FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS - POST-PROCEDURE:

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• AVOID OVER-EXPOSURE TO HEAT - NO Direct Sun, NO Steam, NO Sauna's, NO Exercise, etc.

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• AVOID OVER-EXPOSURE TO WATER - No swimming or Long Hot Showers.

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• NO EXERCISE FOR AT LEAST ONE WEEK, PREFERABLY TWO.  If you exercise you will produce even a small amount of salt in your sweat. This is enough to cause the color to fade.  If you are not ok with this, you should rethink having a procedure done, or expect more follow-up visits. 

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• DIRTY WORK & NO TOUCHING - Lawn mowing, gardening, cleaning out the garage, etc... should wait until outer healing is complete, which normally occurs within 4-5 days. Try your best to keep your hands OFF your face!  You could introduce bacteria into the open area which can cause an infection.

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• Only touch when hands have been thoroughly washed.

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• NO MAKEUP, OILS, OR LOTIONS ON OR AROUND TREATED AREAS   NO CHEATING ON THIS or it could result in an infection or loss of color. Remember, until your tattoo becomes encapsulated by new skin, the color can fall out.  If you decide to go against this advice, you should at least purchase brand new makeup, and use one-time-use disposable applicators to help avoid infection. No double-dipping!

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• Never use any exfoliating products during the healing process. No Granules, Glycolic, Hydroxy, or Fruit Acid lotions or soaps on the treated area. These WILL fade your permanent makeup.

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• SLEEP ELEVATED or PROPPED UP If you sleep ON the treated area, you WILL lose color and it will stain your nice linens. You may find that a travel neck pillow comes in handy after permanent makeup on the face.  All other areas, you will just have to adjust your sleeping arrangements, as necessary, to PROTECT the tattoo.

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• NO "NORMAL" SHOWERING - You can still shower, but minimize water contact to treated areas. Do not allow shower spray to hit treated area(s). NO HOT WATER.  When rinsing shampoo or conditioner, allow the water to flow down the back of your head, NOT over your face. You may apply Tattoo Goo or Aquaphor to the dry tattoo before getting in the shower to help seal the water out. However, this can ONLY be used when you are showering. Gently pat dry when done.

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• NO SWIMMING - NO EXCEPTIONS. Even if you don't get your face wet, there are still UV rays bouncing off the water. Also, please understand that chlorinated and saltwater, will discolor and/or totally remove your pigment!  

 

WE HAVE AN EXTRA STEP THAT WE HAVE FOUND TO WORK BEAUTIFULLY!

IT SEALS THE TREATED AREA DURING THE HEALING PHASE AND WE THINK THAT YOU'RE GOING TO LOVE  THE PROTECTION IT OFFERS.  IT'S LIKE A HUG FOR YOUR BROWS!

 

This amazing covering helps to promote faster healing as it protects against contamination and friction. It will give you a feeling of protection and free you up to go about your life (almost) as normal.  Just keep yourself cool and avoid strenuous exercise that would cause stress on the muscles of the face and do not sweat! Read more below!

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When your appointment is over, we will apply a transparent seal over the tattooed area to act as a waterproof, but gas permeable covering that serves as a barrier to bacteria and friction.  The body will continue to excrete lymphatic fluid under the seal.  Normally, the purpose of this fluid is to help form a scab is to help pull toxins out as it heals.  Since this wound was created in a clean environment, you don't need this scab... So by sealing in the fluid, your wound can heal faster in a controlled, moist environment.  This results in LESS SCABBING and LESS PULLING of color!  

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During the healing process, your skin may (or may not) appear to be puffy, red, or inflamed, which could cause the area to appear more exaggerated than you’re comfortable with! In approximately 5-14 days, the surface of the skin will “appear” to be fully healed, but in reality, will not be "fully' healed on the deeper layers for approximately 8-12 more weeks. 

 

As soon as the damaged skin completely sloughs off, you may (or may not) notice a slight grey cast over the treated area. This is new skin that will subside in a few weeks once the healing skin becomes normal again. Please relax, and know, that as the inflammation subsided, things will begin to look normal again, only better!   You can return to your regular skincare and makeup routine as soon as the last bit of loose skin or scabbing has fallen off.  

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YOU ARE NOT A CANDIDATE FOR THE SEAL IF:

• You are allergic to adhesives. 

• The seal interferes with immediate social events.

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This seal may be removed at any time, however, allowing it to remain intact for at least 48 hours will provide the most optimal amount of protection for your new investment!

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IF YOU A CHOOSE NOT TO APPLY THE FILM, YOU MAY FOLLOW THE TRADITIONAL AFTER-CARE STEPS BELOW.

                                    

• Someone with OILY SKIN will heal differently than a person with DRY SKIN. Oily skin may cause strokes to blur more than dry skin. Therefore, LESS ointment will be required. For excessively oily skin, only apply ointment 1x per day. Normal skin 1-2x per day. DRY SKIN may require 3-4 applications per day.      

• OILY SKIN: 1x Daily each morning. You may apply more if things feel too dry, chapped, or uncomfortable.  YOU MAY APPLY OINTMENT TO LIPS AS YOU FEEL YOU NEED IT. BUT STILL, DO NOT APPLY A THICK LAYER. 

• PLEASE…. NO PICKING, RUBBING, SCRUBBING, PULLING ON HEALING SKIN!

  • SLEEP WITH A TRAVEL PILLOW! This will help prevent you from sleeping on your new PMU! 

  • FOR EYELINER: NEVER APPLY OINTMENT DIRECTLY TO LASHLINE. Apply ONLY around the inner eye orbit. AVOID GETTING OINTMENT INTO YOUR EYES!  

• No alcohol/caffeine consumption for 48 hours after the procedure. May induce bleeding/swelling.  

• After 72 hours, the treated area will start to calm down and begin to dry out. It will feel tight and chapped.

• Avoid spicy or acidic food or lots of caffeine for a few more days. Especially after lip procedures. 

• NO SWEATING OR VIGOROUS EXERCISE FOR ABOUT 10 DAYS!  Exercise increases metabolism, which can alter the effectiveness of the numbing agents. It can also increase bleeding, which can push the pigment out, to a degree. Exercise causes sweating. Sweat contains saline.  Contact with saline can reduce or completely remove the pigment!

• It is very hot and humid in Houston, but it is your responsibility to protect the treated area during the healing process for it to heal properly. 

• Avoid applying makeup for 5 days Avoid hot tubs, chlorinated pool, sauna, saltwater, direct shower spray, long hot showers, and excessive sun. 

• No heavy exercise or sweating for at least 10 days! Remember… the skin is damaged. Saline reduces the color and excessive movement may pop open the tiny holes/The less movement, the better.

• No swimming until the area is completely healed, saltwater or chlorine can cause the pigments to fade and or change in color. 

• Do not touch the area during the healing process. 

• Dry heal as much as possible. But if the area becomes too congested, you may gently wash using CETAPHIL, BABY SHAMPOO, or another MILD cleanser. 

• A scab will form within 2-3 days.  When scabbing begins, apply lotion provided 3-4x a day with a cotton swab or clean hands. 

• Tenderness, dryness, and itching are normal during the healing process.  Do not pick, peel or scratch the area or color will heal unevenly.  Scratching may cause scarring. 

• When scabbing is over, the color will appear very light and grey.  Color loss is NORMAL and usually ranges between 20-60%. 

• And some people will scar more than others...

• No tanning for 2 weeks after a procedure.  

• EVERY SKIN TYPE IS DIFFERENT! Some clients are super healthy and heal quickly. Others don’t. Some clients take not enough care, some care just the right amount, and others will suffocate the areas with too much oil, thinking more is better. MORE OINTMENT IS NOT BETTER! Some clients will be too gentle with the blotting and will develop thicker scabbing than others who are not as careful. The bottom line here is… 

 

WHAT TO EXPECT IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING YOUR PROCEDURE.

As the topical anesthetics begin to wear off, things may start to tingle or sting and may turn red and puffy and appear much thicker due to increased swelling. Color may even appear to darken from a process known as oxidation. Just know that the color is only appearing to be darker on the surface where the color is exposed to the air. It is NOT darkening under the skin where the color will heal. But do not worry! All of this is normal and will subside after a few days once that dark skin peels off. 

Brow color will come off in patches, starting with the outside edges and front of the brow first. Eyeliner may come off in a strip. Lips will begin to peel from the inside out, and the lip border will be the last to heal.   

PERMANENT MAKEUP GOES THROUGH MANY CHANGES DURING THE HEALING PROCESS! Within a few days, the dead skin cells will slough off, carrying MOST of the color with it. Only a small percentage of the color will be encapsulated by new skin. During the healing phase (up to 6-8 weeks) the color will be clouded by and will look more like you’re viewing it through wax paper. Once fully healed, the skin thins out again and looks more like viewing through tracing paper.

 

PERMANENT MAKEUP WILL NEVER LOOK LIKE IT DID THE DAY IT WAS APPLIED AND YOU MAY STILL NEED TO WEAR MAKEUP IF YOU ARE SEEKING ABSOLUTE PERFECTION!

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• DAYS 3-10  Once the deeper layers of the skin are healed (approximately 6 weeks) the color will slightly darken after 4 weeks. 

• After your 1st touch-up, please try to wait 2-3 years for your next visit.  Every time you get permanent makeup done, your skin creates a little bit of scar tissue which your body will naturally get rid of over time.  But done too soon will cause excessive scar tissue and will make future retention even more of a problem.

 

WHAT TO EXPECT FOR THE NEXT FEW WEEKS…  

AFTER DAY THREE, the skin begins to dry out, the damaged skin starts to lift and slough off. You may experience light, possibly pinkish areas to appear, where the damaged skin has peeled off. Things will be patchy for a while. Remember, THIS IS NORMAL. Your skin has just taken a beating and will take several weeks to level back off to normal!  Then, once the outer layers have totally peeled off, it may seem that the color has totally vanished. But PLEASE be patient because once everything is fully healed in 6-10 weeks, more color starts to show through later.  MOST people will retain approximately 50-75% of the color implanted.  Some will RETAIN a lot of colors, while others will lose a lot! Please understand, that every person is different... and whatever happens to you, is most likely normal.  People who are prone to illnesses, are on medications, have weak immune systems, or who are afflicted with auto-immune disorders may experience less color retention. Some people are prone to holding a lot of colors. For this reason, I choose to perform a conservative procedure on every client. Once healed, we can assess the situation and will talk about how much more color to add next session.  Every little thing you do COULD increase the chances of optimal results. That doesn’t mean it will! EVERYONE HEALS DIFFERENTLY! PRIOR TO ALL FOLLOW-UP SESSIONS 2 WEEKS PRIOR

 

START TAKING: 

ARNICA MONTANA & VITAMIN C TO START PREPARING YOUR SKIN! 

                                                                                                 

STOP TAKING: 

ANYTHING THAT THINS THE BLOOD UNLESS PRESCRIBED BY A DOCTOR! This includes, but is not limited to Advil, Aleve, Aspirin, Naproxin, Ibuprofen, Motril, Excedrine, Coumadin, Warfarin, Fish, Fish Oils,  Vitamin E Oil, Primrose Oil.  

 

DISCONTINUE USE OF: RETIN A, GLYCOLICS, ALPHA HYDROXY ACIDS, ANY FACIAL ACIDS, or ACIDIC CLEANSERS.

 

LIMIT EXPOSURE TO SUN. 

IF YOU HAVE HAD EXCESSIVE SUN, EXPOSURE WITHIN THE WEEKS PRIOR TO YOUR PROCEDURE - WE MAY HAVE TO DECLINE SERVICES UNTIL SKIN HAS RETURNED TO NORMAL.

 

2 DAYS PRIOR TO FUTURE SESSIONS

STOP CONSUMING:  Caffeine (COFFEE & TEA) Alcohol, Blood Thinners!  

NO VIGOROUS EXERCISE FOR 2-3 DAYS BEFORE AND FOR TEN DAYS FOLLOWING :  

AVOID PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO HEAT, SUN, WATER, CREAMS OR ANY PRODUCT WITH ACIDS, LIGHTENERS, ABRASIVES.  

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• NOTE:  The guidelines mentioned above, apply to most people. However, if you experience something that just does not seem right, please bring it to our attention as soon as possible. 

•  If the treated area seems to worsen after the 3rd day, rather than get better, please contact us immediately. 

• If you feel warmth or tenderness ask your doctor to check for an infection. If an infection is diagnosed, please contact us so we can report it to the Texas Department of Health.

 

• Thank you for trusting us with your skin!  You may send pictures on days 3, 5, 10 & 30 if you would like for us to view the progress!

 

 

 

ICING vs. COOL PACKS 

You may cool the skin down a few times after permanent makeup procedure with cold pack for 10 minutes every couple of hours the first day. But please don’t overdo it. Prolonged application of extreme cold reduces the blood flow,which brings healing oxygen to the skin cells.  

• Cooling a skin wound is beneficial; freezing it is not! Using refrigerator temperature cold packs is safer for damaged skin, than ice. The traumatized tissue is already in a delicate state and is more prone to frost damage. 

• If you use ice, it must be buffered with a clean paper towel. 

• Keep your compress in a zip lock bag to keep it clean.  

• If you like to use bags of frozen peas, place a wet washcloth between your skin and the bag.

• Keeping the skin too cold can also cause blood to rush back in to warm the area, creating more swelling.

• Cold packs are contraindicated for anyone with poor skin circulation, Raynaud’s, and other disorders that react to cold temperatures.

 

CARING FOR THE WOUND

A permanent makeup procedure is equivalent to a cat scratch or a scratch you might get around the house. Expect it to ooze, scab a little, and heal over in a similar time frame.

• Keep moist with healing ointment, but don’t overdo it!  I give you tattoo goo but you may use Aquaphor, grapeseed oil, applied at least once or twice per day, while outer healing occurs (3-5 days eyes. Lips may take a full 7-10 days to heal and will need more ointment than other procedures.   

• GenTeal PM (not the other formulas) makes a great healing ointment after permanent eyeliner because it is ophthalmic/safe for the eyes. GenTeal is preservative-free.  http://www.amazon.com/GenTeal-Lubricant-Ointment-Night-Time-Severe/dp/B000GCLRCM

• If a product stings or burns when you apply it, do not use it.

• An occasional slight healing itch is normal throughout the healing process.  

• Constant intense itching, abnormal thick yellow discharge, yellow crust, hot burning pain, lumps, bumps, and/or blisters - is NOT normal.

• Avoid strenuous activity for 2 days. Increased blood pressure and dilated blood vessels increase swelling and oozing. Also, sweat running into a wound stings and may remove the pigment.

• No Scrubbing. Do not rub, wipe, or scratch the area. Use blotting motions only.

• Keep the area clean. Blot or lightly rinse off oozing. 

• Cetaphil is a safe cleanser to use if things become contaminated. Rinse and pat dry. 

• Other cleansers might have alcohol or anti-aging acids or acne acids in them. Some cleansing chemicals might burn or bleach. If you wouldn’t use a product on any other type of injury, don’t use it on the healing permanent makeup. Rinse and pat dry. 

• Do not expose the area to the full pressure of the shower. You don’t want the water to beat on it, but water will not erase the tattoo despite the myths being told. Not keeping it clean sets it up for infection. Germs love the extra warmth generated by inflamed tissue, and they like the moistness provided by the oozing and ointment. Germs will be breeding in it. Clean it and keep ointment on it. Scabs that dry out take longer to heal off. 

• Notify permanent makeup artist or physician at the first sign of allergic reaction or infection. If you suspect a problem is developing, the first thing to do is switch the type of ointment you are using. The ointment is often causing the problem. 

• Sleep with a travel pillow so that your face does not rest into a pillow while sleeping, especially the first couple of days. The skin is super delicate. Plus, compressed tissue does not get as much blood flow of blood and oxygen, which is required for proper healing. 

• Seals may side can ooze or swell more.                                                                                           

• Do not peel or pick at the crust, this could cause pigment loss, scarring, and delayed healing.
   

• Do not expose to sun or tanning bed while outer healing progresses. 

• Use of sunblock after healing is completed will help prevent premature fading.

• Do not swim in fresh, salt, or chlorinated water for 2 weeks.

• Avoid environments that would cause dirt or germs to contact areas while healing.

• Do not apply topical cosmetics over the area while healing.

• Ibuprofen or your favorite pain reliever may be used to reduce swelling and discomfort.

• The Final healed result is at about 2 months. If a touchup is needed, it is not done any sooner than 2 months after the first procedure. Performing a touchup too early could cause scarring. Some colors (especially eyebrow colors) take that long or longer to see how they are going to settle in and look. The free touchup period is within 1 year. Brows may need additional fill-in strokes. Eyeliner should not need a touchup.

• Many anti-aging products and services containing acids, lighteners, and exfoliates cause premature fading of pigment. Avoid the pigmented area. Stay about 1/4 inch away from permanent makeup.

• Do not use laser hair removal or foto-facial too close to the pigmented area to avoid an accidental hit. Most laser operators' know-how protects a permanent makeup tattoo from the light by placing a tongue depressor perpendicular - at a 90° right angle against the edge of the brow or lip.
  
   

EYELINER

• Do not wear contact lenses during the procedure or for 24 hours after.

• Have sunglasses available. Eyes may be light sensitive or even dilated immediately after. The sunglasses are also handy for hiding puffy eyes.

• Do not dye, perm, or use an eyelash curler for 2 weeks.

• Do not use mascara until outer healing is complete (3-5 days). Most clients are returning to work in 2 days and are non-compliant about this, so at least begin with a new tube of mascara due to the risk of bacterial presence in used tubes. Stay a little farther out on the lashes, not too close to the liner. Remove with vaseline or baby oil without rubbing it into the liner.

• Eyes will be swollen for a few days. Eyes may feel dry or irritated. Lubricating refresher drops may be used.

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EYEBROWS

• Do not dye, wax, tweeze, or use electrolysis for 2 weeks before or after the procedure. 

• You CAN tweeze outside / around the permanent makeup.

• It can take a little time for the eyebrow tattoo to soften up, and to see how the color is going to do. After the skin is healed over you can put brow powder on it to mask it while waiting. Many women buy eyeshadow to use as brow powder because there are more tones available. Just make sure it is matte and doesn’t have sparkles in it.

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LIPS

• Lips will ooze for a couple of days. Blot and reapply ointment. After sleeping, the crust will have dried on the lips. Rinse with water or put more ointment on to loosen crust, blot, and reapply ointment. Most tissues like the ones you blow your nose with will leave lint on the lips. Use something stronger and lint-free like Bounty hand towels. A soaking wet cloth feels good to blot with.

• Lips will be tender at first. Drink through a straw. Choose foods you can place in your mouth with a fork without touching your lips.

• Place an old towel on the pillow you will sleep on until the oozing stops so you won’t ruin good pillowcases or pillows

• Do not excessively stretch lips while they are healing with big smiles or pucker lips with smoking. Those motions push and pull against the lip edges, applying tension and friction between the strong normal skin surrounding the mouth and the broken inflamed lip edges. Lip skin is a continuation of the delicate mucous membrane in the mouth. It is not strong like normal skin.
  * On the third day, lips stop oozing and start peeling. This is when the chapped lip feeling is strongest. You may relieve the chapped lip feeling by lightly massaging the lips after placing a thick layer of ointment on them and making gentle circular motions with one finger. The light, wet massage helps get loose skin off that is ready to come off without yanking out skin that is not ready to come off. The massage relieves the chapped feeling for several hours, then it returns, and you can massage again.
   

• Lips will peel for approximately 4-7 days. Allow the skin to flake off on its own. Picking and pulling off skin that is not ready to come off will cause pigment loss and can pull out deeper tissue. The edges or lip liner will be the last to fall off. Pulling this off will result in an uneven splotchy line.

• Try to keep toothpaste off lips while healing.

• Do not have teeth bleached while healing.

• During the peeling process, it may look like there is not much color there. Color is more apparent by the second week. The final result is not judged for 2 months.

• It is normal to have discomfort or a feeling of pressure the day of the lip procedure. The next day should be minimal. If you begin having pain on the 3rd or 4th day after being pain-free, it is a signal that something is wrong. It is usually one of three things: 1) Infection, 2) Cold sore, or 3) Allergic contact dermatitis from the antibiotic ointment. Switch ointments to rule out that as the cause, and consider a culture to determine bacterial vs yeast infection. We take cultures at our office. We offer consultation and culture collection for anyone who has had permanent makeup procedures elsewhere and is having a healing problem. The lab will send a bill for their services if health insurance does not cover the expense.
  * Lip infections after permanent makeup procedures are usually described as burning pain. Bacterial lip infections have a yellow gooey discharge but begin peeling as expected on day three. Candidal lip infections do not begin peeling on time as would be expected with healthy healing lips (possibly due to candida adhesion properties), and may have a velvety appearance. Candida lip infections have one or more of the following depending on the strain or severity of the infection: cracking and bleeding – more likely near the corners, itching or tingling, whitish bumps/ nodules/ blisters/ pustules – more likely along the edges of the lips. Fungi concentration has been more prominent on the periphery of healing lips where they do the most damage causing blisters, scarring, or tightness. The tightness may relax in time but can take months to years.
  * Lip skin yeast cultures taken before the lips heal usually return positive results in individuals fitting yeast symptoms. Lip skin yeast cultures taken after the lips heal over may return false-negative results. Being past the point of reliable results for skin swab culture, a person might need to speak with a dermatologist about a biopsy for diagnosis. Candida strains have a tricky ‘switching’ ability to change phenotype and display various colonial morphology and physiological properties to invade and survive in various environments/ tissue types or body areas, which might account for some of the false-negative testing results. Candida should be given the last name chameleon. Candida antibiotics started early (within the first week) to clear up lip infections well. Delayed therapy can allow the organism to penetrate deeper tissues, and the person may experience a lengthy spell of sore lips, and be able to feel knots deep in the lip tissue.
  * Much information is available online about Candida yeast infections: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Books on the subject can be found on Amazon.com using search words like yeast, candida, and fungi. They have significant discounts on used books. The worst of the permanent makeup problems happen with the lips. The candida yeast fungal lip infection is a frustrating problem. Often, Candida is not suspected of being the culprit of the lip problem because obvious yeast signs are not visible. Nursing mothers who have developed breast yeast infections know that you don’t have to be able to see it, but it is there. Some of the breast yeast treatments recommended by Dr. Jack Newman are also beneficial for lips and facial skin around the mouth (APNO ointment, Gentian Violet in glycerine, Grapefruit Seed Extract, Olive Leaf Extract oil).
  * After the lips are healed over and all is well, they still feel more chapped than normal. The chapped feeling subsides over a period of weeks to months. Certain lip balms create the problem. Do not use anything made for cold sores or blisters (Carmex, Blistex) because although they initially feel moisturizing, they turn around and dry the lips out. Some do more damage than that, especially if applied to broken lip tissue during the healing process. Applying vitamin E will usually help.

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Healing Time

Permanent makeup will appear extremely intense and thick immediately after the procedure. The color will not even look right the first few days. Other factors are added to the permanent makeup pigment bottles to counteract the undertones of facial skin. Browns can look orangish-brown, blonde brows may look too yellow, lip colors are shocking! Some colors initially look too bright and others look too dark. But don't worry - it changes. Excess pigment sheds off over the next 2-3 days, and then the skin starts healing over. A layer of healed skin on top of the pigment masks and tones it down considerably. As the swelling goes down the lines will be thinner. On about the fourth day you are close to looking normal and no one notices anything. Colors will continue to soften over the next few weeks. It will look very natural in 2-3 months. You see another difference around the 7-9 month time period. It looks even softer and lighter.

 

Eyebrows and lips that looked fine at 2-3 months may have faint areas or be too light after 7-9 months. Because it can take up to a year to know if you need a touchup, I have extended the touchup timeframe to one year. I want your makeup to look great. That is how I get more business.

SUPERFICIAL LAYERS OF THE SKIN HEAL  in about 4-6 days for eyes, 7-10 days for lips. INNER HEALING completes in approximately 12 weeks.

Swelling migrates as it resolves. Dispersion into a larger area aids the dissipation of swelling. In addition to on-the-spot absorption of swelling by the lymphatic system, excess fluid travels down with gravity through the fatty tissue. Anyone who has had breast implant surgery may remember having edema in the lower abdominal skin a few weeks later. Or, if you have watched someone heal from a bruised eye, you noticed that by the time it is almost healed the last little bit of swelling and discoloration is an inch or two lower at the cheekbone. Swelling from eyebrows can drain to the top eyelids. Swelling in top eyelids have a little movement out and down from the sides over the outer half, but fluid over the inner half is mostly trapped there until absorbed. Swelling in the bottom eyelid drains down to the cheekbone. Swelling drains out of the bottom lip faster than in the top lip. Fluid from the bottom lip can drain down the chin and neck to speed removal. Since the top lip doesn’t have anywhere to drain below it, other than a little movement out to the sides, fluid is stuck there until the lymph system can suck it all out.

How easily a person swells and bruises may be affected by age, food and meds consumed, and hormonal cycles. I have seen everything from no noticeable swelling to bruising. Brows have minimal swelling, but the wet paint look is difficult to hide unless you have long bangs or big rim sunglasses. Eyes have moderate swelling, but can be easily hidden with sunglasses. Generally speaking, younger women’s eyes swell less and the swelling goes down faster after eyeliner procedures. Older women have loose skin that provides a greater water holding pocket. Additionally, circulation and cellular turnover slows with aging. Lips can swell four times their normal size, and there is no hiding them. Request a few surgical masks if you are embarrassed to walk out of the building, or for use at home in case you have to answer the door, or make a trip to the store. After three or four days when the area is healed enough that you don’t have to worry about infection, you can mask the area with other makeup/ powder/ lipstick while waiting for healing to complete.

How quickly a client returns to work depends on your occupation and which procedure was performed, and what type of occupation she has (greets the public, or works more privately in office). Eyes are the most nerve-wracking, but the quickest to return to normal. Brows are second. Lips take longer.