Important considerations for your new cosmetic tattoo
The most important thing to understand is that cosmetic tattooing is a process. It almost always requires a follow up application to perfect the initial procedure. Due to the numerous variables that affect our skin, each person is unique and will heal differently. Please keep this in mind as we work together to achieve your cosmetic tattooing goals.
It is normal to lose 30 – 50% of the color during the healing period. Immediately after the initial procedure the color may appear too dark and after one week it may appear too light. But as your skin cells naturally regenerate, the color will come back around the 2 week mark and continue to clarify throughout the first month. Be patient and kind to your skin as it does its job during this important phase!
Some residual swelling and redness is normal for all procedures. Dry skin, itching and tenderness are also common during the healing process – the treated area is an open skin wound after all. If these symptoms are experienced, they should dissipate each day. You may take Tylenol within the first 2 days to alleviate any minor symptoms, but avoid aspirin and/or Ibuprofen as they are blood thinners. Allergic reactions to the cosmetic pigments I use are not common, however, if you experience any severe symptoms that do not clear up in a day or two, please let me know.
Recommendations for long term care of your cosmetic tattoo include using caution with any strong chemicals (bleaching, tinting, peels), skin care products (such as Glycolics, Retin-A, anti-acne, and skin brighteners), exfoliation, and tanning. Your cosmetic tattoo is different/less durable than a traditional body art ink tattoo; as it is designed to fade over time you must take care to not hasten the process.
If you have an MRI or laser treatments in the future, please inform your technician that you have been tattooed with iron-oxide pigments, as discomfort or discoloration of your tattoo may occur.
General Aftercare Guidelines
There are many factors that can affect the healed result of your procedure, so it is extremely important to follow these aftercare instructions to allow for optimal results. What YOU do to YOUR skin during the healing process can directly affect YOUR final result. Failure to follow these guidelines can result in loss, discoloration or distortion of pigment. I want you to look your absolute best so please read through these guidelines and follow them to the best of your ability. Your face will thank you for it!
Applicable for all procedures during the healing period:
- Do not use any Retin-A or Glycolic Acids!
- Do not use Peroxides or Neosporin!
- Do not scrub or pick treated areas!
- Do not expose treated area to excessive sun or tanning beds!
- Avoid facials, swimming, and excessive sweating!
Lip Specific Guidelines
- Expect moderate swelling, usually during the first 48 hours following the procedure. Applying ice during the first 2 hours to reduce swelling is highly recommended. Continue to periodically ice throughout day as swelling persists.
- Do not rub, scratch, or pick at the treated area – this can cause scarring or pull out pigment causing premature fading. If you must tend to an itch, gently pat the area.
- Keep lips moist with Vaseline or Aquaphor for the first 5 days.
- Use lip balm/moisturizer for the remainder of the healing period (typically 14-21 days).
- Immediately after the procedure lips may appear to have too much color. You will leave the session looking like you have lipstick on. Do not worry, as your lips will ultimately fade to a much softer and more natural lip tint.
- During the healing period the color will lighten (it may appear as you lost all the implanted color) and then it will return darker following the healing period. Be patient with your lips as they heal. After 6 weeks we can assess how much pigment was retained and make any desired changes at the follow up appointment(s). 2 to 3 applications may be required to achieve desired results. It is not uncommon to lose up to 70% of the color from the first application.
- Avoid eating salty or spicy foods for 3 days. Drinking through a straw during this time is strongly encouraged.
- Extremely important for lip procedures: If you’ve ever had a cold sore you MUST take an anti-viral medication such as Zovirax or Valtrex prior to the procedure. Typically the medication is started 2 days before the procedure and continued for 3 days after. If you do not take an anti-viral, a severe outbreak will likely occur across the lip area (typically around day 3), which will greatly affect your comfort and the healing/results of your tattoo. Please contact your physician or dentist for the prescription.
Healing Schedule / Typical Effects
Day 1 Lip area is swollen and tender with a heavy lipstick look
Day 2 Slight swelling, reddish and tender with a slight metallic flavor
Day 3 Less swelling, thicker texture, sore, hot feeling
Day 4 Exfoliation begins – VERY chapped lips
Day 5 Chapped state continues
Day 6 A soft rich color begins to appear
Days 7-14 Lip color disappears and a “frosty” chapping stage begins with a white/grayish haze on lips
Days 14-20 Color blooms from within more and more each day until day 21.
Day 21 Healing should be complete – the color you see is the color you have. Lips will remain a bit dry for a month or two – use a good lip balm and they will return to normal.
