Pre-Care & Post-Care

The success of your cosmetic tattoo is a collaboration between artist and client - I’d like to explain why proper cosmetic tattoo preparation is so important:

Permanent makeup is a form of tattooing, and the quality of the results and their longevity depend on how well the skin retains the pigments implemented. So the skin needs to be in the best possible condition for the treatment, and certain products can compromise it.

But it’s not just the skin. Although only a small area is treated, the body is a system. Each part of the body is connected to all other parts through the circulatory system, so any type of therapy can, surprisingly, affect pigment retention.

Then, there are some temporary states that can make the skin sensitive, and make the treatment problematic. Compromised skin is not only unsafe to work on, but it can also be very problematic.

Cosmetic tattoo pre-care is mandatory to be sure the skin is in the right shape on the day of the treatment. Let’s see how:

Here are the key points of cosmetic tattoo pre-care, along with explanations behind each.

Some people take blood-thinners as part of their standard therapy. Continued use is a contraindication for PMU. If the blood is thinned out, it can’t coagulate properly. Therefore, there will be more bleeding when the skin is broken, and it will be very difficult to stop it. Plus, the healing won’t go according to plan. It also makes the treatment very difficult and causes poor pigment retention and patchiness. If the skin bleeds, the artist can’t see what they’re doing. The active blood flow pushes the pigments out of the cuts, and very little pigment is retained. The brows will heal patchy.

***NEVER DISCONTINUE THE USE OF A MEDICATION WITHOUT CONSULTING YOUR DOCTOR AND PROVIDING A DOCTOR’S NOTE TO YOUR ARTIST.

Apart from prescription meds, there are certain supplements you may not be aware of that thin out the blood. 2 days are usually enough for the body to clear the blood of them.

Here are the most common blood-thinning substances people often take as supplements:

• Ginkgo biloba (maidenhair tree)
• Ginger
• Turmeric
• Evening primrose oil
• Garlic
• Fish oil
• Vitamin E

This list is not all inclusive, but these are the most common ones.

Apart from supplements, painkillers like ibuprofen, naproxen, and aspirin also fall under this category and should be avoided 48 hours before the procedure.

Another not-so-widely known blood thinner. You should skip your daily dose of coffee to prevent excessive bleeding. The same goes for green tea and energy drinks. However, if you’ll get a headache without it, please limit your consumption. Apart from the fact that it temporarily thins out the blood, caffeine can make people jumpy and nervous, so sitting still for 2 hours may be challenging. Best to avoid it.

Alcohol is another blood-thinner that increases bleeding and has an anti-platelet effect.

Plus, alcohol dehydrates the skin, and dehydrated skin is more difficult to work on, it’s more sensitive, and it doesn’t retain pigments well.

Retinol, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, glycolic acid, chemical peels no matter how gentle, niacinamide, acids – in one word, all brightening ingredients should be avoided at least 1 month before any cosmetic tattoo. The way these ingredients work is they remove the surface layer of the skin, thus thinning it out. Thinned-out skin is more sensitive and bleeds more easily. As a result, the treatment is more uncomfortable, there’s more bleeding, and retention is affected.

Facials most often include chemical or mechanical exfoliation, which thins out the skin. Again, more discomfort, more bleeding, less retention. The skin needs about 2 weeks or more to recover from such treatments, depending on how aggressive they are. Absolutely NO chemical peels or microneedling for 6-8 weeks prior to cosmetic tattoo.

After Botox, it takes some time for it to settle and there could be some asymmetry until it does. So brows tattooed on during the settling period might end up looking asymmetrical.

Tanned skin is more sensitive and it’s harder to work on. Plus, if the face gets sunburnt, the treatment needs to be postponed. Sunburnt skin hurts even to touch, let alone to tattoo. The skin recovers from sunburn through peeling, and the treatment can’t be done on peeling skin. Oh, and the temporary change in skin tone can lead to the wrong pigment color choice! Please don't schedule your cosmetic tattoo right after you've been on a sunny vacation.

Tweezing out hairs in any way can irritate the skin and make it too sensitive for cosmetic tattooing. Tinting can cause irritation, but also allergies, which make the skin impossible to work on until they subside. Any type of brow grooming before cosmetic tattooing should be avoided because it alters the natural shape of the brows and prevents the artist from making the best possible outline for the features. Let them grow out!

Sweat contains salt, and salt affects pigment retention. It dries out the pigment and it can’t settle into the skin properly. Even if the face is washed after the workout, traces of salt can stay on the skin and inside the pores, so it’s best to refrain from working out on the day of the treatment. 

Additional Notes For Lip Blush

Cold Sores/Oral Herpes

Lip blushing causes trauma and oral herpes is activated by trauma. If you’ve EVER had a cold sore, chances are high that you’ll experience an outbreak following a cosmetic lip tattoo. Please contact your physician to obtain a prescription antiviral medication; inform them that you’re having the procedure and follow their dosage directions. Commonly, the antiviral should be taken for 5 days prior to the procedure and for 5 days following. L-Lysine is an OTC supplement that may protect against and treat cold sores. One study found that a daily supplement of 1,000 mg of lysine resulted in fewer cold sores in 26 people who were prone to recurrent cold sores.

Dermal Filler

Lip filler should not be injected for at least 4 weeks prior and 4 weeks after cosmetic lip tattoo. Please schedule accordingly.

Swelling/Bruising

Homeopathic Arnica has been shown to reduce inflammation and bruising and promote healing. I recommend this BEFORE and AFTER your procedure.

Healthy, Hydrated Lips

Dry, dehydrated lips will not accept pigment nor will they retain it. Please use a sugar scrub and moisturizing lip balm/mask every day the week prior to your appointment. Drink plenty of fluids and be well-hydrated the day of your procedure, for best results. Continue hydrating throughout healing.

As you can see, YOU play a huge role in the success of your cosmetic tattoo procedure - proper preparation along with adherence to my aftercare instructions is vital to a good outcome and final result. 

Blot brows (or lips) with clean cotton, gauze or tissue every 15 minutes for the first 2-4 hours. Do not allow lymphatic fluid or blood to accumulate. This will cause an excess of scabbing and be uncomfortable.

▶️ IT‘S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT YOU STAY HYDRATED THROUGHOUT YOUR HEALING PROCESS - especially for lips!!!!

Begin the cleansing routine tonight:

1. Using clean hands and cleanser provided, cleanse gently with fingertips to remove any lymphatic fluid or blood that may have accumulated. 
2. Pat or air dry.
3. As needed, apply a rice grain amount of ointment with a dabbing motion or gentle swipe. (For lips, apply ointment as often as needed - do not let them dry out!)

Repeat cleansing routine TWICE daily for 7 days, or until the flaking stage begins. (About 2-3 days for lips or until they begin to peel.) Continue to moisturize until the flaking stops. 

If any contaminants are introduced to the area such as sweat, dirt, dust, animal dander, cleanse again as soon as possible. 

NO sweating, tanning, swimming, hot tubs, steam rooms, saunas, gardening or contact with animals  for TEN days to prevent infection and/or poor retention. Newly healed skin will be photo-sensitive -  Protect from sun/UV by wearing a hat and sunglasses for 28 days and then always wear sunscreen after that. ***High quality sunscreen and lip balm with sunscreen are available for purchase. 

DO NOT PICK OR PEEL any scabbing or flaking - this WILL cause scarring, patchy results or possibly infection and may cause you to need an extra session. (An additional fee!)

Don’t make any judgements about your brows until at least 4 weeks have passed. Lips will be fully bloomed in 8-12 weeks. 

Trust the process! 

*Extra tips to help with a smooth and easy recovery:

• Let any scabbing or dry skin naturally exfoliate away. DO NOT rub, pick or scratch the treated area. Picking can cause scarring or loss of color.
• Use a clean, satin pillowcase.
• Refrain from facials, botox, chemical treatments or microdermabrasion for 4 weeks.
• Avoid hot, sweaty exercise for 1 week. Wear a terry sweatband during any exercise.
• Avoid direct sun exposure or tanning for 4 weeks after procedure. Wear a hat when outdoors.
• Avoid sleeping on your face for the first 10 days.
• Avoid swimming in pools and hot tubs, or any body of water for the first 10 days.
• Do not use any makeup, including sunscreen on the area for 7-10 days.
• Limit your shower time so you do not create too much steam. Keep your face/procedure out of the water while you wash your body, then, at the end of your shower, wash your hair. Your face should only be getting wet at the very last end of the shower.  Avoid excessive rinsing and hot water on the treated area.

PMU Infection: Signs & Symptoms 

You should know that there is a small risk (around 1-3%) that you may have an infection after your procedure. Most of the time these infections can be treated with ​over the counter antibiotics that can be topically placed on your skin. In some serious cases you may need antibiotics. Learn more about when you should and shouldn't be concerned below: ​

What is considered normal after your procedure?

• Some slight redness or swelling around the eyebrows (swelling that continues beyond 2-3 days may be an early sign of an infection).
• Some tenderness of your eyebrows that may last 2-3 days.
• Scabbing of the eyebrows that may last up to 7 days.
• Peeling of the skin or darkening of the pigment used.

Common symptoms on an early infection:  ​

• Odor coming from your eyebrow.
• Discharge that may be a greenish/brownish color.
• Tenderness when touching (Refrain from touching your eyebrows after the procedure!).
• Redness around the procedure site but not extending beyond it.
  
  

If you experience any of the symptoms above, please contact me at (707) 408-2705 and consider the use of topical antibiotics.

If you start to develop any of these worsening signs then you should see a Doctor ASAP:

• Swelling that extends into the eyelids or other places on the face.
• Redness that extends beyond the eyebrow and up into the scalp or cheek area.
• Warmth when touching the red areas.
• Tenderness and/or pain to your face/eyebrows.
• Fever or chills or increase in sweating (signs that suggest you have a systemic infection).
  

Lastly, you should know that there are unlikely, but possible primary complications that can result from tattooing:

• Infection. Unsterile tattoo equipment and needles can transmit infectious diseases, such as HIV, hepatitis, and skin infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus ("staph") and other bacteria*. Tattoos received at facilities not regulated by your state or at facilities that use unsterile equipment (or re-use ink) may prevent you from being accepted as a blood or plasma donor for twelve months. Infections also have resulted from contaminated tattoo inks, even when the tattoo artist has followed hygienic procedures. These infections can require prolonged treatment with antibiotics. 
• Removal problems. Despite advances in laser technology, removing a tattoo is a painstaking process, usually involving several treatments and considerable expense. Complete removal without scarring may be impossible.
• Allergic reactions. Although FDA has received reports of numerous adverse reactions associated with certain shades of ink in permanent makeup, marketed by a particular manufacturer, reports of allergic reactions to tattoo pigments have been rare. However, when they happen they may be particularly troublesome because the pigments can be hard to remove. Occasionally, people may develop an allergic reaction to tattoos they have had for years.
• Granulomas. These are nodules that may form around material that the body perceives as foreign, such as particles of tattoo pigment.
• Keloid formation. If you are prone to developing keloids -- scars that grow beyond normal boundaries -- you are at risk of keloid formation from a tattoo. Keloids may form any time you injure or traumatize your skin. Micropigmentation: State of the Art, a book written by Charles Zwerling, M.D., Annette Walker, R.N., and Norman Goldstein, M.D., states that keloids occur more frequently as a consequence of tattoo removal.
• MRI complications. There have been reports of people with tattoos or permanent makeup who experienced swelling or burning in the affected areas when they underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This seems to occur only rarely and apparently without lasting effects.There have also been reports of tattoo pigments interfering with the quality of the MRI image. This seems to occur mainly when a person with permanent eyeliner undergoes MRI of the eyes. However, the risks of avoiding an MRI when your doctor has recommended one are likely to be much greater than the risks of complications from an interaction between the MRI and tattoo or permanent makeup. Instead of avoiding an MRI, individuals who have tattoos or permanent makeup should inform the radiologist or technician.