What Are the Risks of Permanent Makeup?

1. Infection: There is always a chance of infection if sterilized needles are not used or if the ink is contaminated. Unsterile needles can transmit diseases, such as hepatitis, human immunodeficiency virus, and staph infections.
2. Allergic reaction: An allergic reaction to tattoo ink color (the pigments used) can happen. So, a scratch test must be performed behind the ear or on the finger to see if a reaction happens.
3. Eye complications: Loss of eyelashes, severe eyelid injury, crusting, and ectropion (outward turning of the eyelid).
4. Nodules and scar tissue formation: The body may consider the tattoo ink as a “foreign substance” and react to it by forming nodules (called granulomas) around particles of pigment.
5. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) complications: A few people have reported swelling or burning in the tattooed area who have undergone an MRI of their heads.
6. Other reactions: Little bleeding, swelling, and some crusting can occur.

Permanent makeup is appropriate for anyone who wants to look their best while avoiding the physical challenges of applying makeup.

This treatment is considered on personal choice and for people who:

• Do not like applying makeup every day.
• Like to have more defined eyebrows or eyelashes.
• Like better-defined or richer colored lips.
• Like to improve scars with tattoo pigment.

• Conditions that result in unsteady hands
  • Severe arthritis
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Parkinson’s disease
• Conditions that result in poor eyesight
  • Cataracts
  • Macular degeneration

Micropigmentation or permanent makeup can be used:

1. As a follow-up to plastic surgery on the face.
2. To replace thinning of eyebrows due to age or underlying medical conditions.
3. To conceal the lack of color to the skin due to vitiligo.
4. To recreate an areola after breast surgery.
5. As a permanent solution for people with allergies to traditional, temporary makeup.

Most procedures only require a topical anesthetic to numb the skin.

A pen-like instrument or a standard tattoo gun is used to inject the pigment into the skin. The needle will penetrate a few millimeters into the dermis layer of the skin and an iron oxide pigment is injected.

The procedures take from 30 minutes to several hours to perform. Once the procedure completes, an antiseptic will be administered to keep the treated region clean. An ointment will be applied to keep the area soft and promote healing.

The tattoo ink never washes off but because the skin cells are constantly being replaced, it fades away over the years. The procedure is permanent because it can be very difficult to remove. It is a long, painful, and expensive process.

Some people may need more treatment to achieve the desired result. As the pigment fades over a period, there will be a need for additional treatments to maintain the look.