Permanent cosmetics are a type of cosmetic tattooing (also known as micropigmentation or semi-permanent cosmetics). The most common treatments are available for eyes, brows, lips. The effects available can range from a natural enhancement to subtly improve the facial features to the imitation of make-up.
We believe that helping to rebuild someone’s body image is something very special. Medical tattooing is an advanced form of permanent cosmetics which has helped many people achieve just that. A range of treatments are available for people who have experienced a range of medical conditions such as hair loss, burns or scarring or breast reconstruction.
Whether you are getting your brows, eyes, lips or breasts enhanced, or if you require a medical tattoo treatment, there are various treatment options available. Brows, eyes, lips, breasts, scars can all benefit from permanent cosmetics or medical tattooing.
An initial consultation will be used to discuss your requirements and help you decide on the result that will best suit you. Everything from your lifestyle, image, hair, skin tone and facial features will be taken into consideration. I will then custom blend colors to perfectly match your requirements –my skills as an artist coming to the fore during the design stage.
The treatment itself involves gently implanting microscopic particles of pigment into the reticular layer of skin.
Yes, the healed result will look very natural indeed. Take a look through the portfolio images and you will see that the results can be tailored to whatever look, color tone or strength best suits you.
This varies from person to person because skin type, diet, genetics and environmental factors can all contribute to how long the pigments will be retained. For instance, sun bed use and sun exposure have a bearing on the pigment retention, but this can be prevented with proper protection.
As a guide, it could be anything between one to five years before a new treatment is required, although refresher colour boosts are recommended for maintenance during this time.
Once the color starts to change you will know that you are ready for your refresher color boost.
I offer discounted color boost rates from 6 – 18 months after the initial treatment.
It is important to remember that permanent make-up is a “low” not a “no” maintenance treatment.
Whether you have had cosmetic surgery, or are considering it at some point in the future, that is not a problem. I will always work to complement your natural contours and features.
Due to the healing process, you will need to leave some time between having cosmetic surgery and permanent cosmetics. Please call me for advice specific to your procedure.
A full assessment of your medical background will be made prior to the treatment.
This is the benefit of choosing a Physician Assistant. While there are some occasions when people are not suitable for permanent cosmetics –due to medical matters –this is fairly uncommon.
I adhere to the highest standards of health and safety. I have many years of experience with clients from all over the country and some international as well.You can be assured that all risks are minimized and that you are in safe hands. However, because the treatment involves implanting pigment into the skin, that means it is invasive.
While this is what provides permanent cosmetics with its long-lasting benefits, there are also some risks.
As with any form of tattooing, these can include allergic reaction, undesired result or color, misplaced color, infection or scarring.
It is advised that you do not drink alcohol the night before, or on the day of, your treatment.
This can affect pigment retention.
Yes, it can be useful to see what color tones you have been using for your brows.
I specialise in ultra-realistic permanent cosmetics. For brows, this means I can imitate natural brow hairs – whether you have any left, or none. Alternatively, if you do want a block brow style that can also be achieved.
I will work with you to achieve the perfect brow style for you.
Any waxing should be performed at least 48 hours before the treatment.
You should wait a minimum of five days between having electrolysis and permanent cosmetics for brows.
No. We prefer you to keep your own brows – don’t even tweeze them before you come in as we like to work within your natural shape if possible.
If your aim is to have your favorite lipstick recreated, please bring it with you to the treatment.
This will enable me to custom blend an appropriate permanent cosmetics pigment.
Permanent cosmetics do not cause cold sores, however, if you carry the virus, it lays dormant in the body and can be aroused by the treatment.
If you have a history of cold sores (herpes simplex) we advise you to contact your General Practitioner to obtain the proper prescription medication to prevent such outbreaks, or obtain and use your regular medication from your local chemist. You should use for one week before and one week after your treatment. This can help to minimise an outbreak.
No. The outbreak must be fully healed in order for a permanent cosmetics lip treatment to be performed.
You should not undertake a lip wax or bleaching treatment for at least two weeks prior to your permanent cosmetics lip treatment.
It is required that eye make-up is removed for any eye treatment. However, please wear your usual make-up for the appointment so we can see your style.
If you have a particular color tone of eyeliner pencil that you would like to be replicated, please bring it with you to the treatment. This will enable the artist to custom blend an appropriate permanent cosmetics pigment.
Any eyelash tinting or perming should be carried out no sooner than one week before, or two weeks after, the treatment.
This depends on a variety of factors. Some medical conditions, for instance pregnancy or infectious diseases, mean you cannot have permanent cosmetics or medical tattoo treatments. For other conditions, it will depend on the medical condition you are experiencing, its severity, the treatment or medication you are being provided with and so on.
You will have a full consultation prior to the treatment during which your medical history will be discussed and the implications of this for your treatment explained in detail to you.
Brows and eye treatments tend to look darker in color immediately after the initial appointment, while lip colors can look more intense. This softens in a few days. Lips are likely to have some residual swelling and can chap. There may be some slight swelling after eyeliner treatments but this is usually limited.
You can wear mineral cosmetics immediately after the treatment, however, you need to wait until the treatment area has healed before wearing traditional cosmetics.
I will provide you with aftercare instructions and a special aftercare balm for after your treatment. Looking after your permanent cosmetics or medical tattoo treatment as it heals is not difficult or time consuming –all you will need to do is follow our simple steps.
Everyone is different, but as a general rule the surface skin generally heals between 3-7 days after the treatment, and 10-14 days below the surface.
Some people think that they may have to take time off work after the treatment, in fact, this is not the case unless you choose to do so. You should be able to get straight back to work immediately after your treatment.
Current guidelines from the Red Cross Blood Service require anyone with permanent cosmetics to wait for 4 months after their treatment before giving blood.
This depends on the treatment you are considering and it’s location. You will need to take advice from your surgeon. It is important to remember that some of these procedures can alter the shape of your lips and eyebrows.
If you have an MRI scan after having permanent cosmetics or a medical tattoo, you should inform the practitioner prior to the scan about your treatment, when you had it and the location. This should not prevent you from being able to have an MRI scan, but is information the practitioner will need to be aware of.
Laser hair removal can fade and change the shade of your lip and brow treatment if you are having the hair removal in that area. Simply inform your laser technician that you are wearing permanent cosmetics prior to the treatment and they will act accordingly and make accommodations, avoiding that area.
We recommend that you do not apply make-up, expose the skin to extreme heat, cold or moisture, kiss, apply certain petroleum-based ointments etc immediately after your treatment. We will explain these requirements in full and provide you a printed copy of these aftercare requirements.
Strong sun can impact on the success of the result during the immediate healing phase. I recommend that you leave 4-6 weeks between your final re-touch procedure and your holiday.
You should be prepared for the color intensity to be significantly sharper and darker immediately after the treatment. This will subside and become lighter as the skin heals. This process can take up to 10 days.
You may experience some swelling and redness immediately after the treatment. After this you may experience tenderness, flaking, dryness, swelling and redness for approximately 2-5 days after the treatment. If you are feeling less than 100% healthy it may take longer for your treatment to heal and symptoms may appear more prominent.
If you have had a lip treatment, you should avoid eating spicy and salty foods until the area has healed. You should also drink liquids through a straw.
You should be prepared for the color intensity to be significantly sharper and darker immediately after the treatment. This will subside and become lighter as the skin heals. This process can take up to 10 days.
You should wait until the treatment area has healed before applying make-up. If you have had an eye treatment, a new mascara is recommended.
Medical tattoo treatments can take a number of sessions to achieve the desired, final result. This is very much dependent on individual circumstances and will be explained to you in full during your consultation.
Permanent cosmetics is far gentler than you might imagine. The special equipment that I use is refined, quiet and gentle. Many clients comment that the treatment is no more painful than having their eyebrows tweezed.
Treatment times vary depending on how advanced or detailed the required result is. Although some treatments may take as little as 1-2 hours, you should set aside 2-3 hours for your appointment.
A second appointment to review the final healed color is included in the price. This usually takes place around 4 -6 weeks after the initial treatment and takes around 60 minutes.
I will work with whatever brow hairs you have. It’s a common myth that brow hairs need to be shaved off for permanent cosmetics treatments. This is not the case at all.
The only time brow hairs may need to be removed is if there is any errant growth which needs tidying up, either through tweezing or plucking.
Lips can be a little more sensitive than brows or eyes, due to the larger surface area and greater blood supply. I do my very best to reduce discomfort by using topical numbing cream throughout the treatment.
This is a normal concern for first time clients and nothing to worry about.
Swelling is normal and relatively minimal. It usually occurs for up to 12 to 24 hours after the treatment.
Ice packs can be used to minimise this.