Micropigmentation

Permanent makeup is a cosmetic technique which employs tattoos (permanent pigmentation of the dermis) as a means of producing designs that resemble makeup, such as eyelining 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, chemotherapy, or a genetic disturbance, and to disguise scars and white spots in the skin such as in vitiligo.

Who's a candidate for micropigmentation?
Certainly people with physical limitations may seek out this procedure, but anyone (male or female) can have it done. Do you want to improve the appearance of thin eyebrows or lips? Do you have an uneven hairline, or allergies to make-up that create a problem? Micropigmentation may be a viable solution and can help enhance certain features.

How is micropigmentation done?
The procedure will be performed with a pen-like instrument or standard tattoo gun. Your therapist should wear medical gloves when performing the procedure. The procedure itself will take a short amount of time, perhaps 20 minutes to a half hour at most. If you are receiving anesthesia, you will be required to arrive earlier in order to let the anesthesia take effect. After the procedure, your therapist will provide you with an antiseptic to cleanse the treated region.

Going home
You will be sent home the same day. You should expect swelling in the treated region. Your therapist will instruct you on how often you should ice the area and what type of ointment you can apply to the area.

If you are having the procedure performed in your eye region, you should plan to have someone drive you to the office and home again.

You may experience tearing, which is normal. The pigmentation typically will appear darker in the weeks following the procedure, but will fade over time.

Follow your therapist's instructions on what to avoid (such as peroxide) or sunlight. Either of these can damage your new look.

Contact your therapist immediately if:

• You experience excessive swelling
  
• You develop a fever or rash
  
• The area feels excessively hot or burns
  

Follow-up care
Your new look requires maintenance. Some people have to undergo two or more treatments. Make sure you understand exactly how many treatments you will need. As the pigment fades over the years, you also may have to undergo additional treatments to maintain the look.