face, lips, and eyelids. It is also used to produce artificial eyebrows, particularly in people who have lost them as a consequence of old age, disease, such as alopecia totalis, chemotherapy, or a genetic disturbance, and to disguise scars and hypopigmentation in the skin such as in vitiligo. It is also used to restore or enhance the breast's areola, such as after breast surgery.
In the United States, the inks used in permanent makeup are subject to approval as cosmetics by the Food and Drug Administration. The pigments used in the inks are color additives, which are subject to pre-market approval under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. However, because of other competing public health priorities in the United States and a previous lack of evidence of safety problems specifically associated with these pigments, FDA traditionally has not exercised regulatory authority for color additives on the pigments used in tattoo inks.
What Type of Permanent Makeup Services are there?
Permanent Makeup is a broad description of a family of services that cover a range of areas on the face and body where the result replaces traditional makeup or mimics certain body parts. Examples include:
1. Microblading simulates hair strokes on the eyebrow.
2. Microshading uses pin-like dots to shape the eyebrow and uses a powdered effect to add fullness.
3. Lip Blushing enhances the color, shape, symmetry, and fullness of the lips.
4. Eyeliner applies ink along the lashline to create the appearance of eyeliner.
"Paramedical" permanent makeup techniques that disguise skin discolorations (e.g. scars or vitiligo), or are used to restore or enhance the areola of a woman’s breast after surgery or a mastectomy.
How Does Permanent Makeup Work?
Permanent makeup, also called a cosmetic tattoo or micro pigmentation, is done with the use of a pen containing iron oxide that tattoos the skin and creates the look of makeup. A tattoo can mimic eyeliner or lipstick, or it can darken and create the look of thicker eyebrows. It can also camouflage scars and help with the look of an uneven hairline.
Who Will Benefit from Permanent Makeup?
Certainly, people with physical limitations or medical conditions may seek out this procedure, but anyone can have it done. In particular people with cataracts, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease or those who have suffered from a stroke may find this procedure appealing. It can help them look their best while avoiding the physical challenges of applying makeup. It can offer an option to those who have allergies to traditional makeup. It also offers a cosmetic solution for patients experiencing certain medical conditions to restore the skin to pigmentation, like after breast surgery or hair loss due to some illnesses.
How Many Permanent Makeup Sessions are Needed?
The initial procedure requires two sessions 8 weeks apart. The first session consists of consultation, drawing, and application. The 8 weeks in between sessions will be for the layers of the skin to heal. In the second session, a light application will be applied to perfect your desired brow results. The focus of the session is to bring back symmetry, adjust any imperfections, and create a general blend of pigment that lasts.
How Long Does Permanent Makeup Last?
Well, that totally depends on what treatment you get, but generally, it will last you anywhere from one to three years. So, not really permanent, but, hey, more permanent than the eyeliner that smudges off your face by the end of the day, right? And the reason it doesn't last forever, like a regular tattoo, is that permanent makeup doesn't reach the deeper layer of your skin—it's more of a superficial tattoo.
Is Permanent Makeup Safe?
Permanent makeup can be totally safe, but there are a lot of factors you need to consider beforehand to avoid any complications or infections (because, yes, it can happen). First, research the studio like crazy. Like, full-on stalk their Instagram to see before and after pics, DM former clients, and make sure the artist is licensed to perform the procedure. If they don't check off all of the boxes...run (or, you know, go elsewhere). And before you book an appointment, go see your derm and make sure you don't have any allergies or sensitivities to ink (it's rare, but it can def happen).
How Painful is Permanent Makeup?
Overall, permanent makeup and microblading are a very painless procedures if the right numbing cream is used. There might be some uncomfortable sounds involved, but you will be pleasantly surprised about how little you feel. Some clients of ours even fall asleep when getting permanent makeup done.
Can Permanent Makeup be Removed?
The short answer? Sometimes. Depending on how long you’ve had it, there are options for both accelerating the fading process and getting rid of the pigment altogether — though there are no guarantees.
1. Wait: If you’re unhappy with your immediate results, remember that the pigments will settle in time. Your cosmetic tattoo will begin fading as soon as it’s healed, and it will continue to fade over subsequent months and years.
2. Sweat: Tattoos that are brand new will fade if you don’t follow the proper aftercare protocol. Swimming in salt water, sweating during exercise, and sitting in a sauna will all jump-start the fading process.
3. Slather: Topical creams and solutions claiming to fade tattoos are abundant online but beware. These products are largely unregulated, which means that they may be ineffective at best and damaging at worst. Simple skin exfoliants have been shown to safely accelerate tattoo fading, but check ingredient lists and avoid bleaching agents like trichloroacetic acid (TCA).
4. Seek Professional Help: Sometimes, permanent makeup can be removed by a technician who injects a saline solution into the skin to draw out the pigment. This process can take multiple sessions.
If a patient does not want to maintain the brow or area with color, it should be reversible, adding that one common form of tattoo removal is not suitable for micro pigmentation. Do not attempt to have the area lasered, as it may cause further damage. Depending on the pigment used, it can turn darker or even black.
How Much Does Permanent Makeup Cost?
Average Cost:
$365
Range:
$130 - $775
The cost varies with the type of makeup, how many areas you have done, the number of visits you need, the experience level of your provider, and their practice location. When inquiring about costs, ask whether touch-ups are included. Because the procedure has such a defining effect on your look and is so dependent on the skill and judgment of the technician, resist the urge to bargain shop.
How Long Does it Take Permanent Makeup to Heal?
Your healing time will depend on your treatment since factors like the size and shape of your makeup and the depth of the ink all play a part. Microblading and similar semipermanent treatments will take less time to heal, and you should be free of the initial scabbing within a few days.
Generally, because the ink is implanted into the deeper skin layers, the treated area will initially appear much darker than expected. After a few days, the darker layer of surface skin will peel off to reveal the permanent pigment underneath. Don’t pick, peel, or scratch the scabs, even if they itch, since that can cause the color to heal unevenly and leave you open to scarring and infection.
If you’ve had your lips tattooed, it can take up to six weeks for the final color to “settle in” as a visible layer. Keep in mind that some unevenness in color is to be expected. Your aesthetician will correct any color or shape abnormalities during a touch-up visit.
What are the Different Ways to Remove Permanent Makeup?
If you’re unhappy with your results, you have a few options. You can go through the normal tattoo removal process, which typically involves laser treatment. This process can be costly and painful, and it might lead to hair loss. A chemical peel can work to remove the surface layer of skin over your tattoo, encourage skin renewal and help the pigment fade faster. If less fading is desired, micro-needling might do the trick.
History of Permanent Makeup
The first documented permanent makeup treatment was done by the famous U.K. tattoo artist Sutherland MacDonald[5] in 1902 at his parlor, #76 Jermyn Str., London, billed as an "all-year-round delicate pink complexion" on the cheeks. In the 1920s this "London fad" crossed the Atlantic, and the "electrically tattooing [sic?] a permanent complexion or blush on the face" became popular in the USA. The tattooist George Burchett, a major developer of the technique when it became fashionable in the 1930s, described in his memoirs how beauty salons tattooed many women without their knowledge, offering it as a "complexion treatment ... of injecting vegetable dyes under the top layer of the skin.
Why Permanent Makeup is Popular
Permanent makeup always has been and will always be a huge part of the beauty industry. Models, celebrities, and actresses frequently undergo such treatments but now young girls are getting their faces tattooed with permanent makeup too.
Permanent and semi-permanent makeup has now massively evolved. Permanent makeup came back into fashion recently and has become very popular; it isn’t something to be feared anymore. Permanent makeup offers a convenient way to look your best anywhere, every day, and microblading is a testament to this. This eyebrow-enhancing or eyebrow shape-changing techniques are just really well-done eyebrow tattoos.
If you lead a busy life with little time to do your makeup, permanent makeup can shave precious time off of your morning makeup routine. Maybe your unsteady hands make it difficult for you to apply perfectly straight eyeliner or perhaps you want to add pigmentation to some parts of your body due to some medical condition; permanent makeup is the solution.
When considering whether or not this type of procedure is worth it, it’s usually the word “permanent” that creates a pause. Interestingly this can be the best (or potentially the worst) aspect of the procedure depending on certain factors.
4 Important Facts about Permanent Makeup You Should Know
When applied by a qualified professional, permanent makeup is a safe and effective cosmetic treatment that will enhance your appearance and boost your self-esteem. However, as with all skin care treatments, you must fully understand the procedure before determining if it’s the right treatment for you.
Here are four important facts about permanent makeup that you should be aware of:
1. You must find the right technician When finding an artist for your permanent makeup procedure, you must work with a professional who has the right technique and training. This will ensure your safety and long lasting, beautiful results.
2. The results are long lasting It’s important to note that the results from a permanent makeup treatment are long lasting, but you will require regular touch-ups. While this period varies from person to person, your results could stay fresh for 2-5 years.
3. The colour will be brighter immediately after the treatment It’s important to note that the colour of your permanent makeup will look darker for up to seven days. As your skin heals, the colour will lighten, and the final colour will appear after four weeks.
4. Permanent makeup isn’t suitable for everyone While many men and women of all ages and skin types can benefit from this treatment, permanent makeup isn’t recommended for people who are pregnant/breastfeeding, undergoing cancer treatments, or who are currently on Accutane.
Reasons for Getting Permanent Makeup
If you are looking for a permanent makeup solution or want to correct uneven skin coloring or features lost due to aging, a medical condition, or scarring, permanent makeup may be right for you. Permanent makeup is a great option if you have any of the below concerns:
1. You have sparse hair on your eyebrows.
2. You have poorly defined eyelashes, or you do not like wearing eyeliner.
3. Your lips are pale, and you do not like wearing lipstick or gloss.
4. You are active, swim, or do not wish to apply makeup daily.
5. You have a skin or makeup allergy.
6. You have scars that could be improved by micro pigmentation.
7. You are undergoing breast reconstruction and would like to recreate the areola area of your breast (around your nipple).
Benefits of Permanent Makeup
Below are some of the benefits of permanent makeup:
1. Get the appearance of darker, fuller eyebrows
2. Accentuate your eyes with permanent eyeliner
3. Look younger and healthier with lip liner or lip coloring
4. Minimize scars or skin discolorations
5. Achieve more natural-looking breast reconstruction results with areola tattooing
6. Get customized results for your skin tone and coloring
7. Enjoy permanent results
8. Save time and money by minimizing your need for makeup
9. Improve your self-image and self-confidence
How Permanent Makeup is Done
The process is just like getting a tattoo. The person applying permanent makeup uses a needle that penetrates your skin and releases pigment. Proper sterilization, techniques, and licensing are key.
Getting Permanent Makeup
Before getting permanent makeup applied, you'll get a patch test on your skin to check on whether you have an allergic reaction to the pigment that will be used. After that, you will choose the color, based on advice and suggestions from the makeup artist. The technician will then use a sterile surgical pen to sketch the area to be tattooed and then put an anesthetic gel on your skin. Using a hollow, vibrating needle, the technician will apply the pigment to the top layer of the skin. Each time the needle penetrates the skin, a droplet of pigment is released into the hole the needle makes. You will feel a slight stinging.
After getting permanent makeup, it takes about three weeks for the color to fade to its permanent shade. At first, the color will likely look dark and shiny. The surrounding tissue will be swollen and red. You can use a cold compress to reduce swelling and antibiotic ointment to help prevent infection. Strict sun avoidance and the use of sunscreens that block UVA, UVB, and visible light for several weeks are important to prevent post-inflammatory color changes. Complications are rare but can include infection or allergic reactions to the tattoo dye.
Who Should Avoid Permanent Makeup
While permanent makeup is great for most people, some individuals are not suitable for these treatments. Please read the following permanent makeup contraindications carefully, to evaluate if you are an eligible candidate, as they apply to all of our permanent makeup procedures: Microblading, Powder Brows, Combo Brows, and Lip Blush.
1. Individuals under 18 years of age
We cannot Microblade anyone under 18 years of age, even with parental consent.
2. Women who are pregnant or nursing
As the body is going through hormonal changes, it is more prone to infections. Your skin may change and results can be unpredictable.
3. Individuals with Pacemakers or major heart problems
We use epinephrine, as a numbing agent, that can increase your heart rate possibly causing dysrhythmias.
4. Individuals with viral infections and/or diseases
The risk of developing an infection is higher in people with compromised immune systems.
5. Individuals with Lupus
The risk of developing an infection is higher in people with compromised immune systems.
6. Individuals who have undergone an Organ Transplant
The risk of developing an infection is higher in people with compromised immune systems.
7. Individuals with any kind of skin condition on or near the treatment area
Eczema, dermatitis, rosacea, psoriasis, or any one of these skin conditions may compromise the surface and texture of the skin. Procedures performed on skin with these types of conditions may have subpar results.
8. Individuals who are allergic to metal and color
We use small needles and pigments that can contain some metals and colorants, so allergy can be a show-stopper.
9. Individuals prone to keloids
Since permanent makeup punctures the skin, there is always a risk for people that are prone to keloids to heal with keloids scaring
10. Individuals who used Accutane
Accutane alters the skin and makes it thin, dry, and sensitive. It also weakens your immune system. For those reasons, you'll need to do one year after your Accutane treatment is completed and your skin is back to its normal state.
Adverse Effects and Complications of Permanent Makeup
As with tattoos, permanent makeup may have complications, such as migration, allergies to the pigments, formation of scars, granulomas and keloids, skin cracking, peeling, blistering and local infection. While it is typically applied in sterile conditions similar to that of a tattoo, the use of unsterilized tattooing instruments may infect the patient with serious diseases such as HIV and hepatitis. Removal problems may also ensue, due to patient dissatisfaction or regret, and they may be particularly difficult to remove in places such as eyelids and lips without leaving permanent sequelae. Compliance with 'standard precautions' and a uniform code of safe practice should be insisted upon by a person considering undergoing a cosmetic tattoo procedure.
It is essential that technicians use appropriate personal protective equipment to protect the health of the technician and the client, particularly in the prevention of transmission of blood-borne pathogens.
It is also essential that technicians have been properly trained in the application of pigment into the skin to avoid migration. Tattoo pigments can "migrate" when a technician "overworks" an area, especially around the eyes where the pigment can "bleed" into the surrounding tissue. Migration is generally avoidable by not overworking swollen tissue. Understanding the need to minimize swelling and recognize a good stopping point is paramount to a successful application. Removing migrated pigment is a difficult and complicated process.
On very rare occasions, people with permanent makeup have reported swelling or burning in the affected areas when they underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). However, a detailed review of the cases within the medical literature involving cosmetic tattoos indicates that poor-quality pigments, pigments adulterated with heavy metals, and pigments with diamagnetic properties may have been the causative factors in most of those cases.
Topical anesthetics are often used by technicians prior to cosmetic tattooing and there is the potential for adverse effects if topical anesthetics are not used safely. In 2013 the International Industry Association CosmeticTattoo.org published a detailed position and general safety precautions for the entire industry.
What Happens During a Permanent Makeup Procedure
Permanent makeup procedures usually take two to three hours, depending on how many areas you’re having done. This is followed by a shorter follow-up visit, about a month later, to evaluate results, check the healing process, and apply touch-ups.
Most people experience some discomfort during the permanent makeup procedure. Many providers will offer to apply a topical anesthetic to help with the pain, and it’s normal for minor bleeding to occur.
The pigment application is performed with a specialty handheld device, a traditional tattoo coil machine, a pen or rotary machine, or a handheld device.
1. For permanent eyebrows: The most common technique used for creating full eyebrows is microblading. This treatment is actually semi-permanent, unlike many other cosmetic tattoos, and you’ll need a follow-up shortly after your first visit.
2. During microblading, your provider will first sketch out your new brows. Then they’ll go over the lines with a small device that uses several tiny needles to inject pigment into the top layer of your skin. This results in fine lines of pigment that resemble individual hairs.
3. For permanent eyeliner: The area is numbed first, then a fine line is tattooed directly along the lash line. New tools make the treatment safer and more efficient, ensuring an even line. As with microblading, you’ll need two appointments to ensure the best results.
4. For permanent lip liner: The permanent makeup artist will tattoo a line around the border of your lips in order to give them a more defined look. The lip liner works in tandem with shading done to the actual lips, to enhance the illusion of fullness. Some artists will shade down to the middle of the lips for a blended effect. The color you choose can be natural, or you can match a shade of lipstick you’ll be comfortable with permanently.
5. For permanent lip color: Lip blushing is another semipermanent technique, similar to microblading, that promises a lip tint lasting up to two years. Intended to give a more natural look, lip blushing involves shading, lining, and pixelating the lips to achieve the desired color. First, a topical numbing cream is applied. Then, similar to how a tattoo artist uses shading, your provider will use a variety of needles to achieve the proper effect. Your lips will probably look darker than you intended, but you’ll lose a good deal of color after about a week. You’ll likely need at least one touch-up.
How to Find a Qualified Permanent Makeup Technician Near Me
Finding a well-qualified technician can be tricky since requirements vary from state to state. While most receive a certificate of training, not all training programs are alike. To further confuse matters, most states regulate the practice under ‘artistic tattoos,’ which means licensing requirements can be inconsistent at best and even non-existent at worst.
Here’s a checklist to help you get started in your search for a permanent makeup technician:
1. Ask about training, certification(s), and license(s). Don’t solely rely on a framed piece of paper. It’s not enough for a tech to take a certification class and call it a day. Every client educates me and makes me better.
2. Research the salon. Third-party review sites (like Google and Yelp), along with a pre-procedure visit, can tell you a lot about the potential caliber of work. Some technicians work exclusively in the clinics of dermatologists and plastic surgeons — a great sign that they know their stuff. If a technician has one or more frequently booked locations.
3. Talk to other clients. Word of mouth drives much of the permanent makeup business. If the clientele includes satisfied customers who were botched elsewhere, even better. A technician known for correcting the work of less experienced technicians (like both of our experts) is often a safe bet.
4. Check out the before and after photos. Before and after photos aren’t just for plastic surgeons and cosmetic dermatologists, and our experts caution people to look critically. People see a beautiful model with her eyebrows done, and they think they will look like that. “But they need to look at pictures of people with similar features to know what will work best for them.”
5. When in doubt, it is recommended that people find a technician with knowledge and experience working with clients who share their ethnicity since it plays such an important role in how your skin will react to different techniques and pigments.
Sources:
The content herein is provided for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Medical information changes constantly, and therefore the content on this website should not be assumed to be current, complete or exhaustive. Always seek the advice of your doctor before starting or changing treatment. If you think you may have a medical emergency, please call your doctor or 9-1-1 (in the United States) immediately.
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