What is Permanent and Corrective Cosmetics
The modern application of the age-old art of tattooing provides a safe and natural-looking alternative to your daily makeup routine. Permanent cosmetic makeup is “cosmetic tattooing”. The specialized techniques used for permanent cosmetics are often referred to as "micropigmentation", Permanent cosmetic makeup is a process where colored pigments are implanted into the dermal layer of the skin, permanently.
Today, hundreds of thousands of people have chosen to have permanent make up procedures done. Many, times clients have exclaimed, "This is the best thing I have ever done for myself! I only wish I would have done it years earlier."
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Everyone, from the young to the elderly, who desires a soft, natural enhancement to their appearance. It is especially beneficial to people who can’t wear other cosmetics due to allergies and skin sensitivities; Active people who want to look their best for activities such as swimming, hiking, biking, tennis, aerobics, and those who don't want to worry about "sweating off" or reapplying cosmetics. Also, the vision impaired who have difficulty applying their cosmetics, and others with motor impairments such as arthritis, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, stroke survivors, and those with unsteady hands who cannot apply their own makeup, and busy people who don’t have time to spend on their makeup.
Technically, permanent cosmetics procedures are considered permanent because the color is implanted into the upper reticular part of the dermal layer of the skin and cannot be washed off. However, as with any tattoo, fading can and often does occur, requiring periodic maintenance, color re-enhancement or color re-freshing. Just like hair color, furniture that may be located near a window, or even house paint, pigment implanted in the skin may fade with time.
Permanent Cosmetic procedures can be very subtle or dramatic depending on what you are looking for and your style.
Options include:
Eyeliner Does your eyeliner smudge? Does it wear off during the day? Have trouble getting it straight or even? Allergic to cosmetic products or your allergies cause you to re-apply several times a day? Maybe your job requires that you go traditional make-up free.
More women everyday are finding that for the above reasons--and many more--permanent eyeliner is perfect for them. Eyeliner can be applied in many styles and colors, from soft, natural-looking lash enhancement to a defined line--the choice is yours! Whatever look you choose, you will wake up, shower, exercise, work, swim, and go to bed always looking your best.
Eye Brows Are your eyebrows weak or sparse? Can't put them on without your glasses, but your glasses are in the way? Do they come out crooked or uneven? Do your penciled brows wear off during the day?
Women and men are finding that permanent eyebrows are perfect for them. From providing a basic guideline for you to follow should you like to pencil them yourself, adding a few hair strokes, filling in those holes to dramatic fully colored brows that even your closest friends won't believe aren't your own.
Lip Color Tired of re-applying your lipliner and lipstick throughout the day? Do the current all-day lipstick brands make your lips dry or chapped? Would you like more definition, fuller lips, or to correct a crooked lip line? Just wish you had back some of the color you had when you were younger? Full lip color can be applied in either a natural hue or a more vivid one. Wear your permanent lip color alone in a natural tone or apply different shades of lipstick over your permanent lip color for a makeup look. The procedure also helps prevent lipstick from bleeding and can minimize the appearance of wrinkles.
Please visit the aftercare page HERE to view the aftercare instructions for each procedure.
For scheduling purposes between clients 2 hours is average. The initial procedure will generally take approximately 1 ½ to 2 ½ hours. Touch up procedures require far less time.
Although everyone's comfort level is different, most clients agree permanent make-up procedures are far more comfortable than anticipated. Eyeliner is typically the easiest to have done as the skin is thin and numbs well. However, there are different methods available to help with comfort management, including various topical anesthetic ointments designed for our industry.
The chances of developing an allergic reaction to pigments are extremely remote. Less than .l% in over 100,000 estimated permanent cosmetic procedures performed nationwide over the last 10 years resulted in an allergic reaction, according to “Micropigmentation, State of the Art", by Charles S. Zwerling. M.D.
Either a traditional tattoo can be applied over the discoloration or scar or the skin can be re-toned to more closely match the surrounding area.
Re-coloration is most successful on those areas not exposed to the daylight on a regular basis. The surrounding skin will change color from UV exposure, even if protected by sun block, but the tattooed area will not change with it. Applying a traditional artistic design over a scarred or discolored area is the other option. As tattooing has become mainstream, many more people are turning to this method to convert something that bothers them, into a work of beauty and art.
Potential clients must remember that these are advanced procedures and they need to feel very comfortable with the skill level of their technician. Feel free to ask questions: Have they done this sort of procedure before? Do they have photos available of their finished work? Have they taken advanced continuing education courses in the specialty area you are considering and do they have certificates to substantiate this? Most insurance companies will not even cover technicians for doing advanced specialty work without additional training and experience in the industry.
Who’d have guessed it?" exclaim many of the thousands of women who have had their eyebrows, eyeliner or other permanent makeup done in the past 15 years. "Who would have ever thought I would have a tattoo! This is the best thing I have ever done for myself. I wish someone would have thought of this sooner!” Thanks to the art of tattooing, many woman in all stages of life and even some men are having their eyebrows, eyeliner and lips colored permanently, and loving it!
Strict sanitation and sterilization guidelines are followed in accordance with the CDC (Centers for Disease Control). Single-use sterile needles are used with each application. Pigments are all made from approved compounds, and most are mixed specifically for permanent cosmetic use.
According to Dr. Frank Shellock of Tower Imaging in Los Angeles, CA, a top expert in MRI safety, only a handful of people have reported minor irritation around the eye area and no problems around the lip or brow area. In those rare instances when redness and edema in the eye area occurred, it was temporary. Test studies have confirmed that the "iron" particles in pigment are too microscopic to react as true metal pieces and are more accurately compared with "metals" which already exist microscopically in the body. Numerous studies have shown that even for people who have large body tattoos there is little to no potential for irritation resulting from a MRI. In the rare instance where irritation resulted, it was localized and very temporary. Most people have more metal in their fillings than they would ever have in tattoo work.
A touch-up is a color re-enhancement or adjustment. These procedures are processes and at least
one follow-up to the initial procedure will be scheduled 4 – 6 weeks later and is complimentary. Colors will appear darker immediately following the procedure but will soften and lighten during the healing process. Implanted color almost always needs at least a minor adjustment after the skin heals.
The color is indefinite, however the amount of pigment seen in the skin depends on many factors;
your 'after care' of the procedure area, health, medications, sun, age, skin products, environmental factors, to name a few. Remember, as with hair and nail treatments, refreshers are needed.
Choosing the right technician is the most important decision to make when deciding to have a procedure. Your first concern should be to find a technician who follows proper sterilization protocol and works in a sanitary environment. Next decide by appearance and conversation if this is a person you can work with. Do pictures of their work make you feel comfortable? Done properly, permanent makeup should look as natural and sometimes better than makeup.
Next, choose a technician by considering training, experience, how many procedures they have actually done NOT how long they have been doing it. Do they have the knowledge of the shape and balance of the facial features. It is important to remember that the shape and proper placement of the procedure is as important as the right color.
The desired look is obtained during the course of consultation, initial procedure and follow up procedures. Interaction between the client and the technician should be of utmost importance.
Once you find a technician, you should make an appointment for a consultation. At this appointment, your needs and expectations will be discussed. There will be a small amount of paperwork, a discussion of your desires, your style and needs, the ability for permanent cosmetics to improve your life, a review of your medical history and before and aftercare instructions. Pre-procedure photos will be taken. (Your identity is kept confidential unless otherwise agreed upon. These photos are taken for technician records and insurance purposes, as well as for portfolios.)
At your actual procedure appointment, steps are taken to make sure you are as comfortable as possible. An anesthetic will be applied 15 - 30 minutes before your procedure begins. Others may be used during the procedure to ensure your comfort. Other products, such as saline type solutions and washes may be used to ensure both comfort and safety.
After your procedure, you will be given instruction once again in aftercare and post-procedure photos will be taken. Generally, you will be given a care package that may include, Q tips, eye drops, and/or ointment. There may be some swelling of the area. Outer healing time varies, but is normally 3 days to 1 week.
In 4 to 6 weeks, when the inner healing is complete, your technician will want to see you for a touch-up to adjust the shape, color or density of the pigment. The touch up procedure will be similar to the first, though will possibly not take as long. Healing times tend to be shorter. Sometimes no further work needs to be performed, but most technicians will want to take "healed" pictures. If work is performed on the touch-up, you may be asked that you come in for a healed photo.
Some clients have specialty needs and interests beyond the standard eyebrows, eyeliner and lip coloration. For clients with limited dexterity or allergies, and who commonly don’t wear a base foundation, blush application is a consideration. Properly done, this will be very soft and natural only a couple of shades darker than the client’s skin tone. It doesn’t really look like the client is wearing blush, rather it just gives them a healthy glow. Because of it’s delicacy, clients who are lovers of the sun are not good candidates.
