Micropigmentation (semi-permanent makeup) procedures are affected by the “canvas” (your skin) that they are performed on. Lifestyle, medications, smoking, metabolism, facial surgery and other procedures, and age of skin all contribute to fading. The initial application is always applied conservatively because every person’s skin is different and the final look can only be precisely determined and adjusted during a follow-up appointment after the initial application has fully healed. Because of this, the micropigmentation process is not complete after the initial procedure. In all cases, a follow-up appointment is ideal approximately 6-8 weeks after your initial application to fine tune and ensure the best result.

After your procedure, your skin will start forming a protective scab. You may see fluid or ooze on the skin from lymph secretion. The fluid should be dabbed and blotted off with a sterile gauze pad. It can crust the skin over and prevent it from breathing and healing. Lips will ooze for a couple days and peel for a week or so. Try not to disturb the scab/crust when cleaning and let it fall off by itself. 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 or an indented scar.

Though rare, infection is possible. If you see signs of infection such as persistent and increased redness or swelling, fever, drainage, or oozing, contact your doctor immediately.

 

Lip Aftercare Tips

 

• After 1-3 hours following your procedure, cleanse the lips with Micro Tonic/Block Tonic by applying a small amount on the provided gauze and wipe firmly but gently as well (there’s no need to rinse), pat dry (germs loves moisture), then immediately apply healing ointment (Glossed or Aquaphor Lip Repair).

• Continue gently cleansing the first couple days and applying ointment as many times as needed daily.

• Avoid sweating such as from vigorous exercise for 72 hours minimum.

• DO NOT eat spicy foods or hot liquids for 48 hours after your procedure. It’s a good idea not to eat oily foods, salty foods, acidic foods, highly pigmented foods (such as berries) or alcohol while healing.

• For at least one week post-procedure or until healing is complete (whichever is longer):

o Keep your hands clean and avoid touching the affected area(s).

o Do not scrub, wipe, rub, scratch or pick treated areas.

o Drink only through a straw. Choose to only eat foods you can place in your mouth with a fork without touching the lips.

o Keep your lips moist at all times with only after care lip treatment.

o Do not use peroxide or Neosporin on treated areas.

o Do not get toothpaste on your lips. Do not bleach your teeth or use teeth-whitening toothpaste until your lips are healed.

o Do not expose area to direct sun or to tanning beds.

o Avoid exposing the area excessive moisture or humidity, such as: facials, swimming, whirlpools (hot tubs), saunas, steam rooms, and steamy showers.

• Lips may appear to have too much color in the days following the procedure. Remember, place nothing on the treated area (except your aftercare product) until healed. This means no makeup, creams, water (except for cleansing as detailed above), etc.

• Avoid Retin-A, moisturizers, glycolic acids, exfoliants and anti-aging products at all times (not just during healing) on all micropigmented areas. These can cause pigments to fade and lighten prematurely.

• Avoid tanning beds, sun, chlorine spas and pools, soap and chemicals (including skin cleansers, makeup removers and alpha hydroxyl creams) near the treated area until healed.

• Pigments will slowly fade over time according to one’s metabolism, skin type, sun exposure, medication, facial surgery, and smoking. Schedule maintenance visits as needed to keep it looking fresh. Periodic touch ups will ensure longer lasting results.

If you’ve never had micropigmentation before, there are a lot of unknowns. One of the most common questions I’m asked is what to expect during the healing process. While every person is different and some heal more quickly or slowly than others, here’s generally what to expect.

Temporary side effects from micropigmentation include but are not limited to: redness, swelling, puffiness, oozing, bruising, dry patches and tenderness.

You should expect to lose approximately 1/3 of the initial color during the healing process. I have selected the optimal pigments for you with this in mind. In approximately six days it may appear too light. After about 10 days, the color will show more. It will appear softer when completely healed.

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Approximate Expectations

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DAY 1: Swelling and tender with a heavy, thick lipstick color look. For the first few days, the color is darker and more opaque than it will appear when healed.

DAY 2: Slight swelling, reddish, tender, sometimes with a slight metallic taste.

DAY 3: Less swelling, thicker texture, sore, possible hot or warm feeling before exfoliation.

DAY 4: Exfoliation begins, very chapped lips. The color will become lighter as the top layer of skin sloughs off. It will appear that you have lost all of your color, however, when your lips have healed completely, the dermal layer will gradually become darker.

DAY 5: Very chapped but almost finished with first chapping stage.

DAY 6: A soft, rich color begins to appear.

DAY 7-13: Lip color disappears and the “frosty” 2nd chapping stage begins as this new healed skin appears as a whitish gray haze on the lips.

DAY 14: Color blooms from within more and more each day until day 21 (3 weeks post procedure).

DAY 21-28: Healing should be complete. The color you see is the color that you have. Your lips will remain a bit dry for a month or two. Use a good lip balm and they will return to normal with full color.

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*LIP NEUTRALIZATIONS*

Expectations for this can differ from general Lip Blushes when referring to color. The lips can experience temporary hyper- or hypo-pigmentation where it can temporarily get much lighter or much darker throughout the lips or only in certain parts of the lips. The lips take longer for the color to fully bloom so expect to wait up to a full three months approximately to see your healed results. Those who need Lip Neutralizations first may or may not need more than just one touch up so remember it can take many, many months to get your final desired results. So just be patient! :)

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PLEASE UNDERSTAND AND ACCEPT THAT FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE POST-PROCEDURE INSTRUCTIONS ABOVE MAY RESULT IN A LOSS OR DISCOLORATION OF PIGMENT RESULTING IN A NEED FOR MORE FREQUENT TOUCHUPS.