Cosmetic Tattooing

Putting on makeup is a ritual that many women wish they could do without. With days filled with work, school, raising the kids and the business of running a household, many women would rather not spend several minutes each day applying makeup. Unfortunately accuracy matters and if a line is off here or a smudge there, you could be walking around for most of the day with a very noticeable defect in your appearance. Precision takes time—putting on eyeliner and lipstick requires a steady hand and a careful touch.

 

 

For some, cosmetic tattooing is the solution to this tedious ritual. Cosmetic tattooing is a way to permanently change the face so that it appears as if one is wearing makeup. Do you hate applying eyeliner but also feel naked without it? Cosmetic tattooing can place a dark line around the lash line making eyeliner a thing of the past. Do you need to fill in your eyebrows to achieve a specific contour? Cosmetic tattooing can fill in this area permanently. Does your lipstick bleed off of your lip area? Permanent lip liner applied via cosmetic tattooing may be the solution.

 

Cosmetic tattooing is quite similar to traditional tattooing in that a device much like a “tattoo gun” advances and retracts a small, hollow needle many times a second, slightly piercing the skin. As it pierces the skin, it leaves behind a small bit of colored pigment. Various shades of pigment are available and can be matched to your makeup preference and to your skin tone. As with traditional tattooing, cosmetic tattooing is permanent though a certain amount of revision can be done if necessary.

 

Unlike traditional tattooing, there is increased emphasis on anesthetic and analgesia. The area to be tattooed is usually numbed with a local anesthetic prior to the procedure. Also, the area to be tattooed and the tattooing instruments are thoroughly sterilized. Some surgeons will perform an allergy test to determine if you are allergic to any of the pigments that will be used.

 

Immediately after the procedure there will be a color change but it is not the exact color of the tattoo once it has healed. Right after the procedure, the cosmetic tattoo will be slightly darker and will have a sort of sheen that will not be there after healing has occurred. For a short period of time the tattoo and surrounding area will be red and swollen. Your aesthetician may recommend cold compresses or an ice pack to keep swelling at a minimum. While this is a completely outpatient procedure, remember that if you are having tattoos placed on the eyelids, you may want to avoid driving after the procedure. It generally takes up to three weeks for the area to heal completely and achieve its permanent color. During the healing process you may need to apply antibiotic ointment to the area to prevent infection of the skin.

 

Cosmetic tattooing promises to free patients of their daily struggles with makeup application. It is a purely cosmetic procedure, so do not expect your health insurance company to cover the cost. Many traditional tattoo artists are becoming certified in cosmetic tattooing. Before undergoing any surgical or aesthetic procedure, verify the professional’s credentials to make sure that he or she is properly licensed and trained in the procedure.