Permanent Make-up

Eyeliner, Eyebrows, Lip liner, and Lips

Permanent make-up is possible through a procedure called micropigmentation, which is similar to tattooing. It can mimic eyeliner, eyebrow pencil, lip liner, and lipstick. When performed by a trained medical professional, permanent make-up can appear natural and attractive.

Advantages of Permanent Make-up

Permanent make-up is ideal for on-the-go women who always need to look their best but cannot afford the time to apply make-up throughout the day. At the end of the day, your make-up looks as though it was just freshened. You can select your color of make-up from a wide variety of shades, or a new shade can be created for you.

Disadvantages of Permanent Make-up

The greatest disadvantage is that it is permanent. So, unless you are certain that it is what you wish, you should not have it. Further, there is a big risk in having this procedure performed by an inexperienced person. It can be hard to tell who has experience and who does not, so be sure to ask to speak with previous patients.

Applying Permanent Make-up

Cosmetic tattoos can be applied in your plastic surgeon’s office. A nurse or other trained medical professional will use a tattoo pen to inject permanent ink into your skin. Each procedure takes 30 to 120 minutes. Local anesthesia used prior to the procedure makes the procedure painless. If local anesthesia is not used, the procedure is quite uncomfortable. All tattoos may initially appear brighter or darker than desired, but will fade to the desired color over several days. Some tattoos also appear crusty for a few days. You will be swollen for 2-5 days, so you may want to schedule your procedure for a Friday.

Cost of Permanent Make-up

The cost of permanent make-up varies significantly depending on the training of the person performing it, the quality of result, and the number of areas being tattooed. The cost for tattooing a single area, such as the lips, eyes, or eyebrows, ranges from $300 to $1000.

Risks of Permanent Make-up

Your greatest risk in cosmetic tattooing is having an untrained individual perform this procedure. Cosmetic tattoos currently are available everywhere and are not necessarily regulated. Disadvantages of having a lay person place your tattoo abound. If they use contaminated needles, infections can be transmitted. The ink may not be of medical quality and may cause irritation. Placement of cosmetic tattoos demands precision. If your eyebrow tattoo is placed high, you may have a permanent look of surprise. Eyeliner placement has little room for error. If your cosmetic tattoo is botched, removal may be fraught with difficulty. Removal of eyeliner or eyebrow tattoos with laser may damage the hair follicles and result in loss of eyelashes or eyebrows. Cosmetic tattooing of blush on the cheeks is commonly performed by nonprofessionals and often looks distinctly unnatural. Natural cheek color changes from season to season, day to day, and moment to moment. A tattoo does not change and will therefore appear unnatural. If you later regret the decision to have blush tattoos, removal may be difficult, as flesh colored tattoos may turn black in response to laser removal. Do no take cosmetic tattooing lightly. When performed in your plastic surgeon’s office you have the greatest chance for a satisfactory outcome.