FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Who is a candidate for permanent make-up?
People who:
• Want to save time each day
• Have sparse lashes
• Wear contact lenses
• Have visual limitations
• Are allergic to cosmetics
• Often engage in strenuous activities
• Have to look their best in the professional world
• Want to always look naturally beautiful
Will the procedure hurt?
Recently released topical anesthetics make the procedure very comfortable for the client. I use a topical cream prior to the procedure and a liquid anesthetic throughout. One of the main benefits of having a nurse perform the procedure is that I can give you a dental block which makes it completely painless. The dental block is for lip tattooing.
How long does the procedure take?
Brows are 30 to 40 minutes and lips are 1 hour. All procedures require two appointments spaced 4 to 6 weeks apart. This ensures longevity and perfection.
How long is recovery?
The beauty of having it done by hand, rather than machine, is that you walk out of the office looking great. About 25% of patients experience a bit of swelling around the eyelids when they wake up in the morning following their procedure but they say it subsides within an hour or two. The brows will be about 40% darker than you wish them to be for about 5 to 7 days. After the first 24 hours, you may lighten them with powder. Due to their vascularity, your lips will be swollen for a full 24 hours, so plan your social calendar accordingly. You can reduce the swelling by applying ice around the area. With the
exception of having to put some lightening powder on the area for a few days, you will be able to return to your daily activities almost immediately.
How long with the tattoo last?
The longevity of permanent make-up varies by the color chosen and your natural skin color. Some factors that may affect the longevity of your permanent make -up are: ultraviolet exposure from the sun or tanning beds, excessively dry skin and smoking. In order to maximize your permanent make-up you must avoid putting alpha hydroxy, retin-a or glycolic acid on the treated areas of your skin. Using sunblock on your brows, sunglasses for your eyelids and SPF protection on your lips will all greatly prolong the color. Touch up fee is $400 to $450 for the lifetime of your tattoo. Most make-up artists start charging you all over again.
What if I have cosmetic surgery?
Properly applied make-up has no effect on cosmetic surgery.
Could I be allergic to the pigment?
I can do a patch test if there is a concern that you might be allergic to the pigment; however, there has not been any reported allergic reactions to the iron oxides developed for cosmetic pigmentation. It has been found that more people have an allergic reaction to organic pigments and products due to the vegetable dyes and food allergies.
Can I still have an MRI done, if necessary?
There has been quite a bit of controversy about having MRIs done after permanent make-up tattooing. The Magnetic Resonance institute of Indiana indicated that they had not experienced any problems related to imaging patients who have permanent cosmetics. According to Frank Shellock of UCLA School of Medicine, a top expert in MRI safety, only a handful of people have reported minor problems around the eyelid area and no problems have been reported around the brow or lip areas. In those rare instances when redness and edema in the eyelid area occurs, it does recede and does not cause permanent damage. It is important that the public be informed that these procedures are safe and not a contradiction to having an MRI.
PRICING:
Eyeliner $600
Brows $600
Full lips $850
Future Touch Ups $400 to $450
What's Happening on Facebook
Kathy Wright R.N.
650-327-3279
kwrightelb@gmail.com
THE ART OF PERMANENT MAKE-UP
The manual technique of permanent make-up tattooing closely matches the ancient art of
tattooing. In recent years, this creative and inventive art form has penetrated the beauty industry and medical field.
Today, with technology and our ability to use this ancient art, the application of eyebrows, eyeliner, and lip color enhances your total look. The technique is done by hand, not a machine, using an etching motion which deposits color approximately .08mm below the surface of the skin. The sensation of permanent make-up tattooing can be compared to that of electrolysis or to tweezing the eyebrows. A topical agent is used to make the procedure more comfortable and for the lips a dental block is given.